Democracy Day: Borno Plans to Build 100,000 Free Houses to Rural Residents

As Nigeria celebrates her 14th Democracy Day under the Third Republic, the Borno Government on Wednesday promised to build and deliver 100,000 houses free to its rural residents.

Commenting on the free houses, the Borno Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Youths Empowerment, Zainab Gimba, said in Maiduguri that the houses would be given to villagers across the state to enhance their living condition.

Ms. Gimba explained that the houses would be constructed across the 27 local government areas of the state for even spread.

“Our target is to construct 100,000 block of houses for rural dwellers across the state to provide them with decent accommodation.

“The houses will replace thatched houses currently being used by the villagers,” she said.

The commissioner added that construction work had already commenced in some locations.

“We have started work in some areas like Damasak headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, where about 75 out of the expected 750 houses had been completed.

“We are also mobilising to site in some other locations,” she said.

Ms. Gimba said that the objective was to provide democratic dividends to the people as well as prevent yearly fire disasters associated with thatched houses. She said that government had also employed about 30,000 unemployed youths to produce red blocks for the construction work.

“We have employed about 30,000 youths as labourers to produce blocks for the houses.

“This is in addition to about 25,000 youths engaged in the massive production of interlocking blocks for the beautification of the state capital,” she said.

She said that the state government had been able to reduce poverty by about 30 per cent among youth and women in the state through its various empowerment programmes.

Meanwhile, to mark the day, the Jigawa Government announced that it recruited 4,414 teachers in the last six years.

The state Commissioner for Education, Haruna Wakili, said that the recruitment was one of the major achievements of Gov. Sule Lamido’s administration.

Mr. Wakili explained that 2,927 teachers were employed to teach in primary schools, while 1,487 others were engaged in secondary schools. He said that the percentage of unqualified teachers at basic level had dropped from 74 per cent in 2007 to 42 per cent in 2012. He stated that the present administration was committed to ensuring that all teachers in primary and secondary schools were qualified.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Union of Teachers in Jigawa, Usman Ya’u, lauded Governor Sule Lamido’s administration for the transformation in the education sector, especially primary schools.

Mr. Ya’u explained that the present government had built and renovated primary schools and also provided furniture. He said that the 27.5 per cent increment was implemented in salaries and allowances to motivate teachers.

The chairman also commended the government for introducing various initiatives to improve skills and techniques.