Governor Namadi in a group photograph with labour leaders after signing the N70,000 new minimum wage in Government House, Curse on Wednesday.

*Skills acquisition: Jigawa plans to establish 9 technical colleges 

*We’ll empower youths through sports development—- Governor Namadi

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Dutse

Jigawa state Governor, Umar Namadi, on Wednesday, signed an N70,000 new minimum wage agreement with civil servants in the state.

He promised that full implementation of the new minimum wage would begin by December 1, 2024.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for a new minimum wage agreement with the leadership of workers’ unions held at the Council Chambers of the Government House in Dutse, Governor Namadi expressed pride in the new arrangement, highlighting the additional benefits that elevate the package beyond the stipulated minimum wage.

Governor Namadi described the new minimum wage as,  “the most secure and well-protected in the country, offering unparalleled safeguards against the growing economic challenges that often diminish the value of workers’ earnings.”

He said the agreement ensures a minimum wage of ₦70,000, with provisions that make Jigawa’s salary package the most safeguarded and comprehensive in the country.

Governor Namadi added: “Though we have signed N70,000, by implication, what we have signed is more than N80,000. The reason is that it is only in Jigawa state that the civil servant has a subsidized shop where he can go and buy essential commodities at subsidized prices and on credit.

“It is only in Jigawa state that civil servants have access to money where they can go and borrow and farm where they can. And I am sure it is only in Jigawa state that the N70,000 minimum wage is well protected because with the workers going to the farms and with credit from the state government, they can be able to grow what they eat all year round.

“So they don’t have any reason to fear the implication of rice price inflation in the market.

“Even if that happens, they have alternatives, which are subsidized shops where essential commodities are available for them to buy at subsidized prices and on credit. So, certainly, the Jigawa state minimum wage is a real minimum wage and is a living wage.”

Governor Namadi also emphasized the state’s commitment to healthcare, noting the full implementation of federal-level health workers’ benefits to retain talent in the sector.

“So, while I congratulate you, I also want to emphasize that in the course of the negotiation, we can make sure that the health workers are properly taken care of. We have fully implemented the health workers’ benefits like is done at the federal government. This is to ensure that we retain our health workers,” he added.

The Governor, therefore, urged civil servants in the state to reciprocate this gesture by rededicating themselves to their duties.

“No state has it as good as Jigawa. Therefore, to whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

He commended the negotiation committee, led by the Head of Civil Service, and the labour unions, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), for their dedication and successful deliberations.

Responding on behalf of the organized labour, NLC State Chairman, Comrade Sunusi Alhassan Maigatari, expressed gratitude to the Governor, acknowledging significant strides in improving workers’ welfare, which include the employment of over 7,000 civil servants, the injection of over ₦5.4 billion into the contributory pension scheme, the provision of agricultural loans and subsidized foodstuffs, as well as the development of affordable housing for workers.

The agreement was signed by the Head of the Jigawa State Civil Service, K. Dagaceri, on behalf of the government, and the chairmen of the NLC, TUC, and JNC, representing the workers’ unions.

The ceremony was witnessed by members of the Jigawa State Executive Council, organized labour representatives, and civil society organizations.

Skills acquisition: Jigawa plans to establish 9 technical colleges 

Jigawa state government has concluded plans to establish one Institute of Technical and Vocational Education and eight Technical Colleges to boost skills acquisition initiatives, particularly, among the youths in the state.

According to a Statement by Governor Umar Namadi’s Chief Press Secretary, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, the move was in line with modern trends that prioritize skills acquisition over mere paper qualifications.

Gumel said Governor  Namadi made this announcement when he received the Senior Special Assistant to  President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students Engagement, Mr Asefon Sunday Dayo, who paid him a courtesy call in Dutse over the weekend.

The SSA was in Jigawa for the inauguration of the Northern Chapter of the Students Union’s leadership.

The Governor reiterated the state government’s resolve to transform the education system, prioritizing technical and vocational education as the cornerstone for human capital development.

