Now that Yuguda will quit Bauchi governorship in weeks

However, some of them who mean well for their states are toeing a different line. They would rather stay in their states and attend to the needs of the people.  Such governors understand the importance of the social contract they struck with the people.  Strangely, although Governor Isa Yuguda is contesting the Bauchi South senatorial […]

However, some of them who mean well for their states are toeing a different line. They would rather stay in their states and attend to the needs of the people.  Such governors understand the importance of the social contract they struck with the people.  
Strangely, although Governor Isa Yuguda is contesting the Bauchi South senatorial district election on March 28, he is one of such governors who would not sacrifice the future of their states and the wellbeing of the people. Yuguda has rather raised the tempo of his job. He now has more security meetings, programme evaluation sessions, project inspections (at night and mostly unannounced) and stakeholder consultations.
  It is note-worthy that, in addition to his achievements in other sectors in the state, in the health sector, over N4.4billion has been spent on 12 hospitals. This is aimed at giving the people access to quality health care delivery across all the 21 local government councils.
A good number of hospitals and other health facilities have been completed and commissioned.
Known as the Pearl of Tourism, the state’s tourist potential hasbeen adequately tapped, even as abandoned chalets, auditorium, museum and amenities at the Yankari National Park and the Wikki Warm Spring were completed and commissioned.
To dislodge dangerous thugs and urchins, otherwise known as Yan Sara Suka in the streets of Bauchi, the governor, on assumption of office, created the Bauchi State Commission for Youth and Women Rehabilitation and Development (BAYWARD). This was aimed at re-orientating them through job creation, poverty alleviation, youth engagement and women empowerment.
In the education sector, this administration increased its budgetary allocation from a paltry N2.6 billion in 2007 to N11.6 billion in 2008. This was because he saw the need to raise the literacy level of the state. A state of emergency was declared in the sector to stem the high illiteracy level put at 60.5 per cent (49.7 per cent male and 71.5 per cent female) in 2006. Before 2007 there were inadequate classrooms, dilapidated boarding facilities, unqualified and ill-motivated teachers, and poor access to university education for students of Bauchi state origin.
To achieve his aim, the governor declared free education in all public primary and secondary schools and paid school certificate examination fees for students to encourage enrolment and tackle the drop-out syndrome. Students were given free books, even as the quantity and quality of food for boarding students was improved. To raise the literacy level of women in the state, he further built secondary schools exclusively for married women.
The Tsangaya schools were built to integrate dislocated Almajiri children into formal education. Over 20,000 mallams mentoring the children are on the state’s payroll, with over 35,531 pupils in 220  schools while additional 620 are being established to enrol more children.
To bring government closer to the people and give voice to the vast majority at the grassroots, this administration established 10 community radio stations to complement two epileptic radio stations it inherited.
Furthermore, the governor’s expectation of the state’s civil service, the best in the country, is unmistakable.  Mal. Isa Yuguda set out in 2007 to create and encourage a vibrant, virile, productive, professional, highly-motivated and result-oriented civil service. He met a civil service with an abnormal wage that had the most embarrassing salary structure in the federation.
He instituted the minimum monthly living wage of N18,125for the state’s employees in line with the new national minimum wage. Since 2007 he has enforced prompt payment of salaries before the 25th of every month while also promoting human capital development through mass recruitment of personnel. He increased the number of permanent secretaries from 22 to over 58, thereby raising job security and motivation.
He approved end of year salary bonus amounting to over N250million to all civil servants for the first time in the state to underscore the human face of the state’s labour policy. This administration cleared a backlog of unpaid gratuity and pension arrears of over N600m. Today, all pensions are paid on the 25th of every month. Today, Bauchi is one of the states in the federation with excellent industrial harmony.
As the 2015 general elections draw closer, it is hoped that Nigerians would vote for the best candidates.
Emeka Nwankpa, a governance and public affairs commentator, contributed this piece from Abuja.