By Babangida KAKAKI
Humanity knows Hon. Rayyan Hussein as its champion. Last year, on 10th December 2023, even before indicating interest in contesting for the office of the Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Area, as the then CEO of RayCare Foundation, a nongovernmental organization, Hon. Rayyan in the company of his wife, Hajiya Salma Abu Rayyan, and his staff paid a visit to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna to commiserate with victims of the ill-fated bomb attacks at Tudun Biri village of Igabi Local Government Area.
He donated the sum of ₦2,500,000 directly to the victims. That was my first major encounter with him. I later found out that he has been doing good for a long time through this foundation, and with his resources. Little wonder, then, that it is easier for him now to understand where best to put public resources to make an immediate impact.
As his tenure as the new Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government begins, it is not too soon to begin an assessment of his style and steps on the wheel. Governance at the grassroots is, perhaps the elixir needed to propel a nation with enormous challenges as Nigeria forward. Hon. Rayyan Hussein understands this, and that is why he is already a shining and conspicuous example among his peers.
Even before his inauguration, he set up a powerful transition committee and tasked it with far-reaching terms of reference to ensure a smooth transition and make recommendations for a smooth transition to hit the ground running. In addition, his belief that “local government administration must be local” and closest to the people, makes it imperious for Hon. Rayyan Hussein to commit his whole heart to the people of Kaduna South.
As soon as he assumed office, he immediately deployed his wealth of experience, received and adopted the report of the transition committee, and embarked on consultations with stakeholders to roll out plans and programmes to take Kaduna South to prosperity and leave lasting legacies.
To match words with action, Hon. Rayyan Hussein has within just two months of assumption of office initiated not less than 49 projects that have direct bearing on public lives. It is clear even to the naysayers that Hon. Rayyan has started on the right footing. His belief that after politics, governance begins, made him call for a meeting with the chairmen of all political parties within Kaduna South, wherein he sought their support, and counsel, and secured their pledge to contribute ideas and moblise their supporters to align with his vision for the Local Government.
LG Secretariat Overhaul
Once he assumed office, he first took steps to rehabilitate the Local Government Secretariat, which was an eyesore – considered less than befitting for a Local Government of Kaduna South’s standing. The secretariat was not only vulnerable to burglary, it was also dilapidated, with reptiles and birds making it their habitat. No running water, the electricity supply was disconnected for more than a year, and the wall fencing was open and unfortified, among other challenges.
So far, the secretariat is in excellent shape, making it the first statement that the New Sheriff in town means business. In an interview, one of the associates of the Chairman, Hon. Kabir Umar told us that, the project is a major one, aimed at giving the Secretariat a befitting look. It is now conducive for both staff and visitors, and the people of Kaduna South are proud to call it theirs.
This is not all, the chairman’s plan for enhancement of the welfare of staff of the Local Government is materializing in different ways, as staff now receive leave allowances and special welfare packages during the festive period. He believes, strongly, in the well-being of workers, and will continue to pursue a policy of empowering them.
One of the staff interviewed told us that since he was posted to Kaduna South Local Government, he has never seen a leader with a clear vision and direction as Hon. Rayyan. His presence and open-mindedness have endeared all the staff to him and are adjusting to the style and energy he is bringing. Another staff added that they now go home always looking forward to coming back to work, knowing that their services are valued, their welfare catered for, and allowed to work freely to change the lives of the people.
Education
Right from the time of his campaigns, his signature promise has been to ensure that the people of Kaduna South get to enroll their children in better schools. As such, he shifted his focus to education and a cardinal thrust of his administration. Hon. Hussein implemented a backlog of teachers’ promotions. He began with the promotion of 50 teachers as well as paying them all their monthly arrears in the first instance, while others were billed to receive theirs in the coming months. The teachers expressed their appreciation and promised to double their efforts in discharging their duties. Some of them have not been promoted for over seven years but are now hopeful that they have a leader listening to their cries and addressing them promptly.
He embarked on a series of visits to assess the schools’ condition and the teaching quality. He is not satisfied with how these schools are run and is already doing everything to improve them.
Also, the absence of security in the facilities contributes to their deteriorating state. He quickly reached out for the services of KADGVS to secure all primary schools across the LGA to guard against intruders, theft, and vandalszation of their premises.
Even before settling in office, Hon. Rayyan rolled out a plan to enroll 200 students for the National Examination Council (NECO), Senior Secondary School Examination, free of charge, with the plan of improving and rolling out a policy on education, scholarship and students’ support in the coming weeks.
The welfare of District Heads
In line with his position of inclusive governance, and the value he attaches to our traditional institutions, the Chairman reviewed the allowances and running costs of the three District Heads of Barnawa, Makera, and Tudun Wada to fairly reflect current economic realities. He has also engaged them more and wielded them more roles.
