Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello on Wednesday was sworn in for a second term with a pledge to ensure that the State is positioned on the path of positive socio-economic and political trajectories in the next four years.
The oath of office and allegiance were administered by the state Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ahmad Bima on the governor along with his deputy, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmed Ketso at Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Center, Minna, the state capital.
The duo won their second term mandate at the April Governorship election under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor assured the people of the state of his resolve to leverage on the widespread support for the development agenda to drive the consolidation of the state’s socio-economic and developmental efforts at changing the narratives of the state.
He said his administration in the years to come will seize new opportunities offered by the national and global marketplaces to improve the economy of the state and the lots of her people.
The governor also pledged to sustain the cordial and harmonious relationship between the three arms of government in the state with a promise to provide necessary political and logistic support to both the Legislature and the Judiciary to enable each arm function effectively and efficiently in discharging their Constitutional responsibilities.
On security, the governor assured the people of the state of his administration’s resolve to remain proactive and consistent in preventing all forms of crime and criminality within the State.
This he said he would achieve by reinvigorating strategies including the deployment of appropriate technology to combat crime while the administration will leverage on our harmonious relationship with all the security agencies in the State to sustain a crime free society that we are enjoying.
Commending the efforts of the state civil servants in the last four years, the governor reminded them that the tasks ahead require constructive collaboration and shared responsibility towards building a Niger State of our dream.
The governor then stated that in line with the social contract with the people of Niger State, his administration is focused on sustaining the policy of financial prudence and budget discipline, which he noted has kept the cost of governance within reasonable limits, while wqqqensuring that more resources are channeled into capital expenditures and welfare enhancing projects”.
Giving an overview of the achievements so far recorded in various sectors in his administration, Governor Sani Bello assured that he would ensure the sustenance of growth and development in the state by delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
“In continuation of my administration’s consolidation of the modest achievements recorded, we hope to sustain the tempo of delivering projects that are key to our people across the state.
“Government will deliver more dividends of democracy in specific key areas such as education, infrastructure, health, agriculture, youth and women development, commerce investment and tourism and we hope to complete all ongoing high impact visible projects across the state and initiate new ones that have direct bearing on the socio-economic life of the people”.
He maintained that “the administration has undoubtedly made some remarkable strides in its efforts to turn around the fortunes of our dear State by laying a solid foundation for the accelerated socio-economic transformation of the state.”
He however said that the attainment of the desired development will require the unalloyed support and cooperation of the people, just as he pledged to run a people oriented, focused and progressive administration.
According to him, “I must say that the choice before us in this second term is clear: is to work together to move our State forward, or to get out of the way of those who will. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people.
“By the Grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) and with the unalloyed support and cooperation of all Nigerlites, we shall navigate all the tides to ensure that our State is well positioned on the path of positive socio-economic and political trajectories.
“It is with deep faith in our State and our future that I ask you to join me in the work ahead. Let us be unbending optimists who look to the future not with apprehension but with creativity, innovation, and boundless energy. This is a time for service–and we will rise to meet it,” the governor charged.
ADDRESS BY ALHAJI (DR) ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO, GOVERNOR, NIGER STATE, ON HIS SECOND TERM INAUGURATION AT THE HON. JUSTICE LEGBO KUTIGI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER, MINNA ON 29TH OF MAY 2019.
PROTOCOL:
2.My fellow Nigerlites, we are gathered here today to mark and gracefully celebrate another milestone in the democratic trajectory of our State. We have cause to most importantly express our gratitude to Almighty Allah (SWT) the sustainer of the Universe who has made it possible for us to be part of this historic event. We give thanks to Him for the pervading peace in our state for without peace there will neither be progress nor development.
3.I wish to specially express my administration’s appreciation to our Royal Fathers, religious leaders, political pillars, private sector operators, the labour groups, professional organizations, women and youth associations, civil society, the civil servants in the state for their support and trust in our administration.
4. Above all, let me thank most immensely you the voters for demonstrating in clear terms your confidence by entrusting in us your mandate to steer the ship of state for another four years, and we acknowledge that to whom much is given, much is equally expected. We are determined to fully justify the confidence reposed on us by taking the state to the next level in all indices of progress.
