By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa State Government has reiterated its commitment to continuing the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme for primary school pupils across the state.

The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Haruna Musa, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office.
He confirmed that the 2025 approved budget includes provisions for the programme, ensuring its continuity once the Federal Government resumes its funding.

Professor Musa explained that the school feeding programme is a joint initiative between the federal and state governments, with the federal government funding meals for pupils in primary one to three, while Jigawa State covers primary four to six. However, the programme was suspended due to the federal government halting its funding.

“Governor Malam Umar Namadi has consistently made provisions for school feeding in every annual budget. He allocated funds in 2024 and increased the amount in 2025 to accommodate possible inflation in food prices. The state government is fully prepared to resume the programme as soon as the federal government reinstates its funding,” Musa stated.

He urged the federal government to revisit the programme without further delay, emphasizing its positive impact on school attendance when it was previously active.
Reacting to a recent UNICEF report, which listed Jigawa as one of the states with the highest number of out-of-school children and poor foundational literacy and numeracy skills, Professor Musa acknowledged the challenge but described it as an inherited problem that has persisted for decades.
“Governor Malam Umar Namadi is committed to addressing this issue through strategic measures, including recruiting over 5,000 qualified teachers and providing adequate teaching and learning materials to schools,” he said.
As part of its reforms, the Jigawa State Government has partnered with NewGlobe, a UK-based education solutions provider, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the “Jigawa Unite” initiative aimed at transforming basic education in the state.
“Our partnership with NewGlobe is a deliberate step toward improving foundational education. We are committed to ensuring every child in Jigawa receives quality education, and I believe history will judge us right for this investment in our children’s future,” Musa added.
According to UNICEF data, Jigawa State has about 800,000 out-of-school children, with only 2% of primary school learners possessing foundational reading skills, while less than 1% demonstrate basic numeracy skills.
With the renewed focus on school feeding, teacher recruitment, and strategic partnerships, the state government hopes to improve school enrollment and educational outcomes across Jigawa.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa State Revenue Agency has launched a community outreach campaign in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency to boost internal revenue generation.

A statement issued in Dutse by Executive Director of Prime Initiative, Muhammad Abdu Dutse disclosed that the campaign which began last week, has covered six major markets across the state.
The initiative aims to educate traders, community leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders on tax compliance while fostering trust between taxpayers and tax authorities.

Key highlights of the campaign included direct engagements with market participants, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns and discuss ways to improve their businesses and tax remittances.

“Over 600 participants attended the outreach across the six markets, with shop-to-shop engagements ensuring inclusivity.
Out of 54 grievances recorded, 34 were resolved on-site within an average time of 30 minutes,” the statement revealed.
The initiative emphasized the importance of transparency in tax collection, with participants gaining insights into their tax obligations, the developmental impact of taxes, and how to access Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) services. Many stakeholders also expressed the need for improved infrastructure, including better market facilities, to enhance tax compliance.

“This outreach has significantly strengthened trust and transparency between the government and taxpayers. By engaging directly with communities, we are laying a foundation for sustainable revenue generation and improved public service delivery in Jigawa State,” Muhammad Abdu Dutse stated.

Market leaders also praised the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable tax system. The Market Leader of Maigatari Market noted, “Face-to-face engagement and immediate grievance resolution have helped us better understand how taxes are utilized.”
Participants recommended that the Jigawa State government adopt a “tax-for-service” model to increase accountability and compliance.
They urged the government to implement policies that address citizens’ immediate needs and foster a conducive environment for tax payments.

The markets visited so far include Hadejia, Gujungu, Sara, Maigatari, and Shuwari.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Gwaram Local Government Council in Jigawa State has provided free medical treatment to over 5,000 individuals suffering from mental illness, eye conditions, and other ailments through three rounds of medical outreach programs. These initiatives, conducted across the council’s 11 political wards, took place within the first 100 days of the council’s administration.

Council chairman and Jigawa State ALGON (Association of Local Government of Nigeria) Chairman, Professor Salim Abdurraman, disclosed this in an interview with National Update. He noted that the council’s interventions targeted rising cases of mental illness linked to the harmattan season. Over 350 individuals with psychiatric conditions received free treatment and follow-up medications.

“We called on families with mentally ill patients to report to their respective councilors, and we registered 350 patients across the area,” Abdurraman stated. He added that the council engaged psychiatric specialists who were stationed in Dingaya town to treat the patients. Those requiring further attention were referred to psychiatric hospitals.

The chairman further highlighted that the medical outreach program addressed common health challenges and cost the council over N30 million. The interventions also included extensive eye care services, benefitting over 5,000 individuals.

“In October, shortly after assuming office, we treated over 2,000 patients with eye conditions during the first medical outreach, which included minor surgeries. This exercise restored sight to many and cost over N10 million,” he revealed.

The second round, costing N9.7 million, provided treatment for over 750 patients, including surgeries for 196 individuals. During the third exercise, held in Fagam and Tsangarwa towns, 1,229 patients received eye care, 210 received corrective glasses, and each patient was given N5,000 for transportation.

Professor Abdurraman expressed gratitude to Governor Malam Umar Namadi for supporting local government autonomy and ensuring non-interference in their administration and finances, which enabled the council to execute these impactful programs.