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ACTION PLAN

1.0 Preamble

Since the inception of this Administration on May 29, 2003, the people of Kano State have been living with a new concept. This new concept is called societal re-orientation.

For some time now, our people everywhere have repeatedly heard the Government talking about societal re-orientation, and are with varied emotions waiting to discover what it would mean to their personal and working lives.

The Kano State Government Societal Re-orientation Programme is conceived as an on-going, target group oriented, and concurrently pursued initiative that covers the rural and the urban communities, the private and the public sectors, schools and businesses, women and youths, as well as NGOs and other interest groups in the State.

Societal Re-orientation is one of the priority programmes of the current administration in Kano State. It is expected to be a massive, continuous, integrated programme lasting throughout the tenure of the Administration.  Government has on many occasions emphasized its critical importance and the commitment of the Administration towards it. During the State Government Executive Commencement Retreat, the Governor delivered a special presentation on societal re-orientation in which he described it as the hallmark of the Administration noting that “given the current attitudes of our people, without a successful re-orientation of society, no amount of good and purposive programs could exonerate any government in the State.”

In addition to the Governor’s speeches, a number of documents such as the Programme of Action for the Executive Governor-Elect of Kano State and the Final Report of the Shekarau Transition Committee underscore the determination and special focus of the Administration on societal re-orientation as well as the objectives, strategies and targets for this all embracing programme. 

This Action Plan starts by describing the concept and specific objectives of societal re-orientation. This is followed by a listing of the target groups for the programme, the specific values to be imbibed by each group, the proposed programmes and their implementation  strategies. At the end of the plan, the proposed organizational structure for the implementation of the programme as well as the proposed budget for the year 2004 are described.

 2.0 Concept

4.0 Target Groups

Societal re-orientation is intended to be all encompassing, covering all members of the society. However, for the purpose of articulating and designing appropriate programmes, some distinct groups can be identified. These groups together with the specific values to be imbibed and the proposed programmes are described below:

4.1 Civil Servants

Civil servants constitute the work force through which the Government executes its policies and implements its programmes. Needless to say, a secularized and socially detached civil service cannot go very far in meeting the aspirations of the people it is serving.

The specific values to be imbibed by civil servants include:

• Personal qualities: piety, honesty, humility, trust, respect for authority

• Public service ethics: punctuality, dedication to duty, confidentiality, responsiveness, selflessness

• Clean and conducive working environment

 The recommended programmes include:

• Interactive sessions for staff members of ministries and parastatals. Such sessions are for discussions amongst staff on the functions of the agency, the Islamic perspectives on these functions and the raising of relevant issues.

• Short talks in mosques after Zuhr prayers.

• Training of all cadres of the Civil Service on Societal Re-orientation.

• Special training for those employees whose assigned functions are related to Societal Re-orientation 

 The implementation strategies include:

• Establishment of congregational prayers in all government departments.

• Engaging consultants for the training of senior civil servants while resource persons can be sourced from the Civil Service for the training programmes in the ministries and parastatals.

• Organizing the training programmes during weekends for senior civil servants.

• Organizing the training programmes for junior civil servants during official working hours.

• Engaging renown scholars through the Shari’ah Commission for the short talks after Zuhr prayers and for the wa’az component of training programmes.

• Producing manuals, tracts, leaflets and other materials that will strengthen societal re-orientation.

• Ensuring that the heads of the ministries/parastatals champion the societal re-orientation programmes of their respective departments.

 4.2 Educational Institutions

Schools are the institutions in which our young ones are trained and prepared for their future roles in society. The specific values to be inculcated in pupils and students all across the State include:

• Fear of Allah

• Love for the State

• Respect for parents, elders and authority

• Honesty and truthfulness

• Humility

• Hard work

• Selflessness

• Orderliness

• Cleanliness

• Maintenance and proper upkeep of premises

Principals, headmasters and teachers will be responsible for the training and re-orientation of their students. Accordingly, they would be expected not only to be imbued with the qualities needed to be passed to the children but also to be:

• Role models for the students

• Caring and concerned about the progress of their students

• Respectable, noble and dignified

The recommended programmes include:

Sensitization of heads of tertiary institutions on the maintenance of discipline and moral conduct in their institutions.

• Training for heads of primary, secondary, Islamiyyah and Qur’anic schools.

• Training for teachers of secondary schools.

• Lectures/talks/film shows in secondary schools by MSS, Ulama, Government officials etc. (At least two lectures per term to be chaired by an important government dignitary).

The implementation strategies include:

• Engaging consultants, retired civil servants, former teachers and those still in service for the training programmes.

• Producing manuals, tracts, pamphlets that will further strengthen the re-orientation programmes.

• Incorporating societal re-orientation components into school curricular and co-curricula activities such as games, debating competitions, training camps etc.

