Of Lamido

Of Lamido’s Social Security Policy, Talakawa Summit And Genuine Transformation Of Jigawa State (1)

Jibo Nura

It could be recalled that Governor Lamido of Jigawa State outlawed begging by signing the social security Bill on September 3^rd 2007. But the first thing that will greet one, especially at one of the rented private restaurants (Shemar’s) inside the state’s so-called investment house, is ample presence of women beggars who sit at the entrance to the restaurant on daily basis asking for money to buy food.

Another problem that grapples with the state’s capital is the sign of abject poverty in people, particularly those coming from around Dutse inner neighborhoods. Others are menial job seekers and doers who out of necessity create an impromptu market for their petty trading across the street. Whenever one looks at both sides of that only main road passing through Yadi that is, starting from Hakimi street down to the motor park and up to post office road, the site of multitudes of under-aged girls and boys peddling “pure water” in coolers; young ladies hawking groundnuts, kola and akara; ubiquitous able bodied women frying waina and some physically fit men engaged in tea and bread making, are not only unwholesome and unsettling for a state capital but also go far to challenge the bases of our social existence and social security Bill gimmicks.

Although most of these problems afflicting the generality of people in Jigawa are never caused by Governor Lamido, but have their roots deeply embedded in the past administration of Ibrahim Saminu Turaki. Nevertheless, the Talakawa’s (poor and downtrodden) summit initiative, masterminded and spearheaded by Onoja Adagbo and presided over by Governor Lamido falls short of conveying its real meaning and significance to the downtrodden.

Mine is not to delve into the issue of infrastructural under development caused by Turaki or the heavily debt burden of N250 billion that was irresponsibly accumulated by the man and his cronies. Indeed, I am not in the good mood to talk about the wonderful capital development projects embarked by the present administration, because doing so may distract attention and may not allow us to have the necessary attention on the issue at stake. I therefore actually intend to seriously draw the attention of Mr. Adagbo Onoja and his boss over the issue of Talakawa, which they claimed to have been salvaging over time.

One thing that I found worrisome on Lamido-Onoja Talakawa development initiative and social security package are their lack of proper articulation, precision, frankness and exactness. I remember Modibbo Kawu, a columnist and editor with Daily Trust Newspaper telling us the need to be cautious with the entire process behind its conceptualization. Kawu highlighted all the key problem areas that touch on Talakawa’s welfare and social status and offered advice as appropriate.

However, all things said, the summit is now brought to rest. We are yet to hear anything from the side of government on the progress made out of that amplified gathering. In fact, the organizers of such an important but superficially planned summit are not talking about it anymore. They fail to tell Jigawa people the promises made by individuals and Non Governmental Organizations toward elevating the plight of Talaka. Even Kawu who was part and parcel of that initial gathering at Jigawa State’s Library, was disturbed about the “blue-print”, which was supposed to be used as basis for action. Now it appears the whole thing is more or less a political “arrangee” to hoodwink and cajole the masses into believing Lamido as champion of Talakawa?

Indeed we are yet to hear from Mr. Onoja what happened to the millions of Naira that was spent in such a very good but seemingly abandoned initiative.

Left to me, but my understanding of Talaka and elevating his position, especially in a ravaged agrarian society such as mine, has to do with what I termed goalistic thinking and approach to human capital and resource development. The resources we have in our society are enough to turn things around. The agriculture that we made Talaka to abandon, because of lack of incentive has caused serious drawback to our development savvy. We failed to make him understand that the key to prosperity for his life as the poor lie in underexploited, edible trees and bushes in his environment. The lost treasures that can grow naturally in this dry area and give food, even in times of need. Our lack of appreciation for plants such as Kadanya, Zogale, Magarya, ‘Yar caca, Sesame, Date Palm, Kurna, Faru, Dorawa, Kanya, water melon and many of them giving us nutritious food without a lot of labour does not seem to be in tandem with government’s programme on agriculture. We failed to realize that the Talaka who do not have basic necessities of life can be made to have joy and laughter. The crippled or the so-called physically challenged can be made happy and joyous. Indeed, the most hopeless of Talaka can be made to attain full hope and confidence only when we realize that we believe in our potentials.

Recently, a Swedish friend was telling me about his job in one of the poorest villages in Niger republic where he works in partnership with people of Tanout since 1987. His main interest is to help people in that village with developmental disabilities to enable them achieve full inclusion to the best of their abilities by gaining access to mainstream education, employment and leisure activities leading to independent life. Arne Garvi has today helped farmers and their families who have not had a single good rain for the past three years achieve a sustainable life with the means at their disposal. So far he has exonerated more than 2,600 households in Tanout from lack of food. He has given them a developed variety of their own homegrown plants and fruits to farm. They are now happy and have virtually full access to basic things in life. Tanout people are now self reliant and independent and do not necessarily bother much about what their government has to offer. I therefore urge the Jigawa government to change the volte-face of their Talakawa development paradigm into a realistic framework devoid of any ambiguities. The issue of salvaging the downtrodden in Jigawa is really beyond sinking N20 million into sugarcane research at ABUCONS in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria i.e. even when we are yet to understand its genuine potential since Turaki’s era.

