By Ali Rabiu Ali, Dutse
The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved more than N9.05 billion in major interventions covering pension enhancement, solar-powered hospital electrification, dairy production, agricultural support for workers, and the procurement of vehicles and information and communication technology equipment for education administration.
The Council also directed the immediate deployment of emergency relief assistance to communities affected by recent rainstorms across the state.
The decisions were taken at the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, July 6, 2026, under the chairmanship of Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi, FCA.
According to a summary of the Council’s resolutions signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Sagir Musa Ahmed, the meeting opened with prayers for victims of the recent rainstorm that devastated several communities across Jigawa State.
The Council expressed sympathy and solidarity with affected families and extended condolences to residents who suffered losses as a result of the disaster.
It subsequently directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, through the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to immediately mobilise emergency relief materials and other essential assistance to affected communities.
The Council said the intervention was intended to provide immediate succour to victims and reduce the impact of the disaster, while relevant government agencies continue assessing the extent of damage.
It also urged residents to remain vigilant throughout the rainy season and cooperate with relevant authorities on safety measures designed to reduce risks associated with severe weather conditions.
Minimum pension rises by 66.7%
In one of the major welfare decisions of the meeting, the Council approved an upward review of the minimum monthly pension payable to retirees under the State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme from N12,000 to N20,000, effective from July 1, 2026.
The increase represents an additional N8,000 per month, equivalent to approximately 66.7 per cent above the previous minimum pension.
To implement the new pension floor, the Council approved N2,068,608,000 as additional annual expenditure to the State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme.
The government said the measure reflects its commitment to improving the welfare and living conditions of retired public servants in recognition of their contributions to the development of the state during their years of active service.
The Council described the decision as part of Governor Namadi’s commitment to social protection, pensioners’ welfare and people-centred governance.
The Executive Council also approved a N2,136,060,609.38 contract for the complete solar-powered electrification of four strategic health facilities across the state.
The benefiting facilities are Birnin Kudu General Hospital, Ringim General Hospital, Kazaure Specialist Hospital and Bulangu Cottage Hospital.
According to the Council, the project is designed to provide reliable and sustainable electricity to the hospitals and strengthen healthcare service delivery.
When completed, the solar power systems are expected to support uninterrupted electricity for critical medical services, improve hospital operational efficiency and reduce recurrent expenditure associated with conventional energy sources.
The government said the investment forms part of its broader efforts to modernise healthcare infrastructure and expand access to quality and sustainable medical services across Jigawa State.
In the agricultural and livestock sector, the Council approved N3,340,739,507.88 for the implementation of the Jigawa State Dairy Production Programme.
The government described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at transforming the livestock sector and significantly increasing dairy productivity.
The programme is expected to strengthen the livestock value chain, generate employment opportunities and improve household incomes, particularly among residents whose livelihoods depend on farming and livestock rearing.
The Council said the initiative aligns with Governor Namadi’s agricultural transformation agenda and the administration’s efforts to unlock the economic potential of the state’s livestock sector.
The Council further approved N923,670,000 for the implementation of the 2026 Rainy Season Phase IV of the Jigawa State Workers’ Agricultural Support Programme.
The programme is designed to support public servants to participate in agricultural production while contributing to food security across the state.
According to the government, the intervention is expected to encourage productive engagement in farming, increase household incomes and boost food production through targeted agricultural assistance.
The Council also approved N581,667,718.75 for the procurement of eight vehicles, 30 laptop computers and 100 desktop computers for deployment to the Jigawa State Senior Secondary Education Board and other parastatals under the State Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
The procurement is aimed at improving education monitoring, strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing operational efficiency across the sector.
The government explained that the eight vehicles would facilitate supervision, inspection and monitoring of educational institutions, while the ICT equipment would support digital administration, data management, communication and other essential functions.
Based on the financial figures contained in the Council resolutions, the explicitly quantified approvals total approximately N9.05 billion, excluding the cost of emergency relief assistance for rainstorm victims, for which no specific amount was announced.
The breakdown comprises N2.069 billion in additional annual pension expenditure, N2.136 billion for solar electrification of four health facilities, N3.341 billion for the dairy production programme, N923.67 million for workers’ agricultural support, and N581.67 million for vehicles and ICT equipment in the education sector.