• Attending congregational prayers to be made mandatory for all Muslim students in public schools.

• Encouraging Islamic learning outside school hours.

• Working with student associations and Islamic organizations such as the student unions, MSS, and KSA.

• Zoning the training programmes for efficient and effective coverage.

• Ensuring that principals and headmasters champion the societal re-orientation programmes of their schools.

4.3 Urban Communities

The Kano metropolis and other urban centres in the State have large and diverse populations with their unique problems. The fact that more than half of the population of the State resides in these centres and most governmental and commercial transactions take place within these areas requires special emphasis to be given to re-orienting this segment of society.

The challenges facing urban communities include overcrowding, unemployment, unruliness, collapse of societal values and crime. The specific areas of emphasis in the re-orientation programme for urban communities include:

• Restoring civility and orderliness

• Curbing societal vices

• Enhancing security in our neighbourhoods

• Encouraging better road practices

• Promoting environmental cleanliness

• Developing the youth

 The recommended programmes include:

• Sensitization of zaurukan shawara and the existing CBOs on societal re-orientation.

• Support for the activities of CBOs, Hisbah and Vigilante groups.

• Training of the leaders  of CBOs.

• Da’wah programmes/public lectures.

• Media campaign on societal re-orientation.

Implementation strategies include:

• Encouraging communities to identify their problems and initiate programmes to address them.

• Establishing and strengthening zauren shawara in each ward.

• Using external consultants, Islamic scholars and trained civil servants for the training programmes.

• Encouraging civil servants to champion the societal re-orientation programmes of their communities.

4.4 Rural Communities

People living in rural communities constitute a sizeable portion of the overall population of the State. Their environments and cultural setups make them distinct from people living in urban communities. Their needs for societal re-orientation are therefore different.

The main quality to be emphasized to rural communities is:

• Love for the State

• Interest in education and the eradication of ignorance

• Responsibility to family

• Commitment to community improvement

• Concern for health and environment

The recommended programmes include:

• Setting-up and reactivating of CBOs including cooperatives, self-help groups, farmer groups etc.

• Sensitizing the existing CBOs on societal re-orientation.

• Training of the management staff  of such organizations.

• Organizing da’wah programmes and public lectures.

•  Incorporating societal re-orientation into skills development programmes.

Implementation strategies include: 

• Encouraging communities to identify their problems and initiate programmes to address them.

• Establishing zauren shawara in each ward.

• Engaging consultants, Islamic scholars and trained civil servants for the training programmes.

• Involving traditional institution in societal re-orientation programmes.

• Encouraging civil servants to champion the societal re-orientation programmes of their communities.

4.5 Women

Women constitute a very important segment of society because of the unique position they occupy as mothers and, perhaps, due to societal changes that have taken place, are forced to fend for themselves and their young ones. Therefore special emphasis must be given to them in the societal re-orientation programme.

• Fear of Allah

• Good motherhood

• Respect for elders and authority

• Truthfulness and humility

• Primacy of family life

The recommended programmes include:

• Initiatives that would promote self-employment among women.

• Training of the leaders of women organizations.

• Funding of societal re-orientation programmes of women NGOs and CBOs.

• Media programmes to focus on women rights, responsibilities and opportunities.

• Initiatives that would uphold the dignity and respect for women.

• Sensitization of parents on tarbiyya of their children.

Implementation strategies include:

• Incorporating societal re-orientation component in all government women development programmes.

• Engaging consultants and public officials in the training programmes.

• Promoting the establishment of women organizations that would champion self-respect for women and family values.

• Supporting and facilitating the establishment of private women Islamiyya schools and continuing education centers.

4.6 Youth

Youth are very important because they represent the hope for the future. Currently, their idleness and delinquency in many neighbourhoods have become a source of worry to every parent and responsible citizen. Therefore special emphasis must be given to them in the societal re-orientation programme.

The specific values to be imbibed by youth include:

• Commitment to faith

• Morality

• Interest in learning

• Service to the community

• Respect for parents, elders and authority

• Honesty, truthfulness and humility

• Hard work and dignity of labour

• Orderliness

The recommended programmes include:

• Special societal re-orientation training programmes for youth.

• Training of leaders of youth organizations

• Supporting societal re-orientation programmes of youth NGOs and CBOs.

• Supporting Islamic learning for the youth throughout the State

• Media programmes that focus on tarbiyyah, self reliance and other youth issues.

Implementation strategies include:

• Incorporating societal re-orientation component in all government youth development programmes.

• Engaging consultants, Islamic organizations and leaders of the community for the training programmes.

• Support youth organizations that focus on societal re-orientation.

4.7 Business Community

The entrepreneurial, hard working and mercantile instincts of the people of Kano have maintained Kano as the centre of commerce for the entire nation. Moreover, a large segment of the population of the State is engaged in commerce and other vocations. This large number constitutes a very important group requiring special attention in the societal re-orientation programme.

