Newly elected officials are in the habit of making policy pronouncements at inauguration while some simply make their agenda of governance public. This is usually to form the focus of their administration. And although many of such pronouncements have failed to guide the performance of some past leaders, new governors in Nigeria have continued to churn them out.
Following suit, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto state made public what he termed his 9-points agenda during his inaugural speech. These include education, healthcare delivery and water supply, agriculture, security, youth empowerment, local government autonomy, religious affairs, and economy. He vowed to uplift the standards of education, expand the scope of healthcare delivery, with specific emphasis on the turnaround of primary health clinics. The governor also made a commitment to improve water supply in the Sokoto metropolis and it’s environs while promising to tremendously improve agriculture.
The governor’s firm resolve to improve the security of lives and properties of the people of Sokoto must have been of special interest to the people of the state who have had their fair share of banditry and mindless killings. But not only did he promise to improve security, but he also promised to empower the youth and other vulnerable groups while also committing to respecting local government autonomy in a move hailed by commentators as a very significant undertaking.
The last two agenda: religious affairs and the economy are perhaps most significant. Last year, a student of the state owned college of education was killed by a mob on suspicion of blasphemy. Add that to another blasphemy killing there this year and you will understand that the governor must pay special attention to religious affairs. Finally, revamping the economy and improving Internally Generated Revenue. This is even more important and could features in virtually every other of his agendum.
I must confess it will pose a great challenge to measure four years long plans on a 100-day performance. Nevertheless, we must try, even if just to assess the take off, if any; of the plans and really get a feeling of the long-run practicability of same.
Our assessment begins with education where the governor, having appointed Aminu Iya, commissioner for Higher Education and Alhaji Tukur Alkali, as the commissioner for Basic and Secondary education, decisions that have been hailed as putting round pegs in round holes, governor Aliyu has offset the school fees of students of Sokoto origin studying in various tertiary Institutions all over the country. Governor Aliyu has also commenced the renovation of schools in Sokoto state, as the two new commissioners continue to seek stakeholders support to improve education in the state. So, without offering any exaggerations, it will be safe to conclude that the governor’s education agenda is off to a bright start.
In healthcare delivery, the governor having appointed a renowned doctor as commissioner for health, paid an unscheduled visit to the Sokoto state Specialist Hospital where he was exposed to sorry state of the facility. The governor lamented its dilapidated structures, erratic power supply, dearth of manpower and lack of functional medical equipment, among others, after which he invited the management of the hospital to a chat to discuss how to turn the situation around. the governor also recently sought the support of the Swiss government whose officials visited him at the government house. He emphasized education and healthcare as areas where the government need the most support. Also recently, the governor vowed to stamp out polio in the state as UNICEF announced a strategic partnership with his government to cut down maternal/child mortality rates in the state.
As for water supply, low water levels at the Bakalori and Goronyo Dams as well as erratic power supply and the activity of saboteurs constitute a big challenge leading to a water crisis that hit the city of Sokoto in the first quota of this year. Whereas the governor through the state commissioner for water resources, Yusuf Maccido, have their jobs cut out for them in areas bordering on staff discipline and power supply, the issue of low water levels in dams will require a great deal more than a small tweak. The commissioner has acknowledged this and is ready to work his Sox off. On the strength of these effort, it’s safe to say the governor’s healthcare and water resources plan appears to have gotten off to a modest start.
In agriculture, Governor Ahmed Aliyu hosted executives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Sokoto where he “assured of his administration’s readiness to collaborate with their association”. Although, the structure and content of that collaboration is yet to be worked out, the fact that the governor is entering into strategic partnerships with farmer association means he’s ready to take advantage of agriculture to improve the state’s food production and associated revenues therefrom.
As for security, the governor having identified that much of the problems of policing in Sokoto are due to inadequate logistics, has taken the liberty to procure operation vehicles and distributed same to security outfits. The vehicles comprised of 40 Hilux, 22 Bufferlos vans amongst others procured at the cost of over ₦6.6 billion. Speaking at the event, the Vice president, Kashim Shattima who inaugurated the vehicles said “that assisting security operatives would augment their activities in safeguarding people’s lives” even as he commended BUA cement company for supporting Sokoto state government with 10 Hilux for the security operatives. Therefore, it will be safe to say that the governor has hit the ground running in the area of security.
Youth empowerment, another of the governor’s agenda has also been off to a good start with the governor offsetting the school fees of students of Sokoto origin in tertiary Institutions all over the nation. The government also recently reinstated his commitment to allowing local governments work in accordance with their establishment laws. This commitment has the potential to bring real development to the grassroots.
In the area of religious affairs, the governor made a wonderful gesture recently when he invited governor hope Uzodimma to commission a road in the state. Speaking shortly after the commissioning, Hope Uzodinma described his Sokoto counterpart, Ahmed Aliyu “as one young politician that Nigerians should watch out for. Governor Uzodimma was, however, more awed by what he termed “governor Aliyu’s commitment to national unity” as he was informed “my Igbo brothers doing businesses here confirmed to me that you promised to deliver this road project if voted into power within 100 days in office despite the area is predominantly dominated by my people from the Southeast. In light of the tension that gripped the state last year following that unfortunate incidence with the killing of a student, this is a very nice gesture. Again, top marks.
In the area of economy, the state government recently flagged off the construction of 500 houses. The foundation laying ceremony flagging off the project was performed by a visibly impressed Vice president Kashim Shattima, who declared that the governor is ready for governance. The estate, commenced by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko Magatakarda but abandoned by the immediate past governor of the state, Aminu Tambuwal will gulp over ₦7 billion Naira and when completed, will be issued to civil servants to ease the accommodation problems. Also, several roads, and a flyover bridge were commissioned by the Vice President as well as the APC national chairman. This is in addition to the commissioning of over 50 buses for interstate transportation as well as 20 cars for women intercity transportation system. All these are geared towards easing the movement of people, goods, and services in order to jolt the economy of the state into life.
Furthermore, as a reaction to the hardship visited on Nigerians by the removal of fuel subsidy, Governor Ahmed Aliyu committed funds to the purchase of 57,000 bags of 50kg of rice at the cost of N2.5 billion and 26,000 bags of 100kg of millet at N1.4 bn, making a total of N3.9 billion. The state government also collaborated with the Federal Government, to purchase and distribute 44,000 bags of maize to the people of the state. Commenting on the distribution of palliatives by the Sokoto State government, the VP said, “This is a very laudable initiative by the governor worthy of emulation by other state governments.”
Indeed, his excellency, governor Ahmed Aliyu has demonstrated that his version of agenda setting is not an academic exercise. This is because, virtually everyone of one of his 9-point agenda has been firmly rooted in action just 100 days into his administration. At this rate, the people can be very optimistic that the agenda can be carried through and therefore marvel at the expected beautiful outcome and the impact it will have in the life of the state.
Umaru writes from Kaduna
