Gov. Tambuwal orders employment of 500 teachers, asks FG to stop waiver for rice importation

Sokoto State Government has announced the immediate employment of 500 teachers to address the shortfall ‎in teaching personnel in public secondary schools in the state.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said this Thursday when he received a UNICEF delegation who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

In addition to the employment, he disclosed that in the coming days, the state government will sign a memorandum of understanding with the National Teachers Institute (NTI) to train teachers of basic education in the state.

Tambuwal said ‎by according education the highest priority, his administration do all that is necessary to improve the sector and secure the future of the citizens of the state.

On girl-child education, Tambuwal expressed worry over the low enrolment figures of girls in school, saying he will personally lead the advocacy for girls to be admitted into schools.

He said Sokoto has a history of producing females who have made their mark in the education field, citing the example of Nana Asmau, daughter of Sheikh Usman Danfodio and the present Chief Justice of the State, Justice Aisha Sani Dahiru.
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“Nana Asmau was a scholar, a teacher and a writer. She was well-educated and authored many books on family values and other social issues. As regards to education, we in Sokoto have a certain standard set by forefathers. As conservative as we are, we have a female Chief Judge, that good for our education.

“Let me admit that the advent of colonialism made many here to be reluctant to embrace western education. However, since we have all agreed that western education is necessary for our lives at this point in time, we are determined to benefit from its teachings without necessarily jettisoning our cultural values.

‎”So everything will be done to ensure our girls are in school. We are very determined to improve on our enrolment statistics. Both intake and quality of teaching will be adequately taken care of,” the Governor said.

In his remarks, Chief of Sokoto Field office of UNICEF, Mr. Muhammed Muhiddeen urged Tambuwal to establish pre-primary classes in all primary schools in Sokoto state as part of its commitment to basic education.

He also urged the government to increase the number of female teachers and female administrators in public schools and education agencies by at least 30 percent.

‎The current waiver regime being enjoyed by rice importers is hampering local production of the commodity and should be phased out, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said.

According to him, preliminary studies undertaken showed that despite efforts to boost local rice production, unfavourable government policies especially with regards to waiver to importers, coupled with other policies, is proving to be impediment to states’ objectives to achieve local self-sufficiency.

Speaking when he received the new Customs Area Controller for Sokoto Zamfara and Kebbi states, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir, who paid a courtesy call to the Governor, ‎Tambuwal reiterated the fact that the quality of rice produced locally is of international standard and far better than many of the ones imported into the country.

He said government will continue to support farmers in the rice producing areas to enable them acquire standard facilities that will process their produce.

Tambuwal said Nigeria has what it takes to produce enough rice to meet local needs and export same. “We have the potential to meet Africa’s rice needs,” he added.

He said governments of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and other rice farming states will team up and present a common demand to the Federal Government to ensure development of the product locally and nationally.

While commending the Customs Service for its role in law enforcement in the federation, Gov Tambuwal said his administration will assist the Customs area office to achieve its set objectives.

Earlier in his remarks, the Area Controller praised the harmonious working relationship between the Service and states under his command.

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