56TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGToday Wednesday 11th July, 2012 (22nd Sha’aban, 1433 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its Fifty sixth (56th) sitting in continuation with sequence of previous sittings during which important policy issues and programmes that positively impact on the quality of lives of our citizenry were deliberated upon.
Today’s Council sitting was
presided over by the Governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso FNSE during which 36 memoranda were submitted by 13 MDA’s for deliberation by the Council. An expenditure of
N31,217,721,649.40 covering 21 projects was approved for execution by the Council. Thus;
1. Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.Eight (

memoranda were presented by this Ministry for deliberation by the Council as follows;
(a) Notification of the urgent need to develop the academic (building) section of the Kano State Sports Institution at Karfi town and request for funds to facilitate for the project:
Council was amply reminded of its appreciative award of the contract for the
construction of a perimeter wall and entrance gate at the proposed Institute site by contents of this memorandum which at the same requested for the release of funds to facilitate for the
construction/development of the academic section so as to ensure for the immediate/timely commencement of academic programs in compliance with the administration’s policy on such projects. As such, Council approved for the release of the requested sum of
N394,443,261.12 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport for the execution of the stated project.
(b) Request for funds for the renovation of damaged structures/properties at Cabinet office Kano:
Contents of this memorandum politely notified the Council of the need to
renovate damaged structures/properties at the Cabinet office and requested for the release of the sum of
N41,651,857.44 to facilitate for the purpose. Council approved release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to expedite action on the renovation work so as to put the affected structures back to normal use accordingly.
(c) Request for funds for the
construction of academic Infrastructure to facilitate operations at the proposed Kano State Entrepreneurship Development Institute at Dawakin Tofa:Council was politely reminded by contents of this memorandum, that the referred Institute is among the twenty (20) of its type established by the present administration. So, responding to instructions, the ministry of works, Housing and Transport produced designs suitable for the institute upon which bills of quantities were prepared to the aggregate sum of
N363,531.506.20 which was requested for release by the Council for execution of the referred project. The Council approved release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport for the execution of the stated project in view of its significance and being in line with the present administration’s laudable programmes on self reliance and the creation of employment opportunities.
(d) Request for funds for the
construction of Academic Block, two (2) Hostel Blocks and kitchen facilities at Informatics Institute Kura:Attention of the Council was politely drawn to the need for putting in place additional facilities pending the commencement of academic programmes at the Informatics Institute Kura. As such, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested the Council for the release of the aggregate sum of
N397,337,217.25 for the construction of Academic Block, two (2) hostel blocks and kitchen facilities for immediate commencement of academic programmes at the Institute and Council complied in order to facilitate for immediate commencement of academic programmes at the Institute in actualization of Governments commitment.
(e) Request for funds for general
renovation work at Audu Bako Secretariat Wall fence and provision of security wire:The responsive Council was amply notified by contents of this memorandum, of the situation of the perimeter wall fence at Audu Bako Secretariat and the need to upgrade it as well as improve the security condition in order to protect lives and property within the secretariat,
N54,667,723.68 as requested was approved for release by the Council for the renovation work so as to normalize the security situation at Audu Bako secretariat.
(f) Request for funds for the execution of
additional work at Sani Abacha Youth Vocational Center:Council was politely alerted of the need for additional work in order to complete work started in compliance with an executive directive given on Sani Abacha Vocational Training Center. The sum of
N5,042.273.72 as requested, was approved for release by the Council to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable execution of the additional work as directed.
(g) Request for funds for the
renovation work at the offices of the World Bank Assisted Projects Kano State:Contents of this memorandum alerted the responsive Council of the need to carry out renovation works at the offices of the World Bank Assisted Projects Kano State in view of the state of dilapidation and general disrepair of the property. Council noted, considered and approved release of the requested sum of
N6,896,615.50 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to expedite action on the execution of the renovation works as stated.
(h) Request for Funds for the
Construction of Fly-over Bridges(State Road K/Nassarawa and Ibrahim Taiwo Road from Radio Kano):Council was adequately notified of the multitude number of problems resulting from traffic congestion, road accidents, increase in vehicular running cost, noise and air pollution, delays, loss of revenue and criminal activities which bedevil the transportation situation in Kano being the most popular state in the federation and second only to Lagos in commercial activities. Solutions need to be put in place so as to save the unfortunate situation. And, one such solution is the construction of Fly-over bridges at strategic locations to provide easy flow of traffic and reduction of traffic congestion on our roads. Two(2) cluster of the Fly-over bridges are proposed for consideration-Thus:
1st cluster comprises of;
i. Silver Jubilee/Rotary Intersection(Zaria Road/State Road Round
About/Junction).
ii. Gidan Murtala/Rotary Intersection.
iii. Gidan Radio/Rotary Intersection (IBB Road and Ibrahim Taiwo Road Junction)
2nd cluster comprises of;
. Gyadi-Gyadi/Rotary Intersection(Zaria Road and Maiduguri junction/Round about)
. Dangi/Rotary Intersection(Zaria Road and Zoo Road junction/Round about)
Nevertheless, contents of this memorandum requested for the release of the sum of
N5,933,520,068.34 to the ministry of works, housing and transport for the
construction of the first cluster of fly-over bridges as first phase of the entire project. Council noted, considered and approved release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Works for the execution of the stated project due to its significance.