“Education is the bedrock of development. The youth are the future of this nation. If you neglect this segment, you have neglected development.

“So, whatever we are doing to empower the youths, to educate the youths, is because we feel that is the road to development. That is the way to economic prosperity. And that is the way to human capital development.

“We are trying to transform our education system. We are now trying to focus on vocational education because we believe vocational and technical education is the way to go. We’ll try as much as possible, both in terms of the school and at the empowerment level,” he said.

The Governor revealed that eight schools will be transformed into centres of excellence that would provide students with training in various skills and crafts, adding that the initiative is designed to ensure that secondary school graduates leave with practical skills, enabling them to sustain themselves and contribute to society.

“In essence, we are working to bring about eight schools as centres of excellence. These centres are going to be places where students will be trained in various arts and crafts so that by the time they come in, even at the age of finishing secondary school, they will have a means of livelihood to hold themselves.

We want to make sure that we have gone back to the olden days. A student in secondary school, if he comes for a holiday, will go and practice that craft he has learned in school,” he added.

Governor Namadi stated that the technical and vocational school students will be directly involved in projects such as furniture production and technical repairs, reducing reliance on external contractors while offering hands-on experience.

According to him, “With this arrangement, we hope that we will no longer give contracts to external suppliers for chairs and similar needs. We want our students in technical and vocational schools to build chairs for other students.

“We want them to repair hand pumps and handle other technical aspects of governance contracts. We’ll engage them directly in these activities.”

He said some selected polytechnic departments will be upgraded to align with the state’s vocational education goals.

The Governor also announced the intention of the state government to re-purpose the Jigawa State College of Remedial and Advanced Studies (JICORAS), Babura, into an institution for technical and vocational education to allow for a smooth transition for graduates to pursue further education or employment.

“We are converting our College of Remedial Studies into an institution for technical and vocational education. This will provide a place for graduates from technical and vocational schools to fit into the system seamlessly. And that is why we intentionally cited the institute where we have a federal university of technology.

“So, we have created a systematic cycle. You finish from the Center of Excellence, where you learn vocational and technical education. You either proceed to do an HND or diploma at our Institute of Technical and Vocational Education; after that, you can further your education at the Federal University of Technology, completing a full cycle,” he said.

We’ll empower youths through sports development—- Governor Namadi.

Jigawa state Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of sports in Jigawa State, particularly grassroots initiatives aimed at youth empowerment.

The Governor made this statement while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian National League (NNL), led by Mr Yakubu Sama, at the Government House, Dutse.

Governor Namadi with NNL team

The visit by the NNL team was part of a facility inspection tour in preparation for the commencement of the league’s matches.

Governor Namadi expressed his administration’s unwavering commitment to youth and sports development in the state and its efforts to utilize sports as a platform for youth engagement, talent development, and societal growth.

“The youths are the future; whatever we can do to motivate them, we will do. Since the inception of this administration, we have prioritized scouting and nurturing talents from the grassroots, leading to the establishment of the Junior Golden Stars as a feeder team for the senior team,” he said.

The Governor then announced his administration’s plan to build a new stadium in the state, which is expected to rank among the best in Nigeria in terms of facilities and capacity.

He promised continuous collaboration with stakeholders to ensure progress in sports development and emphasized the importance of motivating both players and management to achieve success.

In his remarks, Mr Yakubu Sama commended the state government’s dedication to enhancing sports infrastructure and promoting the Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club, assuring that the Jigawa Golden Stars will now play their league matches at home, benefiting from improved facilities.

He expressed gratitude to the state government for addressing prior administrative challenges faced by the club, stating that the timely appointment of a management team, which resolved issues that had previously led to sanctions against the club, was particularly lauded. This step has provided much-needed stability and a clearer vision for the club’s future, he said.

Mr Yakubu lauded the establishment of the feeder team, the Junior Golden Stars, as a critical step for sustainable sports development and advocated using sports as a tool for social reintegration, particularly for out-of-school children, proposing initiatives such as providing uniforms, school bags, and other supplies to encourage youth participation.