On progress in Katsina minimum wage

The release of payment for the minimum wage in Katsina State was predicated on an early agreement reached between the state government in November, 2011 where it was agreed that for the minimum wage to be implementable the state must establish the real number of workers in its payroll. This has since been done and ghost workers have been weeded out of the system.

It is in view of the foregoing that we commend the decision of the Katsina State government for becoming the first to implement the new minimum wage and thereby putting the interest of its people first.

Ahmed Sani Kagara wrote this piece from Dutsinma and can be reached at [email protected]

Re: Vultures on the verge of extinction

I really enjoyed reading a report on page 14 of the Weekly Trust of February 18 entitled “Vultures on the verge of extinction” by your reporter Tadaferua Ujorha. When I was growing up in Makarfi, one thing I learnt from my late dad was anytime I saw vultures, then there must be meat around, especially that of dead animals. I am saddened by the fact that I cannot get the opportunity to show my son what my father showed me. Let me use this opportunity to call on our respective governments to pay more attention on preserving our wild life for our younger ones. Also, we should emulate the good virtue of a vulture, which is patience. Indeed, as James Hadley Chase said in one of his books, a vulture is a patient bird.

Ahmed Rasheed Makarfi. [email protected]

Re: Lassa fever makes a big comeback

It is very unfortunate that Lassa fever has returned, afflicting many and sending many others to their graves. This is coming at a time when the healthcare system in Nigeria is in shambles to the extent that our hospitals have become mere consulting centres without facilities and qualified personnel. And from the reports coming from affected states, the response of government has been very poor. It is sad that only Edo State has a centre equipped to tackle the epidemic.

In addition, it seems that there is lack of awareness of the disease from the general public. Many people don’t know how to protect themselves from this disease, and lack knowledge of what they can do when they detect signs of the ailment. The government should embark on massive sensitization and rise up to the challenge before a more destructive consequence should occur.

Comrade Bishir Dauda, Sabuwar Unguwa, Katsina. [email protected]

North should invest in education

Youths without doubt are valuable gift to mankind. The history of the human race or its development can’t be complete without reference to the role of youths. This vital place of the youths perhaps informed the common notion that youths make the world.

Unfortunately here in Nigeria, youths are largely unappreciated. They have been rendered unproductive and exploited as agents of destruction by unscrupulous politicians.

One major challenge is empowering youths to take up work to support their life. This is because youths, especially in developing countries, lack sufficient access to basic education required for them to perform optimally.

Yusuf Muhammad, 180, Hotoro Tsamiyar Boka, Kano State

In support of Sovereign National Conference

I am in support of those calling for the convening of a national conference, call it sovereign, almighty or anything; whatever conference that would bring key stakeholders to examine the various dimensions of our problems and chart a way for solving them is welcome. When one considers the frequent ethno-religious unrest that occurs in Nigeria, the north in particular, agitation for new Biafra and Ijaw nation, it is obvious there is the need to address issues like the practice of federalism, the question of indigenes versus settlers, the challenge of revenue mobilization and the allocation or derivation principle and of course the concept of rotation of power.

Ahmed Rasheed Makarfi, C3, Tudunwada, Makarfi, Kaduna State.