5.May I also use this opportunity to pay tribute to all those who have served this great State as Governors, both living and departed, for their invaluable contributions to the development of the State. I pay special tribute to the memories of Sen. Simeon Oduoye, Dr. Musa Inuwa and Engr. Abdulkadir A. Kure, who all served the State as Governors and are today gone to the great beyond. May Almighty Allah (SWT) grant their souls a place amongst the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdausi.
6.Four years ago, I had the privilege of addressing you in my first inaugural speech stating our direction as a government, while we may not have attained the ideal position, the administration has undoubtedly made some remarkable strides in its efforts to turn around the fortunes of our dear State by laying a solid foundation for the accelerated socio-economic transformation of the State and enhancing public welfare. This is evident in our purposeful interventions in the provision of economic and social infrastructure, human capital development, and rebuilding the productive base of the state economy. It is also clearly seen in the widely acknowledged positive impact these interventions have had on the living conditions of our people.
7.We can, therefore, safely say with all sense of responsibility that substantial progress has been made in moving the state forward. With the new mandate you have given us, we will proceed into the Next Level more determined to consolidate the foundation we have laid for sustainable development of the State. In the same vein, we hope to raise the bar in terms of standards, both for project execution and service delivery across all sectors of the State.
8. We will continue to pay attention to expanding access to quality education, affordable and qualitative healthcare services, increased infrastructural development, improved agricultural services, enhanced availability to clean water and sanitation, exploring opportunities in renewable energy and creating investment friendly environment for the overall development of the State. We will also work diligently to enhance the security of lives and property, strengthen institutions of law and order, and provide a level playing field for every Nigerlite to harness his God-given talents to contribute to the development of our dear State.
9.As I often say, I may have won the votes, but it is you the people that have won the election. Since its inception, our administration has enjoyed your invaluable support and partnership, which made it possible for us to make giant strides on many fronts. While I am very much aware of your expectations from the administration, I wish to seize this opportunity to call on all Nigerlites regardless of political, cultural or religious leanings to come together so that we can collectively forge a common front for the overall development of our State.
SECURITY
10.My fellow Nigerlites, in the last four years, we have maintained relative peace and harmony in Niger State through the collaborative efforts of the security agencies, traditional institutions and the State Government. The current security challenges in some parts of the country, including some States bordering Niger State, have created pockets of criminal activities within the border communities of the State.
11.Despite the threats of cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping and their glaring implications for the security of lives and property in the State. The State Government will remain proactive and consistent in preventing all forms of crime and criminality within the State.
12.We understand that crime in the 21st century has become more sophisticated. Even though we are being adjudged as one of the most peaceful state in the country, we will, however, remain committed to reinvigorating our strategies including the deployment of appropriate technology to combat crime. Also, we will leverage on our harmonious relationship with all the security agencies in the State to sustain a crime free society that we are enjoying. Accordingly, in line with our determination to reduce the incidences of criminal related activities throughout the State, My administration will continue to provide support to law enforcement agencies to strengthen the security architecture in both prevention as well as enforcement of law and order.
13.We will continue to respond to the needs of the judicial arm of government to strengthen the delivery of justice. We will also strive to utilize our relationship with the traditional institution to bring them into the forefront in checking the movement of strange persons in their neighborhoods.
14.We have always appreciated our Royal Fathers for mobilizing the people to support government policies and programmes. We understand the role of our traditional and community leaders as the custodians of our culture and norms upon which decent societies are built. Therefore, we will leverage on them to support the security agencies with information to better secure our people.
AGRICULTURE
15.There is no doubt that agriculture is the mainstay of the state economy, which engages most of our people in both food and cash crop production. Therefore, consistent with our administration’s commitment to generate sustainable employment and boost commercial agriculture, we will pursue initiatives to reposition the sector. Our goal is to increase the output of agricultural commodities such as rice, Shea butter, cotton, oil palm, ginger, cashew nut, soya beans and sesame seed through attracting and sustaining large scale private sector participation, supporting and encouraging our small farmers with incentives, expanding the value chain to make agriculture attractive to the youths.
16. As we look forward to consolidating on our modest achievements in the next level, we are deliberately committed to becoming a leading solution provider in line with the federal government initiative to solve the age long herders farmers clashes through the revitalization of our grazing reserves, especially the Bobi Grazing Reserve which thankfully has been Gazetted.
