The Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has stated that the next four years of his administration will focus more on human development, social services and youth empowerment.
The Governor made the promise while delivering his inaugural speech shortly after his swearing in for a second term at an event held at the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse.
He stated that in the last four years, the state has recorded remarkable achievements in the key sectors of health, infrastructure, education and economic development.
The governor explained that the state has also improved internally generated revenue by over 400 per cent since 2015 and has been the best tax-paying state in the FIRS rankings for four consecutive years.
“The state has started well, in improving the investment climate in the State through a variety of incentives and a commitment to creating an enabling environment for local and foreign investors by committing to the ease of doing business initiative,” he said.
The Governor noted that the next four year will be full of challenges especially with the implementation of the new minimum wage where disproportionate percentage of total state resources is going to be expended on civil servants.
“We must also prepare ourselves for the obvious challenges that will follow the implementation of the new national minimum wage because of the mismatch between the immediate increase in recurrent expenditure and our revenue base which is expanding albeit gradually,” he said.
He maintained that his administration will continue to apply prudence and fiscal responsibility in handling the states’ finances.
Governor Badaru also urged civil servants to reciprocate the implementation of the new minimum wage with renewed dedication to duty and the selfless discharge of their primary responsibilities.
