Commurqué of the Talakawa Summit
Dutse,
1. Background
made it the focus of many discussion forums on poverty eradication in the
country. Since 2007, there has been realization and commitment on the part of
the state government to build a multi— stakeholder coalition to tackle poverty
and related issues h the state. The commitment of the state government had been
demonstrated by a pioneer social security legislation that entitles the
physically challenged to a monthly allowance of N7,000,
which is above the one dollar a day poverty level.
Guided by its philosophy of popular participation and involving the people in
policy making, the Sue Lamido administration has since inception committed
itself to the convening of a Talakawa Summit.
Citizens have shown concern on the continued implementation of several poverty
alleviation programmes and initiatives y previous regimes, which have not made
any impact on their lives. It is the belief of the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido that no such programme can be credible
without the full consultation and involvement of the Talakawa,
to hear their situation, their worries and their suggestions on how to solve
their problems. This had been the consistent stand of the late Malam Aminu Kano and all NEPU/PRP
activists. The Talaka is the pillar of
democracy; he has the power of the vote and therefore deserves to be served by
elected leaders. He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.
Against this background, the Jigawa State Government convened the Jigawa Talakawa Summit on 18th October, 2008, at the State
Library. Present at the summit were representatives of the poor across 51
vocational groups of the state, which included rice farmers, groundnut oil
producers, food sellers, traditional birth attendants, cart pushers, the
physically challenged, pomade makers, carpenters, tailors, farmers, fishermen
and others. Others present include traditional rulers, community and religious
leaders, political leaders, national and international NGOs, MDAs, development partners and more than 20,000 Talakawa.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar
Elder statesmen who had been involved all their lives in the struggle for the
emancipation of the Talakawa through the
instrumentality of NEPU/PRP gave inspirational speeches, reminding those at the
helm of affairs that they are enjoying the fruits of decades of sacrifice and
martyrdom. With the war against political domination and oppression won, it is
time to launch a renewed war against poverty and want. They called on the Talakawa to challenge their elected representatives to
prevent siphoning of public funds. They condemned any form of oppression the Talakawa.
2. Major Issues Emanating from the Talakawa
Testimonies
Representatives of the poor from various walks of life raised several issues at
the summit. These issues are summarized under the following categories:
Education
§
There are no
career development plans for graduates of traditional Islamic schools. As a
result, many of them end up begging on the streets.
§
Many of the Talakawa find it difficult to sponsor the education of
their children in modern schools.
Health
§
Inadequate
training for traditional birth attendants. They also lack the necessary tools
for the safe delivery of mothers. This does not only incapacitate them from
carrying out their professional duties, but also contribute to the high
maternal mortality rate in the state
Agriculture and Rural development.
§
There is
increasing incidence of conflict between farmers and cattle rearers
because of the conversion of grazing land to farmlands and environmental
degradation. The consequence of these conflicts has been loss of lives and
properties. Cattle rearers from neigbouring
countries have frequently destroyed crops and farms, raped women and even
killed people on the slightest provocation.
§
High cost and
insufficient supply of fertilizer to farmers have been undermining the efforts
of farmers in food production.
Hunger
§
There is a
decrease in livestock production as well as a decline in the output of diary
products because of reduced grazing fields.
§
The drying up of
rivers and streams is causing a decline in fishing and irrigation farming. For
example, the construction of Tiga dam has reduced the
flow of water in the
§
These
developments have increased hunger in the land
Economic Empowerment
§
Small scale
traders and artisans such as sculptors, traditional barbers and blacksmiths
cannot sustain their families.
§
Rich indigenes of
§
Small scale
businesses in the State are unable to access government assistance and micro
credit facilities because they have no associations.
§
Insufficient
skills acquisition centres and inadequate training
facilities where they exist have led to lack of engagement of the youth in
economic activities.
§
The emergence of
modern ways of practicing certain trades such as barbing, has posed a serious
threat to the traditional practices in such trades.