The desirable qualities to be imbibed by the members of this group include:

• Commitment to Islam

• Love for the State

• Islamic business ethics

• Co-operative spirit

• Spirit of mentoring/training

• Philanthropy

• Responsibility for the maintenance of the market environment

The recommended programmes include:

• Sensitization of the leaders of traders associations on societal re-orientation.

• Sensitization of the business community on co-operative spirit, mentoring and philanthropy.

• Support for traders associations to organize societal re-orientation programmes.

• Public lectures in markets on Islamic business ethics.

• Production of publicity materials (stickers, posters, billboards etc)

• Media campaign on modern business methods, Islamic business ethics and philanthropy

Implementation strategies include:

•  Engaging the Ulama and public officials for the public lectures.    

• Working with consultants and Kano Chamber of Commerce for the promotion of modern business methods and Islamic business ethics

• Consulting with representatives of the business community for the sensitization programmes

5.0 Organizational Structure

The societal re-orientation programme is expected to be a vigorous and an all-encompassing programme. It therefore needs an appropriate organizational structure.  It is recommended that there should be a State Council on Societal Re-orientation, various state committees, a local government committee in each LGA and a zauren shawara in each ward. A well staffed secretariat headed by a special advisor to the governor on societal re-orientation should take care of the day-to-day affairs while the Council should be responsible for giving direction and defining policy guidelines for the programme. The details of the proposed organizational structure are given below:

5.1 Council on Societal Re-orientation

5.1.1 Composition

It is to be headed by the Executive Governor and to comprise of the following members:

• Commissioner of Economic Planning and Budget

• Commissioner on Local Government and Community Development

• Commissioner for Education

• Special Advisor on Women Affairs and Children

• Special Advisor on Youth Development

• Special Advisor on Economic Affairs and Private Sector

• Special Advisor on Labour Matters

• Special Advisor on NGO activities

• Special Advisor on Education and Information Technology

• Chairman, Shari’ah Commission

• Chairman, Zakat Commission

• Chairman, Hisbah Board

• Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office

• Permanent Secretary, (Manpower Development), Office of the Head of Service

•  Permanent Secretary, (AGS), Cabinet Office

• Representative, Emirate Council

• Chief Imam of  Kano

• Representative, Council of Ulama

• Representative of state based NGOs

• Representative of the business community

• Representative of the academic community

• Veteran journalist

• Special Advisor to the Governor on Societal Re-orientation (Member/Secretary)

 5.1.2 Functions

1. To give direction and formulate policy guidelines for the entire programme.

2. To supervise the implementation of different aspects of the programme.

3. To establish the relevant structures necessary to ensure the success of the programme.

4. To provide the necessary funding for the implementation of the programme.

5.2 State Committees

State committees are to be constituted to discharge their functions in the following sectors:

1. Civil Service

2. Women

3. Youth

4. Educational Institutions

5. Business Community

6. Urban Communities

7. Rural Communities

The composition and functions of each of these committees are described below.

5.2.1 Committee on the Civil Service

5.2.1.1 Composition

It is to comprise of the Head of Service as chairman, 3 permanent secretaries, 3 heads of parastatals and 3 others. A director is to be the secretary.

5.2.1.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To co-ordinate the societal re-orientation activities such as lectures, symposia, wa’az and distribution of literature in the whole civil service.

3. To sensitize civil servants on the expectations from them under the societal re-orientation programme.

4. To arrange special training programmes for civil servants whose roles centre around societal re-orientation

5. To identify and assign civil servants that are required to play specific roles under the programme.

5.2.2 Committee on Educational Institutions

5.2.2.1 Composition

It is to be made up of the Special Adviser on Education and Information Technology  as chairman, , 2 directors from the Ministry of Education, one representative of teachers’ organizations, one representative each from the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board, one male and one female educationist, one proprietor/proprietress each representing private secondary and primary schools. A deputy director is to serve as the secretary.

5.2.2.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To work out guidelines and monitor the execution of societal re-orientation programmes in all post-primary institutions in the State.

3. To provide the financial and material requirements for the execution of the programmes.

4. To initiate ways and means of entrenching societal re-orientation in the school curricula.

5. To arrange special training programmes on societal re-orientation for principals, headmasters and teachers in primary and post-primary institutions in the State.

NB. Tertiary institutions in the State are to constitute their own societal re-orientation committees with their heads as chairpersons, two or three principal officers, respective leaders of the trade unions, a representative of the students union and about 2 community leaders as members. The committees at this level are to be charged with organizing and co-coordinating societal re-orientation programmes amongst students and staff.

