By HABIBU HARISU

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday, appealed to the Sokoto State Government to include traditional rulers in the state in the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

Abubakar made the appeal during a Town Hall meeting organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, preparatory to the submission of the state’s 2026 budget proposal.

Represented by the District Head of Wurno, (Sarkin Sudan of Wurno), Alhaji Kabiru Cigari-Alhassan, Abubakar, reiterated the traditional rulers support to the implementation of all government’s policies and programmes across the state.

The representative of Physically-Challenged Persons, Malama Sa’adatu Abubakar, urged the state government to consider the renovation of Abdulrashid Adisa Raji Special School and establish more special schools across the state in order to cater for persons living with disabilities.

Abubakar, however, commended Gov. Ahmad Aliyu’s administration for its efforts in improving the living standards of the physically-challenged persons and other citizens in the state.

Nafisa Adamu-Gorori, the representative of women groups, asked for the inclusion of more water supply projects to ease the suffering of women and other citizens in sourcing potable water.

Adamu-Gorori decried that water scarcity had hindered small-scale businesses, adding,” because most women engaged in businesses are using water for their preparations.

“The delay in fetching water also prevent girls from attending schools and affects sanitation activities.”

Malama Maimuna Yahaya and Musa Bilya, urged the government to renovate abandoned the Murtala Muhammad Hospital to make it fully functional and provide more schools’ furniture in the state.

Fodio Zakariya and Abdurahman Umar, the representatives of Islamic groups and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), respectively, called for the provision of more people-oriented programmes as well as the expansion of Islamic schools, for the increased inculcation of moral trainings.

Mr. Augustine Onah, who spoke on behalf of the residents’ communities, lauded Aliyu’s stewardship that had transformed Sokoto state and called for the construction of more link roads to boost businesses.

The former Dep. Gov., Alhaji Chiso Dattijo, said Sokoto state had about 5.3 million youths out of the 7.2 million total population in the state.

He, therefore, called for increased youths’ empowerment and skills acquisition training programmes.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Zayyana, said the meeting was to widen consultations on the proposed 2026 budget making.

He said, "This is besides the approved work guidelines which aligned with the global best practices towards improved transparency and accountability.

The UNICEF representative, Mr. Micheal Juma, appreciated the government’s commitment on children’s care, nutrition, healthcare, sanitation, education and social protection.

He, however, called for sustained efforts through increased budgetary locations.

Responding, Aliyu said Islamic religion would continue to have a high allocation in accordance with the Nine-point Agenda set out by the present administration for Mosques’ and Islamic schools’ construction.

He added that four water supply schemes would soon be refurbished while two had been completed.

Aliyu said that this was apart from the installation of a solar-powered system for the State Water Board facilities and hospitals to address erratic electricity supply.

According to him, 60 per cent of schools had gotten new furniture while 40 per cent would get their shares soon, vowing more budgetary allocations for child nutrition, child health and child education.

Aliyu explained that the state government had partnered with a team of experts from the United Arab Emirate to undertake a joint programme on healthcare and education, which would soon commence. (NAN)