By Joseph Edegbo :
On his fourth day in Southern Borno, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in Shani shared tools to 1,750 farmers from three Local Government Areas of Bayo, Shani and Hawul.
1,000 farmers from Bayo, 500 from Hawul and 250 from Shani benefited from the intervention.
In a brief ceremony held at the Governor’s lodge in Shani, Zulum said the intervention was to boost irrigation farming in Borno.
While the intervention was meant to enhance food security in the state, Governor Zulum noted that Borno State Government will support more farmers in the next farming season.
“We will aim for more next year, we will support our famers to achieve food sufficiency”, Zulum said
… Attends Minwara Festival
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has attended 2021 Menwara festival, an annual event which signals the lifting of sanctions against fishing, bush-burning, tree-cutting and other activities, which would be ecologically detrimental to the community if practiced indiscriminately.
It is a pre-harvest festival which takes place before the commencement of the year’s harvest often in October and November.
The Governor who passed night in Shani earlier on Friday took part in moon-sighting, a pre-festival event which marks the official commencement of Menwara festival. It took place at around 6:00pm at the palace of the Emir of Shani.
In his remarks on Saturday’s event, Governor Zulum directed the Ministry of Information, Home Affairs and Culture to design a programme that will promote the cultural heritage of the state.
The governor also directed the state Ministry of Education to come up with plans that will inculcate Borno’s cultural heritage to students right from primary schools.
Zulum also noted that his administration within the remaining years of his tenure will focus on five key priority areas, these include, security, healthcare service delivery, agriculture, education and youth empowerment.
… Orders Revisiting of LG Verification
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has ordered the state Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs to revisit the verification exercise conducted for local government staff in order to address all genuine concerns raised.
“I am a human being, forgive me where I have erred. We will strive to ensure that we fulfil our responsibilities. Our intentions are genuine and we can never compromise the development of our people and their welfare. I have directed the Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs to revisit the verification exercise to address all genuine concerns”, Zulum said.
In another development, Governor Zulum has given directive for 100% implementation of consolidated medical salary scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors in Borno State.
This the Governor said will bridge gap disparity of salaries between medical doctors working for the state and those working with different health institutions owned by the federal government.
The governor gave the directive on Saturday at Shani General Hospital during an inspection visit to assess facilities.
Zulum was accompanied by the state APC Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, Senator representing Southern Borno, Mohammed Ali Ndume, two former Deputy Governors, Deputy Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Engr. Abdullahi Musa Askira, Member representing Shani at the assembly, Ibrahim Musa Kubo, Chairman Borno Mega Farm, Musa Inuwa Kubo, commissioners and heads of some agencies and parastatals amongst others.
