The national leadership of the Sports Writers‘ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has honoured Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule with the Icon Of Sports Award.
The award, which is the highest honour bestowed by the body on individual, was presented to the governor by the [resident of SWAN, Comrade Benjamin Kemje Isaiah in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Speaking at the occasion, Comrade Isaiah said Governor Sule was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the development of sports in the state, and the country in general.
We don‘t just give awards to people. We give awards to people who truly deserve it.
Your Excellency, you merit this award we are giving to you today, and even the one we will be giving to you in Abuja, next year, during the SWAN at 60 Anniversary Celebration.
Suffice to state here that you are the first Governor and high-ranking personality from Northern Nigeria to be bestowed with this prestigious ICON OF SPORTS AWARD,“ he explained.
Mr. Isaiah also appreciated the governor for being the first to host the body‘s national leadership and equally accepted to host its NEC meeting.
Your Excellency‘s administration is doing very well, you have given the State a huge facelift, and it‘s not a mistake that the good people of Nasarawa State elected you for a second term as their Governor.
„We also wish to commend Your Excellency for appointing some of our members into various offices under your administration, particularly one of us, Mr. Eche Amos, as a Board Member of Nasarawa United FC. We value him so much in this Association, and I can remember vividly what you gave as your reasons for appointing him into such position of leadership,“ he stated.
Receiving the award, the Governor expressed his gratitude to SWAN for the recognition, stating that it was a proof of his administration‘s commitment to promoting sports development in the state.
The governor used the opportunity to announce plans to build a major stadium in Lafia and six mini stadia across the state to enable youths engage in various sporting activities.
Sule who described sports as a unifying factor said the state would build a brand new stadium in Lafia and six mini Stadia across the state to encourage sports not only in the capital but across different locations to enable the youth enjoy sports to it fullest.
He noted that the state government under his leadership was carrying out different sporting programmes to harness young talents saying that it has introduced local Government councils sports competition to promote sports activities in the state.
I am deeply humbled by this award, and I want to thank the National Leadership of SWAN for this recognition. I am not taking it for granted.
We have worked tirelessly to create opportunities for our youth to excel in various sports disciplines, and this award is a validation of our efforts.
Thank you for selecting Nasarawa State for the NEC meeting, and thank you for your kind comments and commendations on some of our people in SWAN who are doing very very well.
„In Nasarawa State, we look at sports from two directions, first as an instrument of unity, and secondly as a source of business through which we can empower our youth to deviate from criminalities, and become self-reliant so they can also give back to the society.
„I place high premium on sports and stakeholders in the industry, and this is why we are going to construct a brand new stadium in Lafia, and six other mini stadia, and other sporting infrastructure across the State so that we can better encourage our sports development and stakeholders.
As an administration, we have introduced many programmes on sports and have high regards for excellence, so that all the Local Government Areas will benefit and expose their hidden talents to the world, like Lafia Local Government Area who recently won the Governor‘s Cup, and we handsomely rewarded them and even sponsored them to watch the Super Eagles of Nigeria‘s AFCON Qualifier against Rwanda in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State,“ the governor said.
Gov. Sule Handover Marhai National Park To Federal Government
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has handed over the Marhai National Park in Wamba local government area to the federal government.
Governor Sule officially handed over the park to the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal at the government house, Lafia.
The governor urged the federal government to fully maximise the park to attract tourism and generate revenue to the state and the country at large.
He reaffirmed the readiness of the state government to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Environment to ensure the park reaches its full potential.
He called on the Conservator General to leverage Marhai’s unique resources to enhance conservation efforts.
The Minister of Environment on his part, reiterated the commitment of the federal government towards preserving the natural beauty and bio diversity of national parks across the country.
The minister lauded Governor Sule for his role in facilitating the park’s preservation and eventual transfer to the federal government.
He noted that the journey to elevate the park’s status began in 2011, and its realization highlights the nation’s focus on biodiversity conservation.
Also speaking, the Conservator General expressed gratitude for the opportunity to oversee the park and assured stakeholders that cutting-edge technology would be utilized for its effective management.
VAT‘s responsible for 60 percent of Nasarawa allocation -Governor Sule
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has said that his administration is at the forefront of the current debate against the tax reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because Value Added Tax (VAT) is responsible for 60 percent of Nasarawa State‘s monthly federation allocation.
Governor Sule made this known while launching the domestic resource mobilization for the adoption of additional 250, 000 poor and vulnerable persons into the state‘s health insurance scheme, in Lafia.
He said if the ongoing reforms succeeds, his administration may not be able to sustain lofty programmes such as the insurance scheme that can touch the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
In Nasarawa State, the VAT has always contributed over 60 percent of our FAAC allocation. You can understand why Nasarawa is also at the forefront in the issues of VAT.
We are not doing it to antagonize anybody. We are not doing it to make anybody look bad. We are doing it because we believe that even some of these things that we are doing to touch the lives of the vulnerable would be affected the moment the VAT is affected,“ he stated.
He equally l
amented the impasse involving civil servants in the state who proceeded on strike even after his administration approved N70, 5
00 as the new minimum wage, with workers having issues regarding the consequential adjustment.
This is a state where we have approved N70, 500 as minimum wage but we still have our workers on strike because of the aspect of consequential adjustment which they believe what we are giving as consequential adjustment is not enou
gh for them.
I am happy that some of them are here. I wish the union leaders were also here to hear you. That the only way we would be able to achieve this is if we have it as a first line charge. Whether we have it as a first line charge, the resources that they think we are getting will not even be there if the tax reforms succeed in their current forms,“ he added.
Governor Sule said his administration established the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency through the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Law 2021 to provide access to the needed health services that is of sufficient quality to all the citizens of Nasarawa State.
He explained that the scheme is also to ensure that the poor and vulnerable in the society are protected from further impoverishement in view of the emergent health care cost.
The Governor listed various other interventions geared towards inclusivity and efficient health care services, especially for the poor and vulnerable, with his administration initially launching an equity fund for vulnerable groups,
additional release of N500m as contribution to offset premium for the state‘s health insurance scheme, aside of the 0.5 percent of the consolidated revenue of the state as equity fund to cover the health care needs of the vulnerable persons in the state, in line with the enabling law establishing the health insurance scheme.
We are also gathered here today to launch the Nasarawa State Health Adoption Programme for the Poor and Vulnerable in the state as part of our sustained efforts in the health sector, believing that the provision of health services is very critical to any responsive government,“ he stated.
While appreciating other donors at the event, including stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, as well as spirited individuals, launched the programme with the sum of one hundred million naira.