On the issue of social security, however, it was said that the administration of Lamido is paying the “physically challenged” persons in the state a monthly stipend of N7,000 each; not minding the fact that there are lots of dimensions to the social security problems in the state. Of course, there is nothing wrong in Lamido’s giving help to the needy, but it does not require any advanced mathematical calculation for one to know that before any package such as this is passed into law there is the need to have a thorough statistical data analyses on the number of “physically challenged” people in a given area i.e. before embarking on resource allocation to them. In fact, the figure of 2,700 physically disabled that was officially given by government is certainly doubtful. This number I understand, was obtained out of the selected destitute from the 27 local government areas in the state. However, this figure dismal as it seems does not substantially cover up to one-third (1/3) of people that are being pushed around in wheelbarrows, totally blind or those without fingers. Probably, the government might have been referring to those disabled residing within Dutse metropolis? Because I know the numbers of all the physically challenged people given by government, can be obtained thrice or even quadrupled from within and outside the entire state. In one local government area alone, one can get 3, 000 persons if not more than who are disabled and physically deformed.

But generally I learnt that the government has now decided to increase the number to 150 of these handicapped people from each local government area. This is certainly a good omen. However, one major problem here is the manner and ways by which these kinds of people are selfishly handpicked by local governments’ chairmen. Indeed, there seems to be a selective application in choosing these people of circumstance. Mallam Khalid of Ummadu village in Miga local government area is one of the beneficiaries of Lamido’s N7, 000 stipend. Hear him:

“We were told that the governor has assigned a committee to look into our affairs, and honestly speaking there are some of my colleagues that their condition is worst than my own, but our local government did not bring them forward to the committee for verification, because they are selecting. I was even told that in some local governments, most of us were not allowed to be seen by the governor’s committee”.

What this old man was trying to explain was the state’s screening committee supervisory tour on the social security issue to all local government areas. The committee was actually carried round by Mallam Bala Musa whereby some of the local government chairmen were not honest in showing the actual target destitute to them. That is why governor Lamido has to be very careful, because he has confided so much in those local government chairmen, not mindful of the fact that some of them do things contrary to what he expects them to do.

What one is trying to get at is this: there is already a monumental deficiency in government’s failure to understand that the sustainability in giving the N7, 000 to those deformed persons is paramount, because there are economic and social angles of the social security problem, which the government deliberately fails to realize. The economic angle has to do with proper utilization and allocation of scarce resources to the appropriate channels. For example, how do we achieve paying those physically challenged persons without necessarily luring and/or exerting undue influence on those that are not disabled into begging? Since the passage of this Bill, how many people have realistically gotten and are still getting this stipend? What is the government target on this so-called social “welfarism” for the physically challenged? These are some of the questions that border on the political angle of the problem that the government prefers to take just to deceive the masses. As one writer asserted elsewhere i.e. “while it is not clear whether government will be able to curtail the influx of beggars who may not necessarily be indigenes of the state but will want to benefit from this largesse”, we are yet to see the identity cards that the government promised to issue for the purpose of strict identification. We are also watching from the background to see how government will miraculously defend its promise of eliminating the beggars found on the streets of Jigawa within one year of its inception into office. A cursory look at our motor parks, local food centres and restaurants can tell one that the government’s taciturnity on beggars is just a political rhetoric.

(R-L) Hajja ‘Yan biyu, Hadiza Musa Zai, Abu Danya and Hajara Dutse anticipating alms at the entrance to Shemar’s restaurant, Investment House, Dutse.

Indeed, Lamido’s administration has to decide on top priority areas and articulate them in its sustainable plan and design supporting programmes with NGOs to make sure that the social policy stipend and beggars’ issue become practical. They should be targeted to reduce poverty in the long term by enabling the poor and disabled to gradually become aware and interested in government’s activities. We shall make them know that the resources at government’s disposal are not hers but theirs.

The social angle of the problem is not farfetched from building a solid foundation for effective social service delivery. The rehabilitation of the disabled and destitute, including senior citizens (aged people) through creation of reformatory centres for them, is very important in this regard. And where we have one, government should rehabilitate it and put health care facilities that will take care of their health status and living. I remember, in Gumel local government area, there was a rehabilitation centre where one hardly sees a disabled person roaming on the street in those days. But today due to lack of duty of care to these people, their life is day in day out becoming generally socially frustrated.

Honestly, I beg to disagree with Lamido that the rehabilitation of what he referred to as “the untrainable”, is not going to be easy. It is my humble submission that there is nothing in human being that is beyond repair provided that he/she is alive. In fact, even properties have their period of wear and tear, but it does not mean you cannot properly discharge and/or take care of them judiciously after their usable period is being exhausted. The “untrainable” can therefore be kept and considered as liability and hence can go to liability homes. We should have, for instance, a local community organization whereby those that are extremely physically challenged can be sorted out by community mayors (Masu unguwanni) or ward heads and be taken care of adequately. Their stipend or whatever assistance that the government intends to give should be submitted to them through the mayors. This will go a long way in minimizing the selectivity approach to government’s intervention. And it will be difficult for the mayor (Mai unguwa) or ward head to corner away the money for his own benefit if he knows that the relative of such a disabled are fully aware of it. The government should also strictly evaluate, monitor and keep eye on who gets the money. Because the issue is: even if you give these disabled people N7, 000 at the end of every month, majorities have no physical ABILITY to spend it on themselves wisely and economically. They usually call their relatives or close associate to help them buy food or anything they so desire, because they don’t have the power and energy to do so. So they practically need our help! After all, the money given to them in my view will even make them become more dependent than independent on government.