17.We are working assiduously to ensure that we create a favorable business and investment climate, including other incentives that will catalyze the massive inflow of domestic and foreign investment in the agricultural sector. We will continue to strengthen the sector and make agribusiness viable in the State.
EDUCATION
18.We will revisit the whole spectrum of our educational policies through the implementation of a robust agenda for the provision of qualitative, affordable and accessible education, including a particular focus on the girl-child and purposeful expansion of educational infrastructure. We will also continue to commit resources to the provision of adequate staffing, capacity enhancement, motivation of teaching and non-teaching staff under our ongoing Whole School Development Approach. Government will also continue to honor its obligation for the counterpart funding to achieve the goals of Universal Basic Education goals.
19.As a deliberate attempt at checking the rising unemployment amongst our youth, we will emphasize the provision of technical and vocational education in the State. Tertiary institutions in the state will also continue to receive the required attention. In the last four years of this administration, we renovated the School of Nursing Sciences, Bida to secure its accreditation and completed another one in Kontagora to open up opportunities for the growing youthful population. We have secured more accreditation for courses in IBB University Lapai, School of Midwifery Minna, College of Education Minna and College of Agriculture Mokwa.
HEALTH
20.On the health care front, we hope to build on the modest results we have achieved so far in our health intervention initiatives. While we continue to sustain efforts in upgrading our secondary and tertiary healthcare services, more considerable attention will be paid to the provision of qualitative, affordable preventive primary healthcare delivery system. Government will remodel the General Hospitals in Suleja, Kontagora and IBB Specialized Hospital Minna.
21.Accordingly, we will continue to consolidate on the implementation of our Comprehensive Healthcare System targeted at a significant reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the state. Our administration holds the view that under no circumstances should a woman die from childbirth-related complications nor a child die from ailments before his or her first birthday. To this end, the Niger State Contributory Healthcare Scheme will fully come on board to cater for the financial and health burden of contributors.
ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE
22.In recognition of the critical role of infrastructure in the development process, our policy will be to continue to open the hinterland through the construction of inter- and intra-city roads and waterways. Our target is to connect as many hitherto neglected communities, villages and towns as possible to achieve balanced development and accelerate the social and economic activities in the State.
23.Building on the substantial progress made so far through our partnership with the World Bank’s Rural Access and Mobility Programme (RAMP), and other donor agencies to open communities that were inaccessible, we will upscale investment towards the provision of potable water, power supply targeted at both the rural and urban communities that previously had no water or electricity.
24.Given its strategic location, the State serves as the link between the Northern and Southern parts of the country, and the gateway to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Also hosts to longest Federal roads in the country, this situation though quite positive, has its downsides in daily heavy-duty vehicular movements across the state, with the attendant consequences of a high budgetary burden on the State Government for road maintenance support.
25.Against this background, we will continue to engage the Federal Government on timely release of funds to contractors handling maintenance of federal roads that traverse the length and breadth of the State. The administration will continue with advocacy for alternative ways of transporting heavy-duty goods through the reinvigorated railway development programme as pledged by the Federal Government to link Minna – Abuja and Minna – Baro by rail, as a way of reducing the pressure on our roads network.
HOUSING
26.Our commitment to providing adequate and affordable shelter for Nigerlites remains unwavering. To this end, the administration will partner with real estate developers and financiers to facilitate the delivery of adequate/affordable housing, sites and services. Already, an initiative is underway towards forging a relationship with the Federal Government institutions like the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), as well as the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company Plc to support us to deliver affordable housing to the people.
27.We will further strengthen our partnerships with the UN-Habitat for the implementation of the pilot Smart City Project in Suleja and other projects under the Niger State Urban Support Programme. Also, the government will pursue the maintenance and sustenance of a clean and safe, well-drained and green environment vigorously.
WATER
28.Ladies and gentlemen, government has devoted attention and resources to the provision of potable water for the people across the State. So far, we have replaced most of the obsolete equipment at the waterworks in Minna, Bida, Suleja and Kontagora that have been in use for over three decades. The perennial water problem in these locations will be rectified once we conclude the reticulation of pipelines.
