The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has decried the neglect of the traditional rulers by the 23 Local Government Areas in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar had made this observation on Tuesday in Sokoto when he paid the traditional Sallah homage to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.
The sultan led the 85 District Heads in the state and Senior Counsellors of the Sultanate Council of Sokoto on the visit to the government house.
According to the monarch, the 23 Local Governments should humbly emulate you on how you are taking us all along.
”The local governments chairmen should endeavour to see the traditional rulers as partners in progress and not as antagonists,” he said.
Abubakar further restated the commitment of the traditional rulers to join hands with the government in moving the state and the nation forward.
The sultan also advocated for a census of all houses across the state, in view of the prevailing security situation in the nation.
The monarch averred that all houses, especially rented apartments should be adequately numbered and registered.
”This is to ensure that any person residing in the state is known, including their pictures.
” This is absolutely necessary to ensure that both the security agencies and the government know who resides where.
‘” Also, doing so will make it easier to apprehend any suspected criminals as well as nip crimes in the bud,” the monarch said.
Abubakar directed all District Heads in the state to henceforth be providing monthly reports on the enrolment, retention and completion of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools in the state.
He commended the governor for forming a special education committee under his chairmanship.
The committee, the monarch vowed, would work to restore the lost glory of the education sector in the state.
Responding, Tambuwal commended the sultan for his tireless efforts to transform the state.
The governor said that the sultan is a father to all and he is diligently providing wise counsels to all.
”Traditional rulers in the state are contributing immensely to ensure the success of all government programmes, policies and projects.
”The sultan had played key roles in the eradication of polio and we are now fighting malaria as well as mosquitoes,” he said.
The governor further promised to continue to provide drugs, insecticide treated nets and sustain the fumigation against mosquitoes across the state.
This, he said, was necessary to keep the scourge of malaria at bay.
Tambuwal further urged residents of the state to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, to complement the fight against malaria.
He said that census of farmers was conducted recently by the state government to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from farm inputs from the government.
The governor promised to involve the traditional rulers in effectively governing the state. (NAN)