5.2.3 Committee on Women

5.2.3.1 Composition

It is to be composed of the Special Advisor on Women Affairs as chairperson, 2 directors, 2 representatives of women NGOs, one representative from MSO/FOMWAN, one representative each from the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board, and one female Islamic scholar. A deputy director is to serve as the secretary.

 5.2.3.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To plan and monitor the execution of societal re-orientation programmes for women.

3. To provide guidelines on the programmes to relevant agencies and women organizations.

4. To organize special training programmes on societal re-orientation for women.

5.2.4 Committee on Youth

5.2.4.1 Composition

It is to be composed of the Special Advisor on Youth as chairman, 2 directors, 2 representatives of Youth NGOs, one representative each from the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board, and one Islamic scholar. A deputy director is to serve as the secretary.

5.2.4.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To plan and monitor the execution of societal re-orientation programmes targeted to the youth.

3. To provide guidelines on the societal re-orientation to relevant agencies and youth organizations.

4. To organize special training on societal re-orientation for youth.

5.2.5 Committee on Urban Communities

5.2.5.1 Composition

It is to comprise of a chairman to be appointed, 2 permanent secretaries, 3 chairmen of the metropolitan LGAs, one representative each from the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board, one representative each from women and youth NGOs, one representative from NPF, FRSC, NURTW and others that may be considered. A director is to serve as the secretary.

5.2.5.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To identify and establish linkages with urban zaurukan shawara, CBOs, NGOs and other relevant groups.

3. To provide guidelines for the various groups for the implementation of the societal re-orientation programmes in the urban areas.

4. To devise specific and practical solutions that would impact on road usage, sanitation, prohibiting vices and promoting societal values.

5. To streamline and support initiatives from urban communities on societal re-orientation.

5.2.6     Committee on Rural Communities

5.2.6.1 Composition

It comprises of a chairman to be appointed, 2 Permanent Secretaries, 3 chairmen of the rural LGAs, one representative each from the Sharia Commission and the Hisba Board, 2 Community Leaders, a representative each from women and youth NGOs, one representative from KNARDA, RUWASA and others may be considered. A director is to be the secretary.

5.2.6.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation and other State Committees with a view to achieving the general objectives of the programme as well as for the effective coverage of the State.

2. To coordinate the social re-orientation programmes conducted by the Local Government Social Re-orientation Committees and the various CBOs and NGOs in the rural areas.

3. To provide training to leaders and cadres of the rural organizations.

4. To support initiatives on societal re-orientation.

5.2.7 Committee on the Business Community

5.2.7.1 Composition

It has the Commissioner of Commerce and Industries as chairman, one representative each from KACCIMA, MAN and Amalgamated Traders’ association, one representative from urban mass transit operators, 2 representatives of professional associations, 2 outstanding members of the business community, and one representative each from the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board. A director is to serve as the secretary.

5.2.7.2 Functions

1. To liaise with the Council on Societal Re-orientation concerning policy guidelines and implementation.

2. To sensitize the business community on Islamic business ethics to promote a better business environment.

3. To co-ordinate the activities of the various business groups towards achieving the objectives of societal re-orientation.

4. To work in conjunction with the Shari’ah Commission and the Hisba Board in organizing programmes in the markets, motor parks and other business places.

5.3  Local Government Committee on Societal Re-orientation

5.3.1 Composition

A respected resident in the LGA to be appointed as chairman, the Chairman of the Local Government, the District Head, Chief Imam, 2 serving senior officers in the State/Federal Civil Service from the Local Government, one representative each of key CBOs and NGOs in the area, a representative of the Local Government Hisba Committee and the Vigilante Group. A HOD in the Local Government Service is to serve as the secretary.

5.3.2 Functions

1. To be responsible for the general direction and monitoring of the societal re-orientation programme at the Local Government level.

2. To facilitate the formation and operation of CBO’s and NGOs in its area.

3. To be engaged in the mobilization of its immediate communities by any available means for the realization of the objectives of societal re-orientation.

4. To provide the linkage between the rural and other CBOs with relevant State Committees.

5.4 Zauren Shawara

5.4.1 Composition

It has a respected person from the cognate area of the zaure as chairman, the ward/village/district head of the given area, the councilor representing the ward, an Imam,  representatives of the women and the youth NGOs, Hisba and Vigilante groups. The secretary is to be appointed by the members of the zaure.

5.4.2 Functions

1. To supervise societal re-orientation programmes at the community level.

2. To work with the CBOs and liaise with the Local Government Societal Re-orientation Committee.

3. To serve as a forum for all the CBOs and the entire community for discussing problems, designing programmes and overseeing their implementation.

4. To carry out mobilization and public enlightenment activities for the benefit of members of its immediate community.

5. To give particular attention to youth development, security, sanitation, traffic control and other matters.

6. To make provision for the welfare of its community through initiatives that border on cooperation, thrift etc.