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.