Healthcare
The Chairman also embarked on an inspection of some of the primary healthcare facilities and realised the level of decay and enormous work required to put them to optimal service to the people of Kaduna South. In the case of Kinkinau and Unguwar Muazu Primary Healthcare Centres, where electric wires were looted and vandalized, he restored them and installed a solar system. Other bugging issues relating to Kagoro PHC and others were immediately addressed.
The outbreak of cholera when he assumed duty, also put him to the test, and he did his best to provide rapid response with free healthcare to those affected. He also went ahead to direct the clearing of congested drainages and evacuated refuse dumps in less than one month. This also led to the revival of a mandatory bi-monthly sanitation exercise across the LGA, commencing on Saturday, 14th December 2024.
He also commenced a special programme for pregnant women. On December 28th, 2024, with the support of the District Head of Tudun Wada, Alhaji Tahir Mahmud, and other government officials, he kicked off the distribution of free maternity kits for pregnant women and children’s vaccines against maternal sickness.
Similarly, due to challenges relating to access to healthcare, the Chairman has concluded plans to enroll 600 deserving residents into the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA). This is aimed at ensuring the healthcare needs of families are met when they are most vulnerable.
Graveyard upkeep
The Chairman believes in the sanctity of not just our homes, but the resting home for the souls of our families. First, Hon. Hussein met the 17 caretakers of Bashama Road Cemetery, among which 12 have been volunteering without allowances but the goodwill of the people. He found that arrangement unacceptable and decided to put them on the payroll of the Local Government for a monthly salary. Seven others were added to the list from Barnawa, and Unguwan Mu’azu cemeteries making it 19 volunteer workers altogether. This has been adjudged as unprecedented and thoughtful. While in tears, one of the beneficiaries prayed for the chairman to succeed and expressed how overwhelming it is for him to have the Chairman come to them to listen to their cries.
He also partnered with KADGVS to provide round-the-clock security at the cemetery, and around Bashama Road where armed robbery has become rampant by phone snatchers. More lighting is also to be provided around the graveyard. The Raycare Foundation also came in to construct modern toilets and a befitting corpse washing area at the Bashama Road Cemetery.
In the same vein, when he visited the cemetery, he met neighbouring residents drawing water from a single borehole tap inside it. Hon. Hussein felt it was unhealthy for residents to be drawing water from a cemetery and instructed that a standard motorized borehole be constructed for the Tudun-Ilu community as an alternative to their going into a cemetery to fetch water
Empowerment initiative
Aware of the socioeconomic level of his people, Hon. Hussein has launched a Cash Empowerment Programme, which started with 250 beneficiaries from all 13 Wards of the Council. They benefited from ₦10,000, ₦50,000, and ₦100,000, in different categories, depending on the level of their occupations.
Similarly, as Christmas and New Year celebrations approached, he flagged off the distribution of rice to support families to make the best of the Season. 1,000 families have benefited from 10kg, 25kg, and 50kg of bags of rice, respectively. The beneficiaries could be seen shedding tears of joy and singing in excitement at the gesture shown by Hon. Rayyan.
He also made it clear that there are plans to make this a continuous programme to continue empowering the poor, needy, and vulnerable residents, and to ameliorate hardship within Kaduna South.
Community Engagement
Having understood the enormity of the challenges before him, Hon Hussein has adopted an all-inclusive approach to administering the multi-ethnic and pluralistic LG council that consists of different shades of political and religious interests. He continues to draw all opposition parties and diverse religious groups into the leadership and engages many in various committees, projects, and policy-making processes.
He equally initiated a Former Chairmen Kaduna South LG Chairmen Forum to offer counsel in moving the Council forward towards progress and development in line with national as well as global standards. In its first meeting, he honoured the ex-chairmen and asked for pieces of advice on all issues as father figures who served before him, while according to them permission to, as a matter of fact, and urgency, draw his attention to all critical matters that would assist him in administering the Council at any time.
Spontaneous Interventions
While we were working on this report yesterday, I stumbled on another breaking news confirming that Hon. Rayyan is not only a champion for humanity, but as a leader with ears to the ground and responsive to the cries of the people of the Local Government. The People of Ward 7, in Tudun Wada, went about two weeks without a power supply due to what officials of the Kaduna Electric saw as an underpayment of consumed power in the community, as a result of the economic hardship across Nigeria. The Chairman delegated the Councillor of the ward, wherein a deal was brokered, and upon the payment of the sum of N3,500,000 on behalf of the poorest households, power was immediately restored.
In final analysis, Hon. Hussein has began the administration of Kaduna South LG Council on a good footing, within a short period of two months. It’s an indication of his sagacity, gallantry and astuteness as young politics in with a promise to make a resounding marks marks and a legacy.
