GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO'S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION BLUEPRINT/PROGRESS IN KOGI STATE
In Nigeria today, Government's performance is very key. Citizens now hold their leaders accountable. It is not easy to see few conscientious persons who come into politics solely because they are driven by desire to serve passionately. Kogi state, a place where government and the governed are in communion on what the people need and how government is able to make aspiration come to pass is examplary. Governor Bello is imbued with leadership prowess, derives from adoption of technical-rationality. This is guided by his knowledge, competence, deep respect for professionalism and integrity as fundamental elements of good governance.
Gov. Bello has re-echoed his Administration's resolves in improving the welfare of citizens of the state. Hence, the decision to focus on four critical key sectors: Security, Health, Education and Infrastructural. The Governor has renew synergy to double efforts on anti-corruption battle. This is important ensuring gains of collaboration do not continue to face danger of annihilation. Bello reaffirms his unflinching commitment to work towards building a socially-cohesive society in which the resources of our state work for the benefits of all. He will continue to apply public funds in such a way no section of the state or segment of the population suffers social exclusion. These are part of the new Direction Government's blue prints.
On assumption of office in his first tenure, he cleared the backlog of four months inherited salary arrears from the Captain Idris Wada's led government. Unlike several of his counterparts strewn across the landscape of Nigeria, he continued to pay worker’s emoluments as at when due. To Bello, it is morally unjustifiable, indeed reprehensible for any state Governor to collect federal allocations and sundry bailout funds and yet refuse to pay the long-suffering workers their constitutional entitlements. Gov. Bello's love for civil servants stems from the fact he was once a through-bred civil servant before becoming a politician achored on his avowed committment to govern with a human face.
He is committed to the implementation of minimum wage, hence the civil service reforms to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in civil service via elimination of redundancy and weeding off ghost workers on Government payroll system in 2016. By all parameters, it is equally clear to any discerning mind the government is committed to building institutional and systemic capacity that produce human capital linked to efficient service delivery and the principles of good governance. This is one of the main reasons Kogi State Strategy plan was put in place and charged with the responsibility of developing a framework and blueprint using innovative techniques and technologies to upgrade human capacity and organizations.
So far, it has been an action-packed ride carrying the people along. The blueprint focuses on job creation, improve IGR, urban renewal and infrastructural development across the nooks and crannies of the confluence state. For instance once dilapidated, pothole riddled roads such as lokoja to Okene, Anyigba, Idah, Olamaboro, dekina, Ijumu, Yagba West and East, lokoja metropolis are all wearing a more solidified and durable look to the envisioned fast-paced economic development. As a progressives, Governor Bello remain resolutes in his vision of providing accountable, responsible and responsive leadership to the citizens. Assures that this administration creates a conducive business environment to attract investments, industries, support the growth of the local economy, and empower the workforce using local talent to drive job and wealth creation.
The government of Kogi state is aware of the torrents of expectations from the people despite the confronting financial challenges. The government has so far proved it's onus justify why it was choosen by the people of Kogi state to govern them. The Gyb government is devising ingenious ways of meeting the expectations of the public and this underscores the relevance and trust they justified in the New , Direction Government. The government will continue to synergise to explore what we can do together, what we can share with each other and areas we can collaborate with one another particularly from other states that have partnered with us all the way. The government understands there is still more work to be done considering the level of decay inherited from The PDP led government.
The New Direction Government would do everything within its powers to sustain the current economic recovery efforts, caused by this COVID19 pandemic. Macro-economic policies would be reinforced to achieve sustainable economic stability and growth. The state economy had been placed on the path of growth and competitiveness in the last four years especially in the areas of human capital development, infrastructural development and prosperity. Government is more determined than ever before to subdue the challenges of insecurity as proven by its leep successes . The new direction is confident together as a united Kogi we would achieve our objective of building a prosperous Kogi state.
The scorecard for the last four years has been replete with outstanding achievements, ground breaking events and the initiation of legacy projects which have not only transformed the landscape of the state impressively but also ensure comprehensive sustenance of well-being of the people in line with the development blueprint released for the second term in office. This reiterates the commitment and determination of the administration to work and serve Kogites. Apart from security and roads, significant progress is also made in the delivery of Health Care and Education, Infrastructure and Services to the people.
He is leading the way in determination to deliver change and take Kogi state in "LETS DO MORE" for consolidation. The fact that the government is paying special attention to key areas of internal security and humanitarian services, health and education put the state on the right track. These areas reflect some of the most challenging issues we are contending with. The government cannot talk about strengthening public service delivery without discussing the issues of accountability and prudent deployment of resources which has been top priorities for this adminstration. His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello with his penchant for good governance and accountability is commended by the people of Kogi state for doing well in good governance, shunning all forms of parochial interests, improves peace and prompt payment of salaries and pension to the active and retired civil servant.
