The National Democratic Party (NDP) governorship candidate in Kebbi, Barrister Ahmadu Zumaru, has vowed to overhaul education and revive rural communities to tackle insecurity, pledging sweeping reforms in education, security, agriculture and the judiciary if elected governor in 2027.
Zumaru made the pledge in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday at a Candidates Engagement Forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kebbi Council, to enable governorship candidates to present their programmes and policy proposals to the electorate.
He said his ambition was driven by the need to provide people-oriented leadership and tackle corruption and other challenges facing the state.
The candidate said his administration would prioritise education, especially in rural communities affected by insecurity, to ensure children were not denied learning opportunities because of school closures.
He pledged to assess the number of pupils and students in remote areas affected by insecurity and develop alternative arrangements to keep them learning while efforts to restore security continued.
“We cannot leave children at home indefinitely while waiting for security to improve. We must make provisions for them to continue learning,” he said.
Zumaru also promised to introduce digital learning opportunities and policies to attract highly qualified personnel, including PhD holders, into primary school teaching.
He said his administration would improve teachers’ welfare to discourage them from leaving the profession and establish an education funding committee to assess the sector’s challenges and ensure resources were effectively deployed.
The candidate pledged to raise the proportion of female teachers to 75 per cent, arguing that women played a critical role in the early development and education of children.
He also pledged to protect women’s political, economic, social and religious rights, with policies to promote their participation and welfare.
On rural revival, Zumaru proposed a joint rural development programme under which local governments would contribute 20 per cent of the funding, alongside contributions from the state government.
He said the arrangement would promote balanced development across local government areas and discourage rural-urban migration by improving infrastructure and economic opportunities in rural communities.
On agriculture, Zumaru criticised the untimely distribution of fertiliser, saying farm inputs should be made available in line with the agricultural calendar to maximise productivity.
He said Kebbi had hardworking farmers but lacked adequate support to reach their full production potential.
He said the state should strengthen local agricultural production to reduce dependence on food supplies from neighbouring countries, including the Republic of Benin and Niger.
On the economy, Zumaru called for the revival of agricultural and industrial initiatives introduced by former Governor Atiku Bagudu, including the Lake Rice initiative and the bioethanol fuel project.
He expressed concern that the initiatives had not received sufficient attention, adding that Kebbi had abundant raw materials to support industries, create jobs and stimulate growth.
On youth development, Zumaru identified indiscipline as a major challenge and proposed guidance and counselling units from primary to tertiary institutions to promote discipline, morality, patriotism and respect for societal values.
He pledged that his administration would operate in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and applicable public service rules.
On judicial reform, he called for greater attention to the administration of justice, arguing that Nigeria’s common law, customary law and Sharia law traditions should receive appropriate attention.
He said the application of the three legal systems required closer examination to ensure fairness and reflect the country’s legal and cultural realities.
Zumaru pledged to pursue reforms within the limits of the law to strengthen justice delivery and promote order in society.
On security, he supported the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralised policing could improve responses to local security challenges because communities directly affected by insecurity understood their circumstances.
“If elected, I will propose reforms in the traditional institution, as prospective traditional rulers should undergo thorough assessment and investigation before appointment,” he said.
On mining, Zumaru promised to review policies governing mining activities to ensure host communities benefited from the resources extracted from their areas and that environmental concerns received adequate attention.
“The reforms across the sectors are aimed at promoting accountable leadership, improving public services and accelerating development in Kebbi,” the NDP candidate said.