To effectively tackle the problems bedeviling the education in Sokoto, the state government said it has resolved to declare a state of emergency in the sector.
The move becomes imperative not just because standards have fallen, but because education holds the key to tackling virtually all challenges of governance in Sokoto state in particular, and Nigeria in general.
This was part of the decision reached at a retreat organised by the Sokoto state government for its political office holders and senior public officials which ended in Kaduna at the weekend.
A communique issued in Sokoto Sunday, signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Bashir Garba, said its regrettable that Sokoto has failed to fulfill its quota in all federal tertiary institutions largely due to poor foundations in primary and secondary education in the state.
It said declaring a state of emergency will enable the government to fully focus in the sector by pooling resources and implementing expert advise on the way forward.
Similarly, it urged the government to key into the activities of the Sokoto Education Trust Fund which has trained over 30,000 beneficiaries in various intervention programmes in the sector in the last 17 years.
On the Almajiri system of education, the communique decried the bastardisation of the concept, and resolved to work assiduously with religious scholars and traditional rulers to sensitize the public on the true position of Islam which abhors begging.
As part of the new paradigm shift in governance, the communiqué the State Government also resolved to exploit and harness the abundant mineral resources available in the state, and facilitate the acquiring of mining licenses to ease the exploitation.
“In addition to this, relevant data should be generated on available mineral deposits so as to woo investors for the economic growth of the State and as a measure of creating employment opportunities for the teeming populace,” the state added.
“Government will ensure the enunciation of well-coordinated, coherent and consistent strategies that will enhance IGR and adopts other viable financial policies that will propel good Governance.
“To adopt transparent, accountable and people-oriented attitudes in the conduct of government business by shunning corruption and abuse of office as well as ensuring enforcement of accountability standards and penalties for defaults,” it added.
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