Written By: Ahmed Rufa’i in Dutse
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has honoured the Chairman of Birniwa Local Government Area, Alhaji Shehu Baba Birniwa, for voluntarily enrolling and participating in a one-week special training alongside 2,449 Hisbah personnel in the state.
Governor Namadi, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Aminu Usman, presented the award of honour to the council chairman during the passing-out ceremony held at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Fanisau, Dutse.
Namadi commended Shehu Baba for demonstrating exemplary leadership by personally identifying with the Hisbah personnel throughout the training.
He described the chairman’s participation as a demonstration of commitment to the fight against social vices, promotion of moral values and efforts to build peaceful and secure communities across Jigawa.
The governor said the council chairman’s decision to participate alongside the guards demonstrated the importance of leaders leading by example rather than merely issuing directives.
Speaking shortly after completing the training, Shehu Baba said he voluntarily enrolled in the programme to contribute his quota towards combating social vices and promoting peace in his community and the state.
He said his participation was also intended to encourage and motivate Hisbah personnel, particularly those operating in Birniwa Local Government Area.
“I am glad to be part of this training and to contribute my quota at the grassroots level. Hisbah guards are ambassadors of moral uprightness, working against bad deeds and encouraging good conduct,” he said.
The chairman added that he hoped his participation would inspire other leaders and citizens to contribute to community development and the creation of safer communities.
Shehu Baba commended Governor Namadi for his administration’s commitment to reforming and strengthening the Hisbah institution through improved welfare, training, equipment and institutional restructuring.
The one-week training involved Hisbah personnel drawn from the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.
The programme was designed to improve their knowledge, skills, discipline and operational capacity in tackling social vices and promoting peace, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Governor Aminu Usman reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to continuously strengthen the Hisbah institution through capacity building, improved welfare and provision of operational equipment.
He said the training formed part of the government’s broader reform programme aimed at repositioning the Hisbah Commission and making it more effective and responsive to the needs of the people.
According to him, the administration has upgraded the Hisbah Commission to a board as part of efforts to strengthen its institutional structure and improve its operations.
He disclosed that the government had also increased the minimum monthly allowance of Hisbah personnel from ₦6,000 to ₦25,000.
The state government also provided 27 Toyota Hilux vehicles, one for each local government area, to strengthen patrol operations and improve the mobility of Hisbah personnel across the state.
The Deputy Governor urged the trained personnel to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme responsibly and work closely with communities to prevent social vices and promote peace.
He assured that the Namadi administration would continue to support reforms aimed at improving the welfare, professionalism and operational effectiveness of the Hisbah institution.
The Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Commission, Dr Muhammad Fa’iz Bashir Haruna, commended Governor Namadi for his sustained support to the commission.
He said the improved welfare, training and provision of operational vehicles had boosted the morale of personnel and enhanced their capacity to discharge their responsibilities.
Haruna urged the trained personnel to demonstrate discipline, professionalism and commitment in their respective communities.
He said the commission would continue to collaborate with the state government and other stakeholders to promote moral values, peaceful coexistence and social stability across Jigawa State.
