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The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Katsina State, has called on Gov. Dikko Radda’s administration to redouble efforts to fully combat banditry.
Mr Abdulrahman Abdullahi, the Chairman of the coalition stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina.
According to him, within the last year of the administration, the governor did well in trying to address security challenges.
He cited the establishment of the Community Security Watch and providing them with working tools to tackle banditry.
Abdullahi said, “However, the governor needs to do more in ensuring that bandits are crushed.
”This rainy season should be the litmus test in assessing the return of investment in the area of security promotion.
“The governor should facilitate a sustainable onslaught on the bandits using air and land forces simultaneously.
“He should also motivate the Community Watch through timely payment of their monthly stipends, reward for excellent performance, welfare packages and the provision of more sophisticated working tools.”
Commending the governor for recruiting 7,300 teachers, Abdullahi said in spite of that, schools were still facing challenges in running costs required to function well.
He added that the governor needed to see that schools were given adequate running costs and in good time.
Abdullahi added, “From our findings, schools have not been paid their running costs for the 2nd term and we are now in the 7th week of the 3rd term without the funds again.
“This forces the heads of the schools to incessantly borrow to run their schools affairs.
”On this, we call on the governor to look into this issue and ensure that schools are paid their running costs in good time.”
According to him, to address street begging, hawking, rape and other child-related vices, there is the need for the full implementation of the ‘Child Protection Law’ in the state.
“The performance of Katsina State in the social sector budget for the year 2023 calls for more releases of funds for the sector.
“This will promote social protection and take development down to the doorsteps of the poor,” according to the state Chairman of the CSOs,” Abdullahi said.
According to him, the governor should also be commended for endorsing and establishing a ‘Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Redress Centre’, establishment of an ‘Anti-Corruption Commission and Fiscal Responsibility Commission’.
Malam Kasimu Kabir, a tea vendor, said that the administration was doing well in the area of education, agriculture and insecurity, among others.
He urged, ”But it should also consider the provision of potable drinking water.”
According to another trader, Malam Bilyaminu Sani, in spite of the economic challenges, the government should focus on the well-being of the people, especially through enforcing a ban on grains hoarding.
NAN recalls that Gov. Dikko Radda had recently said that his administration had reduced banditry to about 70 per cent in the last one year.
This, he said, was sequel to the robust synergy between the local security outfits and the conventional security agencies across the state.
He said, ”It is high time to have state Police included in the fight against insecurity in the country. We have reduced the rate of banditry to about 60 to 70 per cent.
“What we are witnessing now is the crazy approach by the bandits going to hard-to-reach villages close to forests, burning houses and killing people. This is our major challenge at the moment.”
Radda also said that his administration was doing its best towards improving agriculture, education and health among other sectors in the state.
NAN
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