Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, empowered over 4,912 underserved women through the “A Kori Taluachi” poverty alleviation programme, providing financial assistance ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦300,000 to beneficiaries across the state.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists on Thursday, the governor’s Principal Private Secretary, Prof. Ayuba Bello, described the initiative as a cornerstone of the state’s poverty alleviation strategy aimed at fostering economic independence and self-sufficiency among women.
“The ‘A Kori Taluachi’ programme empowers underserved women with financial support, ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦300,000, to help them improve their livelihoods,” Bello stated.
In addition to empowering women, Governor Sani’s administration supported 100 food vendors during the Kaduna Food Festival held in April 2024, a move designed to stimulate the local economy and create opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the state government has launched a revolving loan scheme with a ₦500 million seed fund to assist civil servants.
The scheme offers loans at a single-digit interest rate of 5% to help civil servants meet financial obligations and improve their standard of living.
“The loan initiative aims to alleviate financial pressures on civil servants while enhancing their quality of life,” Bello added.
Significant progress has also been made in clearing pension arrears, with ₦4.7 billion disbursed for death and gratuity benefits.
Bello underscored the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, citing Kaduna’s recognition as the most transparent sub-national entity by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity Watch (CeFTPIW).
“Kaduna has been ranked first in the Transparency and Public Integrity Index and second in the ICAN Accountability and Transparency Index, reflecting our commitment to effective resource management,” Bello noted.
Bello highlighted improvements in Kaduna’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which reached ₦62.49 billion in 2023, making it the highest in the northern region.
This growth was attributed to financial inclusion policies, an expanded tax net, and visible government investments that have enhanced voluntary tax compliance.
“Governor Sani’s administration prioritizes citizen’s engagement and ensures tax revenues are effectively utilized for development projects, which has fostered trust and improved compliance,” Bello said.
These initiatives align with the governor’s vision of promoting inclusivity, fostering economic growth, and improving the standard of living for the people of Kaduna State.