This method and procedure can also be achieved at local government level. For Allah’s sake what is the use of our local government social welfare departments? Instead of the state government to engage these local government welfare departments into things like homes for the blind or elderly or even destitute, it lives them with little work that fetch them enough salaries they hardly strive or work for. What a waste? Comfortably, our local government social welfare departments can be directed to suit the prevailing circumstance, which is akin to adult and mass literacy programme that was done in those days popularly called Yaki da Jahilci. They should be used to flag off local community organization campaign on the mission and vision of government’s intention to make Talakawa and Gajiyayyu self reliant and independent. As we do this, we should make them understand that not everything that has to do with their life is government’s responsibility. They should be made to understand that they too have a stake in promoting their welfare and social status. We should make them know that they also have a voice, which the government is ready to listen, particularly on yaki da talauci da fatara i.e. poverty alleviation.

Indeed, the Talakawa summit’s committee and stakeholders need to look at this issue very seriously. They need to actually engage themselves into local community organization programmes. The path to salvaging Talaka may be rough and tedious, but as I often say, President Barack Obama never had the fullest idea of becoming a community organizer. But he told himself that organizers did not make any money; their poverty was proof of their integrity. All the same he chose to be one even when he could not answer his classmates directly on the importance of community organizing. He was in the end able to convince them that change won’t come from the top. But it will surely come from mobilized grass roots.

Hence, organizers of Talakawa summit such as Adagbo Onoja should understand that the Talaka in Jigawa may not give him the desired attention, especially when viewed from the fact that he is not in the best position to understand their top priority areas, because of cultural differences and/or barrier. The fact that he lacks understanding of Jigawa people’s triple cultural heritage i.e. values, tradition and religion, it is certainly going to be difficult for him to make any meaningful impact on the “matter at issue”. He therefore needs to tread softly and persuade these people through ample consultation with the elderly. But the only worry here is that Onoja may not necessarily achieve the target goal in this very important programme. The little encounter one had with him, revealed that he is too advance for the masses in terms of attitude and life style let alone coming down to their level.

Therefore, if Governor Lamido really wants make poverty history for Talakawa there is the need to intensify effort and face the biggest challenge of improving the poor living and trading architecture locally so that more people can lift their status by themselves to prosperity through self reliance and by developing an independent mind toward poverty eradication. As it is, Jigawa is one of the poorest and most poverty stricken state in Nigeria according to recent Central Bank rating and UNDP report.

So many vested interests and powerful political lobbyists that bedeviled the state since 1999 have made the poor to lose so much with nothing to show in terms of state reform.

In view of the aforesaid therefore, we need to ask the question of the 21^st century, can Lamido really make poverty history in Jigawa, for how long the poor will have to wait for this to happen, what can the Onojas and co do to speed it up?

We need to answer these cardinal questions in earnest. And the answer to both is simple: all of us have a role to play. It does not require a rocket science for one to understand that a local farmer or artisan in Jigawa or tailor making traditional attire can make more money in their local businesses without necessarily selling their products to rich customers abroad.

The youth Development Volunteers Scheme programme in Jigawa also has a role to play. Their effort can be used on the goalistic thinking philosophy to help the lives of the rural hapless.

On the issue of agriculture, I urge Lamido to please revisit the 2008 comprehensive agricultural research programme led by Dr. Salisu Ingawa. Contained therein the programme committee’s submission are Jigawa’s agricultural solutions that have to do with all potentially viable lands, crops, plants, and modern agricultural storage techniques and even marketability for all farmers’ produce both in house and abroad.

The government should as a matter of fact try to persuade those road side hawkers, petty traders, retailers and vendors to move inside the market and do their businesses. As it is, the main road linking Dutse, Kiyawa and Kwanar Huguma is looking rowdy and disfigured, most especially along the Motor Park and present market area. God forbid, but in case of eventuality an accident happens or any driver that loses control in that area, there will be massive casualties, because ample people have made the road sides more or less a “safe-haven” for their businesses and investment. Government should therefore try as much as possible to expedite action to complete the new market along the bypass road so that these people can move to their permanent site.

The government should pass a strong law that will force families to stop abusing their children’s right to education by allowing them roam on the streets selling petty things. Parents should be made to understand that educating their kids is a moral duty and religious obligation that each must shoulder as a responsibility. Governor Lamido has already paved the way for them in this regard i.e. by relieving them up from payment of school fees for their girls’ child education in the entire state. For Allah’s sake, if they cannot take these kids off street by sending them back to school, why have they given birth to them from the onset?

Jibo Nura, a Quantity Surveyor, is on assignment in Jigawa State. Email: jibonura@yahoo.com