We Have Failed Our Children, Says Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab
Ahmed, has urged parents to instill family values in their children
as a way to save the country from degeneration.

The minister made the call on Saturday in Kaduna during a
stakeholders’ engagement with 77 district heads, religious and
community leaders from the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna
State.

“We are calling the attention of parents that we have failed our
children in the sense that the kind of values we use to have is no
more.

“We need to remind ourselves that our children need to be
upright and that this criminality going on, on daily basis, is not
for their benefits and the benefit of the state and country.”

The minister appreciated efforts by the Kaduna state government
in managing security issues in the state.

Ahmed told the stakeholders that the Federal Government has
created a N75 billion entrepreneurship support fund, to enable
youths in the country grow their businesses and be economically
independent.

The minister explained that the fund would support the youth to
actualize their innovative and enterprenueral ideas, be productive
and employers of labour.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Dr.
Muhammad Mahmud, called for collective efforts to tackle the
security challenges in the country.

He urged the stakeholders to support government in addressing
the security challenges and unemployment in the country.

The minister advised the youths to be self reliant, by focusing
on skills acquisition and not depending on government.

Mahmud urged the leaders to be advocates of peace in their
respective communities in order to bring about meaningful
development.

Earlier, the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe,
appealed to the stakeholders to sensitise their communities on the
need to always uphold the law in all their conducts.

According to her, the state government will remain resolute in
dealing with any lawlessness and criminal acts.

She also condemned the recent spate of looting and destruction
of public and private properties.

“These mob actions are unreasonable and intolerable,” the deputy
governor said.

She expressed the hope that the interactions would lead to
understanding and collective efforts to develop the state.

“As good citizens, it is part of our civic duty to support
government in the development of the state.

“So, we need this interactions between the government,
traditional and religious institutions that allow us to reason
together.

“It is agreed that there are problems, but government is doing
all it can to address them. I urge all on the need to join forces
to save the society from those seeking to destroy it.

“This is a responsive government and we have listened to the
demands of our people and are doing our best to address them,” the
deputy governor added.

The stakeholders tasked the government to do more in securing
the lives and property of the people.

They appreciated the government for its efforts so far in
managing the security situation across the state, and requested
that such interface be held quarterly, to address emerging
challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ekiti State
Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr Fayemi Kayode,
and Governors of Sokoto and Jigawa, Aminu Tambuwal and Badaru
Abubakar, respectively, attended the event. (NAN)

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab
Ahmed, has urged parents to instill family values in their children
as a way to save the country from degeneration.

The minister made the call on Saturday in Kaduna during a
stakeholders’ engagement with 77 district heads, religious and
community leaders from the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna
State.

“We are calling the attention of parents that we have failed our
children in the sense that the kind of values we use to have is no
more.

“We need to remind ourselves that our children need to be
upright and that this criminality going on, on daily basis, is not
for their benefits and the benefit of the state and country.”

The minister appreciated efforts by the Kaduna state government
in managing security issues in the state.

Ahmed told the stakeholders that the Federal Government has
created a N75 billion entrepreneurship support fund, to enable
youths in the country grow their businesses and be economically
independent.

The minister explained that the fund would support the youth to
actualize their innovative and enterprenueral ideas, be productive
and employers of labour.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Dr.
Muhammad Mahmud, called for collective efforts to tackle the
security challenges in the country.

He urged the stakeholders to support government in addressing
the security challenges and unemployment in the country.

The minister advised the youths to be self reliant, by focusing
on skills acquisition and not depending on government.

Mahmud urged the leaders to be advocates of peace in their
respective communities in order to bring about meaningful
development.

Earlier, the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe,
appealed to the stakeholders to sensitise their communities on the
need to always uphold the law in all their conducts.

According to her, the state government will remain resolute in
dealing with any lawlessness and criminal acts.

She also condemned the recent spate of looting and destruction
of public and private properties.

“These mob actions are unreasonable and intolerable,” the deputy
governor said.

She expressed the hope that the interactions would lead to
understanding and collective efforts to develop the state.

“As good citizens, it is part of our civic duty to support
government in the development of the state.

“So, we need this interactions between the government,
traditional and religious institutions that allow us to reason
together.

“It is agreed that there are problems, but government is doing
all it can to address them. I urge all on the need to join forces
to save the society from those seeking to destroy it.

“This is a responsive government and we have listened to the
demands of our people and are doing our best to address them,” the
deputy governor added.

The stakeholders tasked the government to do more in securing
the lives and property of the people.

They appreciated the government for its efforts so far in
managing the security situation across the state, and requested
that such interface be held quarterly, to address emerging
challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ekiti State
Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr Fayemi Kayode,
and Governors of Sokoto and Jigawa, Aminu Tambuwal and Badaru
Abubakar, respectively, attended the event. (NAN)