By Abdullberqy U Ebbo
Towards actualising its primary avowal to do governance with - not for - the people of Niger state, the State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello recently started a working tour of the 25 Local Governments in the state. A
move tagged ‘Midway performance assessment/feedback tour’, which has seen him (the governor) wining instant accolades across segments of the state, has so far taken him to five of the councils, including Wushishi, Mariga, Rafi, Magama, Rijau and Kontagora.
Factually, the governor is not one who dissipates resources on publicity stunts in the media - going on radio/television and investing heavily even in newspaper adverts to announce all manner of achievements - because, as he has said time and again, “my works will speak for me”. From community/rural electrification projects, to urban/rural road construction and beautification, chennelisation of waterways, renovation/construction of schools, equipping of hospitals, recruitment of health professionals and up-to-date payment of workers’ salaries and allowances, Governor Bello has delivered quite a sizeable chunk of his campaign pledges, and has remained unrelenting.
It is the desire to sustain the development strides of his administration that primarily impels the latest community visits, as Mr. Governor believes meeting the people right within their communities remains the surest and best means to know where the shoe pinches them. To him, sitting down with and listening to them explain their worries at town-hall gatherings offers the rare but often overlooked means to making governance relevant and people focused. The tour will, without a doubt, equally enable him to assess the impact of projects so far completed on the people and the need for adjustments or additions, where necessary.
According to him, it is not fashionable again for the state governor to sit down in Government House in Minna to know what gives the people headaches in the remotest parts of the state. Budget making and budgeting must necessarily involve gathering fresh and raw data about actual needs of the people and from the people themselves. Governance to him should not be reduced to mere armchair affair in which he (the Governor) relies solely on reports of lieutenants and requests from elected representatives of the various constituencies. On-the-spot assessment of facilities and situations of the people must facilitate the basis upon which government spending must be based and focused.
Governor Abubakar’s words: "I understand staying in the office will almost always deny me the chance to get first hand information from the people on their (the people’s) plight. That is why we have decided to come out and meet with our people directly and frontally. We have decided to face rural development because often times they get abandoned by the government”.
However, while the governor is indeed aware it is difficult for the state to meet up with demands of every community all at once, considering obvious paucity of funds, government cannot also afford to take its eyes off some needs that have to be met with urgency and despatch, given obvious needs of the people. Although, the governor can also not afford to make commitments that are not realisable in the short term, particularly because of the extreme seriousness the governor attaches to whatever promises he makes! To him, promises are not empty political pledges!
Some updates of the Governor’s visits may be necessary here: at Wushishi, Governor Bello directed the execution of Zungeru township road; three solar-powered boreholes; Wushishi drainage system; Supply of 100 KVA Generator; 2Hp Air condition for Emir's palace; Police Patrol vehicle in Maito; Renovation of Maito Secondary school; and connection of Zungeru, wushishi & Maito to national electricity grid; Ministry of Water resources to provide 2 motorized boreholes for the community; Ministry of Agriculture and rural development to complete before raining season the ongoing construction of bridges and culverts in Akare; and Approved the fund for completion of 10km Kundu-Akare road. At Zungeru, the Governor directed two hostels (male/female) be built and a motorized borehole sunk in Niger State Polytechnic.
In Rafi local government, the Governor commissioned newly constructed police station, kagara and directed immediate construction of the town’s Emir's palace road. The State Water board was also instructed to put in place temporary measures for the Kagara people to have water, while the town’s General Hospital has been pencilled for upgrading.
Mr Governor has been to Bangi in Mariga council where the biggest challlenge of the people is water and that will be looked into as well said the Governor.
Magama LG, in Nasko village, the Governor pledged to commence water projects, not only for Nasko but across other towns in the state, considering the general straits regarding water scarcity; he promised provision of Solar Street lights while in Salka, disclosing Salka Central Primary School be included in the next phase of ‘Whole School Renovation Scheme’;Ibeto community to get 9.8km of road
In Rijau LG, Gov Bello listened to the people, admitting that although he knew Kontagora-Rijau road was in a bad shape, they (the people) would need to exercise a little patience. He nevertheless approved remodeling of Tungan Magajiya General Hospital.
And at Emir's palace in Kontagora, he reiterated his commitment to immediate water provision. He equally dispelled the rumour of plans close down School of Nursing Bida.
His words: "The state is in dire need of health workers, how can any sane person want to close down an health institution that has produced reputable health workers. Kontagora school of nursing started long before me, we will build more across the state if we have resources" Gov Abu Sani Bello
The governor made on the spot assessment tour to the ongoing “Whole School Renovation” of Muazu Ibrahim Commercial Secondary School, Kontagora, expressing dissatisfaction with the work on some part of Government Girls’ College (Unity) Kontagora and Government Secondary School, Rijau,
Directing affected contractors to redo the roofing to required standards.
So far, there have been gains from the visit. While some people expressed joy for seeing and meeting the governor physically for the first time, many actually commended him openly for the enablement to contribute to how their lives are being run. However, while government cannot afford to be carried away by the ovation and fanfare which do greet such appearances, it is important to state that only key projects would be identified and pencilled down for immediate execution within the limited resources available, while other projects are carried over into new budgets in the succeeding year(s). This is hinting and emphasising the importance of budgeting and that projects to be executed have to be vye in the budget, except for such ones (projects) which can be accommodated as a matter of urgent/exigent importance.
I stated long ago at the commencement of the present government that the Governor's frequent unscheduled visits to some key areas in the state and some government departments is a demonstration of pragmatic approach to governance. So far, I have not been failed for holding unto such view.
May God guide our leaders to do that which is right and good
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