§
Modern mechanical
workshops are forcing roadside mechanics and other artisans out of business.
Employment
§
The scarcity of
raw materials and their prohibitive costs (like flour, cotton wool) are
becoming a major drawback to traditional trades like weaving and bread making.
§
The youth are
abandoning the practice of traditional trades and businesses because of the
difficulties involved in them.
§
The people of
§
Some small scale
businesses are finding it difficult to comply with the stringent health and
safety measures in carrying out their businesses.
§
The opening up of
small scale businesses to foreign nationals like Chinese and Indians is
squeezing out local enterprises.
Gender
§
Most small scale
businesses practiced by women such as food vending, cannot sustain the family.
§
Women who have
acquired skills like weaving and sewing do not have the necessary implements
such as sewing and weaving machines.
Popular participation
§
The government
hardly consults the people in designing empowerment programmes.
Infrastructure
§
Lack of adequate
electricity supply is leading to the collapse of small scale businesses like
welding, tailoring, cold stores etc.
Governance, transparency and
accountability
§
Corrupt
government officials are undermining government’s efforts at tackling the
problems of poverty.
Policy Recommendations
§
The following are
the recommendations emanating from the testimonies of the Talakawa:
§
There is need to establish more vocational centres for the disabled and to rehabilitate the existing
ones.
§
Islamic organisations are urged to introduce and get involved in
the training of the disabled and students of the Qur’anic
education schools, as is being done by Christian missionaries.
§
Government should
be very vigilant in the implementation of poverty alleviation programmes
especially by closely monitoring the activities of its officials assigned to
oversee such programmes.
§
Government should
construct more feeder roads in order to enhance health care delivery system, to
facilitate easy transportation of women in labour to
the hospitals and easy transportation of farm produce to outside markets.
§
Sellers of
perishable commodities should be helped to acquire modern storage facilities,
while the practitioners of other occupations such as traditional barbers and
birth attendants also require training and modern tools for the occupations.
§
More ambulances
should be provided in rural areas to convey women in labour
to hospitals. There is also the need to train more traditional birth
attendants.
§
Financial capital
and credit facilities should be secured for local artisans to enable them to
purchase modern tools and facilities that would help them to compete favourably with companies producing similar goods and
services. Among these are the following: mechanics, fishermen, leather workers,
weavers, mat weavers, processed groundnuts sellers, wheel barrow pushers, body
lotion makers, shoe shiners, carpenters, welders, etc. Yet some other artisans
should be assisted with capital to open modern workshops.
§
Government should
actively promote animal cross breeding and secure more grazing fields for
cattle rearers.
§
Government should
intensify its security measures toward control Ting the incursion of foreign
cattle rearers, especially during the period of
irrigation activities.
§
People should
patronize the products of local craftsmen, because given the appropriate
support the quality of such products could match that of foreign goods.
§
The production of
cotton should be enhanced in order to provide sufficient raw materials for
weavers.
§
Government must
confront the problem of power failure seriously.
§
The Government
should make it a policy for all contractors to employ local labour
on their construction sites, rather than bringing workers from other places.
§
The government
should design policies which would ensure that all monies earned in Jigawa
State should as much as possible be spent within the State, in order to boost
the economic activities of the State.
§
Government should
take measures against foreigners taking over major businesses engaged by the
people of
Conclusions
In summary, the issues raised can be grouped into four:
§
Declining income.
§
Competition from
modern production.
§
Lack of modern
technology.
§
Lack of modern
infrastructure like roads, electricity, ambulances and the like.
The
solutions proffered especially as they relate to small scale industries are as
follows:
§
Access to modern
tools and technology.
§
Training in these
modern tools of production.
§
Access to capital
§
Access to markets
for their products
There
is also the need to protect local production and bridge the information gap so
that the Talakawa
know which tier or agency of government to take their complaints to.
Dr Aminu Abdullahi
SSG,
Y.Z.
Ya’u
CITAD,
Secretary