A need for uniqueness in public service

Every successful leader, either in the business world or in public service, has unique attributes.  It is this definitive uniqueness that many use, sometimes unconsciously, to create a niche for themselves and their mission. Since the inception of Jigawa as a state, various administrations have tried to create a sustainable system that will bring the […]

Every successful leader, either in the business world or in public service, has unique attributes.  It is this definitive uniqueness that many use, sometimes unconsciously, to create a niche for themselves and their mission. Since the inception of Jigawa as a state, various administrations have tried to create a sustainable system that will bring the rural state at par with most of its counterparts, especially in the North West, and northeastern parts of the country. But despite years of these trials, the state is yet to unlock its potentials to develop like many of its neighbors.
This is largely due to poor planning, absence of political will, and the inability of previous governments to set in workable, feasible and sustainable policies that will put the state on course to becoming self-reliant as well as ensure prudent management of the meagre resources available.
Despite it potentials, previous governments failed to place the state on course to socio-economic development and growth. The State is richly endowed with natural resources. It has vast agricultural land as well as abundant reserves of minerals. With a vast loamy but non-marshy soil suitable for the cultivation of crops like groundnut, millet, guinea corn, cassava, etc. 70 per cent of the total land area is cultivable with ten per cent constituting grazing reserve, 5 per cent forest reserve and the remaining fifteen per cent are settlements and uncultivable areas.
A major resource of significance in the state is the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, which covers an area of approximately 16sq. km in Jigawa and Yobe states and which has the capacity to generate millions of job opportunities and improve revenue generation in the state. The economy of the Hadejia Nguru Wetlands which is based on agriculture, grazing and fishing, is a vital element in the productive resource base of both states. The floodplain facilitates and supports the productive economy over a far larger area of both states than simply the floodplain. It has also been estimated that the returns from wetland agriculture, fishing and fuel wood is higher here than in the upland farming areas.
Since its creation in 1991, the state has not witnessed a government so determined to explore its natural and mineral resources and utilize its meagre resources as with the advent of the current administration of Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar. The governor, who is himself a successful businessman, has introduced measures to put the state on course. With his grab of fiscal policy and responsibility, his astuteness in the administration of finances, the state is now provided with the necessary mechanisms to attain economic sustainability, development and growth.
In the past 100 days, the governor’s focus has been to set the state on a positive way to prudency, transparent governance and effective management. What he does is demand explanation on each and every kobo needed for any work, service or any expenditure. Within two months of applying this simple procedure, the state has returned to sanity in a system that has been bastardized and abused raped by previous administrations. Although many critics have wondered what the government has been doing since its inauguration, it is evident from the above facts that for any successful venture to be sustained, there requires a systematic, prudent and accountable system.
Already, with an improved financial situation that is made possible through these transparent procedures introduced by the Governor, the state is getting ready to take its stand amongst the comity of states with visionary, committed and workable government. Unique indeed!
Gado wrote from number 2, Block D, Wuye Finance Quarters, Abuja.