Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s return to office following his re-election has been met with high expectations from citizens of the state and it continues to foster the continuity in hard work and progress towards the implementation of his campaign promises.
Here today we evaluate the progress and accomplishments made so far in the first 100 days of his second term. We counted the gains recorded within the short time as well as the foundation he has laid to cement the successes of his first tenure to ensure the development and transformation of the state in next four years.
The Governor has made some visible progress in setting the roadmap for achieving the much-anticipated development in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Job Creation, Healthcare, Social Welfare, Education, Human Capital, and Infrastructural Development as well as Security, Good Governance, Accountability, and Agriculture. One of the significant steps taken by the administration was the provision of subsidized fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs to encourage and support farmers to participate in the 2023 wet season farming. The delivery of the 25% discounted fertilizer, along with other inputs, was to ensure food security in the state and the country as well.
While economic hardship that was occasioned by the Federal Government’s decision on the removal of fuel subsidies bites hard on Nigerians across the country, Governor Yahaya reeled out a series of initiatives which included an additional 40% subsidy on the much-needed fertilizers and other farming commodities to boost food production and fight hunger.
Another notable initiative that was reeled out by the progressive governor in the 100 days under review, was the establishment of a Special Honorary Advisory Committee (SHAC), with appointment of some seasoned technocrats and well-accomplished experts and professionals in various fields to guide the implementation of his government’s developmental policies and programs in his avowed commitment to turn challenges into opportunities and provide effective solutions to the problems facing the state. According to the governor, the plan was for the team to hit the ground running in the pursuit of the development and betterment of the state.
The Governor, who had during his first tenure, invested much in the construction and rehabilitation of roads both in rural and urban areas continued with the infrastructural development of the state to ease the movement, especially for farmers and their crops. He also embarked on a series of meetings and consultations in pursuit of collaborations and partnerships towards the attainment of prosperity for Gombe State.
In the period under review, the governor met the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President (VP) Kashim Shettima, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribad, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume where issues bordering on national security and other developments were discussed.
He expressed his commitment to enhancing collaboration aimed at bolstering human capital development and tackling environmental challenges in his state, the Northern region and the country at large. He also held private discussions with the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed in Gombe.
Governor Inuwa, who elevated Gombe to a development trajectory resulting in the state being ranked as the top performer in Ease of Doing Business for two consecutive years by KPMG, a reputable consultancy firm commissioned by the Federal Government, also established a Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency to ensure continuity in improving welfare and wellbeing of the people of Gombe State.
Apart from sending a total of 17 nominees to the state house of assembly for screening to be appointed as commissioners, beating the constitutional stipulated time frame, the progressive governor has been able to appoint key functionaries and aides to propel the wheel of governance.
Worried by the current economic challenges, the governor distributed food items as palliative to the citizens, targeting 420,000 beneficiaries starting with 30,000 households to cushion the effort of the fuel subsidy removal.
As part of the palliative measure of the state government which was initiated by the Governor, a N10,000 monthly salary increment was doled out for workers across the state and local government services. The gesture was described as a clear demonstration of the governor’s commitment to the welfare of his people (Gwambawa).
He has launched numerous programs to bring about a tangible change and a more promising outlook for the people of Gombe state. To showcase his plans to reform and remodel the state’s higher education system, the Governor constituted a visitation panel to evaluate the current state of the state’s institutions of higher education and provide recommendations for future enhancements.
Additionally, in his first 100 days of his stay in office, Governor Inuwa Yahaya also reeled out plans to shore up manpower in the state’s health sector by recruiting additional 200 personnel to revamp the system and ensure efficient and better service delivery.
To put the multi-billion naira newly completed ultra-modern mega motor park to use and drive benefits for the state, Governor Yahaya who inspected the facility, set up a task force to facilitate the smooth transition of the operations from three major motor parks in the state capital to the mega park in Gombe metropolis.
When a heavy downpour washed away the road and one of the bridges linking Gombe and Bauchi states, the governor of Gombe state, rushed to the scene where hundreds of the road users were stranded.
He called on the federal government to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the federal highway to permanently address the recurrent road washouts and collapse of bridges on the road which has an extension to Borno, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
The progress and successes made by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in its first one hundred days in office have provided a new sense of hope and optimism to the people of the state. The achievements have been nothing but commendable, and proof that his vision for the state is inspiring.
*Auwal Ilyasu writes from Gombe State
