Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, and his deputy Dr Manassah Jatau, on Monday, were sworn in for a second term of office at the Pantami stadium.
Our correspondent reports that the colourful parade was led by ASP Mahid Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer, Gombe State Command.
Yahaya took his oath of allegiance administered by the Chief Judge of Gombe State Justice Halima Mohammed, while his two wives looked on.
Speaking, Yahaya pledged to be fair to all and sundry irrespective of political, religious, and tribal differences, adding that the interest of the state would supercede personal considerations in his second term in office.
According to him, his second term would help him consolidate the gains of his first term in office, vowing to reposition the state to the path of honour.
“On my part, I shall be just and fair to all, irrespective of political, ethnic, religious and sectional affiliations. The collective interest of Gombe State supersedes all other interests and considerations.
“Over the past four years, we overcome many challenges. We lost loved ones, including hardworking officials, close associates and loyal supporters. We shall continue to remember them because they form part of our success story today. We also made significant strides in advancing the development agenda of Gombe state by investing in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, civil service, agriculture, energy, water supply, environment and sanitation,” he said.
The governor disclosed that in the next four years, he would focus on Economic empowerment, Education and human capital development, Healthcare and social welfare, infrastructural development, good governance, and education.
Yahaya added, “Economic Empowerment and Job Creation: we shall continue with our ease of doing business policies so as to consolidate our position as the most business-friendly state in Nigeria. These policies are designed to foster a conducive business environment, attract investments, and stimulate economic growth. We shall also train and upskill our youth, invest in ICT skills and innovation, and harness our agri-business potentials in order to enhance food security and create employment opportunities.
“Education and Human Capital Development: our administration shall continue with ongoing upgrades of school infrastructure, provision of instructional materials and improving the capacity of our teachers and administrators. We are committed to expanding access to education, particularly for out-of-school children, girl-child and other marginalized groups, through various initiatives like the Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning and Empowerment. We are also committed to enhancing vocational and technical education to align with the needs of the rapidly evolving job market, particularly the agriculture, energy and oil and gas sectors which are fast taking shape in Gombe State, especially with the discovery of oil and gas at Kolmani.
On Healthcare and Social Welfare, he said, “We are going to leverage on Go-Health and GSPCHDA to strengthen healthcare systems and infrastructure in order to ensure accessible and quality healthcare services for all. We shall Improve the capacity of our healthcare professionals by investing in training and capacity building, as well as partner with FG and other relevant stakeholders to implement social welfare programs that support vulnerable groups and alleviate poverty.”
“Infrastructural Development: we are going to consolidate our existing achievements by investing in the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water supply, and electricity. We shall improve our rural and urban transportation networks, and invest in climate-friendly and sustainable projects. Urban renewal and redevelopment, especially in the State capital and the local government headquarters will be pursued vigorously in order to ensure decent living and also attract the much-needed investment in hospitality and tourism.
“Good Governance and Accountability: we shall sustain the principles of people-driven, needs-based and participatory governance by improving our open government policies which enabled us to become one of the top 7 states in the country in the 2022 Transparency and Integrity Index. The efficient use of public resources through plugging leakages and reducing wastage will foster a culture of meritocracy and inclusivity in governance, thus improving the efficiency of the system.”