29. While determined to ensure overly supply of water in our cities, towns and semi-urban communities, we are also exploring new opportunities of improving access and wider coverage through functional productive partnerships.
WOMEN AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
30.Fellow Nigerlites, I need to reiterate our determination to create gainful employment for our teeming and vibrant women and youth population in the state. I am confident as always that the engagement of our women and youth in skills acquisition and skills upgrading will create the desired multiplier effects, not only for improving the economic indices of the State, but also curbing social vices in the society.
31.In our efforts to change the status of our women and youth to become more economically self-reliant and skilled individuals with the capacity to be employers of labor, we will continue to expose them to various vocational and technical skills acquisition programmes.
32.Furthermore, the State through public-private partnerships has initiated the Niger State Green House Project with Hybrid tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, hot chili pepper, sunflower, Thailand dwarf pawpaw and others in its plantation. Soon products from the project will adorn the shelves of supermarkets across the country.
34.We are determined to provide the needed support and assistance to corporate organizations that are willing to partner with the State Government for the training of women and youth. In the same vein, we are ready to provide the needed assistance to small and medium scale entrepreneurs, including innovators in the emerging fields of sports, entertainment science, technology and engineering. To this end, we intend to establish multi-purpose sports facilities in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
ADMINISTRATION
35.We recognize that as a responsive and responsible administration, the Civil Service is critical to the success of our developmental agenda. In line with this position, we will establish a Civil Service Institute to help build a well-motivated, effective, and efficient civil service through capacity building, retooling, improved welfare, and re-orientation; with the capacity to plan, execute and monitor our development projects and programmes.
36.Government will continue to promote good governance, streamline the decision-making process and tackle corruption within the Niger State Civil Service. We will rid the public service of dead wood, block leakages in recurrent spending, strengthen our fiscal management and procurement frameworks, and enthrone transparency and accountability at all levels through institutional reforms and automation.
37.On the whole and in line with the social contract we have with the people of Niger State, my administration is focused on sustaining our policy of financial prudence and budget discipline, which has kept the cost of governance within reasonable limits, while ensuring that more resources are channeled into capital expenditures and welfare enhancing projects. Government will improve on the payment of pensions and gratuity to all retirees in the state.
38.Your Excellencies, fellow Nigerlites, let me at this point say that while our administration appreciates the entire workforce of Niger State for their understanding and support, it is necessary to point out that we all have a joint and shared responsibility towards building a Niger State of our dream. Government efforts in the last four years to clean the state Wage Bill have not been successful due to the activities of some criminal elements in the civil service who are bent on stealing the legal earnings of others. We will not tolerate anyone shortchanging any civil servant. Therefore, we shall institute the Whistle-Blowing-Policy where anyone with useful information that would lead to uncovering the salary cartel and their shady deals would be handsomely rewarded and you can be rest assured of your protection. Consequently, we should always be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices when called upon so that we will share the joy and burden of socio-economic transformation.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
39.In understanding the need for functional governance to fast track development at the local government level, we will work with democratically elected leaders at that level to ensure even development at the grassroots. You may wish to recall that from inception, we granted partial autonomy to the LGAs in the state in accordance with Constitutional provision. Since then, we have maintained the principle of separation of powers with that tier of government in the state.
40.In addition, I recently signed a Law as passed by the State House of Assembly abolishing the operation of Caretaker Committees at the local government level. This is in line with our commitment to ensure that only tenured democratically elected officers run the administration of the local government in the state.
ARMS OF GOVERNMENT
41.My fellow Nigerlites, In the last four years, I learned the wisdom of the African proverb, which says: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you’re going to go far, go together.” The bottom line of democratic governance is a collective responsibility. To my friends in the legislature, this administration will continue to maintain an open door policy.
42.And to the Judiciary, the last hope of the common man, I will maintain the cordial relationship that already exists between the Executive and the Judicial arm of government in Niger State. We will provide all the necessary political and logistic support to both the Legislature and the Judiciary to enable each arm function effectively and efficiently in discharging their Constitutional responsibilities.
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
43.It is gratifying to note that under the able leadership of our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Federal Government agencies seem more prepared to deliver on their core mandates. President Buhari has been supportive in the last four years, as Niger State Government has enjoyed a smooth relationship with the President and the Federal Government. We remain resolute in reinforcing our relationship with the Federal Government to secure more projects and other benefits for our State within the context of competitive Federalism.