2. Office of the Head of Civil Service.Request for funds to facilitate for the
computerization of the activities of Kano State Pension Trustees:Attention of the Council was respectively drawn to the significance of information technology in ensuring prudence and efficiency in the conduct of businesses. Specifically, the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees has Five (5) major departments that manage activities related to 19,655 pensioners as at May, 2012 which makes the work enormous and cumbersome thereby making it necessary to computerize its general operations. Main aim of the project is aimed at networking the activities of the five (5) departments for easy coordination as well as ensuring effective and efficient record management of contributors and pensioners funds entrusted to them by the Government. So, Council approved release of
N41,708,722.00 to the office of Head of Civil Service to enable the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees execute the stated project
3. Ministry of Planning and Budget.Notification of the need to domesticate the public procurement and Fiscal Responsibility Laws in the state:
Contents of this memorandum presented details on the need for the domestication of the two laws referred and notified the Council of the two draft Bills being with the Ministry of Justice due to be presented to the previous Executive Council for deliberation before submission to the then legislature for passage into law but was delayed due to some contentious issues which still remain unsolved. Council considered and approved the setting up of a technical committee as proposed to be chaired by the projects monitoring directorate with Ministry of Justice as secretariat in order to work into the issue.
4. Ministry of Water Resources.Request for funds for the
construction of training fish ponds and a hostel block at Magaga Dam site;-Council approved for the release of the requested sum of
N20,585,059.05 to the Ministry of Water Resources for the execution of the stated project so as to actualize yet another endeavor aimed at providing skill acquisition opportunity for our youth.
5. Office of the Secretary to the State GovernmentFive (5) memoranda were submitted by the office of the Secretary to the state government for deliberation by the Council. Thus;
a) Request for funds to cover expenses for the training of 400 prospective participants from the 44 LGCA’s for a 6 weeks training to be coordinated by NEPAD Kano office:
Contents of this memorandum substantiated to the attentive council that the proposed training aims at empowering youth and women through creating job opportunities and setting up new micro/cottage industries for economic viability. Whereby the training workshop targets at training the beneficiaries on preservation of perishable goods, leather and related products, animal feeds, hatchery production and machine fabrication.
The entire programme is proposed to train 400 participants at its conclusion which will cost the total sum of N23,979,500.00. However, contents of this memorandum suggested for the Council to consider and approve the release of a trimmed sum of
N10,000,000.00 to cater for the training of 200 beneficiaries as pilot or first phase/batch of the programme by allocating 40 participants to each of the five various training centers. This way, the efficacy of the programme could be tested through performance of the pioneers pending embarking on the training for the remaining 200 participants in the second batch. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 to the office of the secretary to the State Government to enable NEPAD facilitate for the proposed first phase of the training workshop.
b) Request for funds to cater for the requirements of 64 qualified students selected for foreign training ( PHD and masters) at the Texas A and M University:
The responsive Council was amply reminded of its commitment to the Texas A and M University project which has to be seen to its successful conclusion. So, Contents of this memorandum requested for the Council to consider and approve for the following;
. Appointing a coordinator for the Kano Campus of the Texas A and M university for which the person of Professor Yakubu Nasidi is recommended.
. A joint budget (counter funding) between the State Government and Texas A and M University for the implementation of the entire project.
. Preparing the 64th qualified students selected for the programme by providing the required funds for their entrance examination.
.
Release of 50% of the total budget for the project (i.e $6,036,666.05).Council noted, considered and approved
c) Presentation of progress report on Interlock tiles laying Projects at some Selected roads in Kano metropolis from the standing committee on Urban Beautification and Development Central Kano State:
Council acknowledged and appreciated contents of the progress reports as highlighted for the twelve (12) selected areas inspected by the committee which include Airport Road, Bompai Road, Sani Marshal Road , Ahamadu Bello Way, Audu Bako Way, Alu Avenue, Iyaka Road, Commissioner Road, Gwarzo Road and Emir’s Place Road, Lagos Street, Race course road. Findings during the inspection visitations prompted the committee to recommend the under listed for Governments consideration and direction for further action.
. KNUPDA must ensure using concrete Kerbs of high quality.
. Government should enforce sanctions on street walkways, hawking and improper parking of vehicles.
. Government to direct street lighting committee to henceforth repair and replace any interlock tiles removed in the course of discharging their responsibilities.
. Government should direct for all road side Kerbs to be painted black and white so as to beautify the road sides.
(d) Request for funds/ratification of the procurement of operational vehicles for some MDA’s to ease their transportation needs for effective service Delivery:
Office of the Secretary to the state Government politely notified the attentive Council, via contents of this memorandum, of the series of requests for operational vehicles from a number of Government organs, most of them with cogent needs for transportation to facilitate ease of service delivery to the community.
Council noted, considered and approved for the release of
N51,475,000.00 for the procurement of six(6) vehicles for distribution to six(6) Government organs as follows;
. One(1) Toyota 18-seater bus(new) - suggestion box committee
. One(1) Toyota coaster 30-seater bus - Livestock Institute Bagauda
. One(1) Toyota Hilux D.C - S.S.A project
. One(1) Toyota Hilux D.C - NEPAD
. One(1) Toyota Hilux D.C - Kano Zoo
. One(1) Toyota Hilux D.C - NAPTIP
At the respective cost of:
. N7,500,000.00
. N16,175,000.00
. N6,950,000.00 *4 = N27,800,000.00
TOTAL = N51,475,000.00
(e) Request for funds for the
procurement of utility vehicles for Newly appointed Kano State Pension Trustees:Contents of this memorandum adequately acquainted the Council of the need to provide utility vehicles to smoothen the execution of official responsibilities of the Pension Trustees which include travelling outside the state. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of
N29,403,000.00 from the funds under the care of the pension fund trustees.