From Muawiya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State has celebrated the 39th anniversary of its creation with the presentation of merit awards to outstanding civil servants, members of the State Executive Council and security personnel.
The award recipients were presented with vehicles and cash gifts in recognition of their contributions to the development of the state in various sectors.
The Triumph recalls that Katsina State was created from the old Kaduna State by the administration of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1987.
Since its creation, the state has been governed by four military administrators and four democratically elected civilian governors.
The 39th anniversary celebration, held at the New Government House, brought together sons and daughters of the state to highlight the achievements recorded over the years, the challenges facing the state and the way forward.
Delivering an anniversary lecture, Senator Ibrahim Idaah commended the late Lawal Kaita, the late Justice Mohammed Bello and Ibrahim Mashi for championing the creation of Katsina State.
“Their perseverance eventually culminated in the announcement of Katsina State’s creation on September 28, 1987,” Idaah said.
Idaah, who was the state’s first Commissioner for Finance, said Katsina was developed through prudent financial management and federal government allocations.
He said the state initially operated on monthly federal allocations of between N35 million and N39 million, with internally generated revenue of about N5 million.
According to him, recurrent expenditure at the time stood at about N12 million, allowing the remaining funds to be channelled towards capital projects.
Idaah said that despite the limited resources available at the time, the state constructed several landmark infrastructure projects, including the State High Court Complex, Katsina Stadium, Katsina Radio and Television, and road and market projects.
In his speech, Governor Dikko Umar Radda, represented by his Deputy, Faruk Jobe, said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on Katsina State’s journey since its creation and to assess the progress made by the present administration.
Radda said his administration had made significant progress in agriculture, water supply, road construction, economic development and other sectors.
He commended the people of the state for their support and cooperation and appealed to them to continue praying for the restoration of peace in the state.
Among those honoured at the occasion were the Commissioner for Lands, Dr Faisal Kaita; Outstanding Commissioner of the Year, Usman Isiyaku; Outstanding Special Adviser, Pharm. Yusuf Nasiru; Outstanding Permanent Secretary, and Dr Mustapha Shehu, who was recognised as Outstanding Head of Parastatal.
The state also honoured health workers, civil servants and community watch personnel for their contributions to the development and security of the state.