44.Let me seize this opportunity to call on our elected representatives in the Senate and the House of Representatives to always put the interest of Niger State first in all their deliberations so that our people will feel the impact of their presence in Abuja. It is not by accident that Niger State is called the Power State. Besides being the largest State with the twin advantage of Landmass and hosting the nation’s three major hydroelectric power stations, we are a people adept at management of political power, not for its own sake, but for securing the best for our people.
INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR)
45.Distinguished Nigerlites, It is pertinent to state that, ultimately; one of our dreams since coming to office is to harness the resource potentials of Niger State to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We cannot continue to rely precariously on the Federation Account. Accordingly, we will critically re-examine, track and review the performance of the various revenue generating agencies in the State to improve the volume of collections, block leakages as well as ensure effective and judicious utilization of resources.
46.Government will re-energize the automation of the processes of tax collection while expanding the tax base both in terms of number and variety of sources. We will also in collaboration with the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and our development partners explore innovative ways of boosting our internally generated revenues in both the short, medium and long-term, so that we leave a legacy of a robust and sustainable resource mobilization strategy for our State.
47. Government will also initiate mechanisms to strengthen MDAs like Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA), Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), Niger State Water Board (NSWB), Niger State Electricity Board (NSEB) and Niger State Printing Press (NSPP) with the view to make them autonomous and financially viable, thereby contributing to the state’s revenue generation.
48.My administration believes that there is a strong linkage between taxation and good governance. Without the tax revenues, we would not have accomplished the numerous beneficial projects we have been able to bring closer to the people. We will continue to appeal to Nigerlites to support our administration to sustain the tax culture. It is only through this window that we can guarantee continuous accountability and transparencies in the governance of the State at all levels and wean ourselves off the chronic dependency on the Federal allocation.
NEW LEGACY PROJECTS
49. In continuation of my administration’s consolidation of the modest achievements recorded, we hope to sustain the tempo of delivering projects that are key to our people across the state. Government will deliver more dividends of democracy in specific key areas such as education, infrastructure, health, agriculture, youth and women development, commerce investment and tourism. We hope to complete all ongoing high impact visible projects across the state and initiate new ones that have direct bearing on the socio-economic life of the people.
CONCLUSION
50. With the modest achievements of this administration since 2015, I make bold to say that the next four years holds a bright future for our State. We will methodologically apply our well-articulated Development Strategy on key priorities, which will enable us, focus and deploy resources in a more prudent, efficient and effective manner.
51.Furthermore, Government will count on its dogged determination to deliver on the widespread support for the development agenda to drive the consolidation of our socioeconomic and developmental efforts to change the narratives. We will continue to move on with our eyes open to seize new opportunities offered by the national and global marketplaces. We are confident of being on the right path. By the Grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) and with the unalloyed support and cooperation of all Nigerlites, we shall navigate all the tides to ensure that our State is well positioned on the path of positive socio-economic and political trajectories.
52.I must however, say that the choice before us in this second term is clear: is to work together to move our State forward, or to get out of the way of those who will. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people.
53.It is with deep faith in our State and our future that I ask you to join me in the work ahead. Let us be unbending optimists who look to the future not with apprehension but with creativity, innovation, and boundless energy. This is a time for service–and we will rise to meet it.
54. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Without the people, I cannot hope to succeed; with them, I cannot fail.” I thank you all once again for keeping faith with our strong determination to sustain the task of taking Niger State to the NEXT LEVEL. May Almighty Allah (SWT) continue to guide us as we move into the NEXT LEVEL.
55. We have chosen to observe this inauguration in low-key in solidarity with the states that are passing through some security challenges around the country. We condemn all acts of senseless killings and kidnaping in the North Western states. We will not hesitate to bring to book anybody found perpetrating such acts in our state.
56.Finally, my fellow Nigerlites, we are now at the defining moment of our trajectory of people joined together by shared history and destiny. Today, we are taking a new direction, and we need you all to come along with us as we move Niger State to the desired destination through our Shared Vision with Unlimited Opportunities. So help us God
57. Thank you and May God Bless Niger State.