Jigawa State Executive Council has approved a request by the State Pilgrims Board for a loan of Three Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira from the state government.
The State Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports, and Culture, Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed, disclosed this while addressing journalists after the council meeting held at the Government House, Dutse.
He explained that the council’s approval aims to enable the board to reserve and secure 400 seats for intending Jigawa State pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj operations.
According to him, the approval is in line with Council’s satisfaction with
State Pilgrims Board timely refund of 2.2bn loan granted to the Board in 2024 as presented by the Secretary to the State Government.
Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed said, the Council has approved the inclusion of all political office holders into the scheme as provided by the jigawa state contributory health management Agency JICHMA law no. 02 -2024 as amended with a view to improve the universal health coverage in the state and Nigeria at large as presented by the Secretary to the State
Government.
He said, the Council has also ratified the executive approval granted by Governor Umar Namadi of for the release of sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira as matching fund for the purchase of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) between Jigawa State Government and UNICEF.
Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed said the Council has approved the inclusion of all political office holders in the scheme, as provided by the Jigawa State Contributory Health Management Agency (JICHMA) Law No. 02-2024 (as amended).
To him, the decision aims to enhance universal health coverage in the state and Nigeria at large, as presented by the Secretary to the State Government.
He also disclosed that the Council has ratified the executive approval granted by Governor Umar Namadi for the release of the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira as a matching fund for the purchase of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) in collaboration with UNICEF.
The Commissioner added that, the approval is also part of the Namadi’s administration efforts to combat malnutrition among children in the State as presented by the Ministry of Health.
COV/USMAN MZ
