With Abubakar, a new Bauchi beckons

For the people of Bauchi State, voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the April 2015 election was predicated on a conscious decision by the electorate to open a new lease of life for the state. For many, the decision to vote for the APC was not misplaced as the Mohammed Abdullahi […]

For the people of Bauchi State, voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the April 2015 election was predicated on a conscious decision by the electorate to open a new lease of life for the state. For many, the decision to vote for the APC was not misplaced as the Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar led administration has continued to fulfil the promises he made during electioneering campaign across the state.
For Governor Abubakar, the wind of change that is blowing across every facets of the state is to enable the people see the difference between the 16 years of lack lustre governance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the proactive mien of the present administration. Governor Abubakar believes that his ascension to the state’s number one position was made possible by the masses of the state who thought that it was time to move Bauchi forward through desirable change that trickles down to the people. 
The governor’s vision is aimed at political and social re-engineering of the state back to its pride of place in Nigeria. Since assumption of office, Governor Abubakar has swung into action by first defining the road map to achieving the new Bauchi. The agenda includes a reformed and reinvigorated civil service that delivers service to the people. The current multi-pronged approach in reforming the civil service is expected to culminate into a robust civil service that meet people’s expectations. It is intended to strengthen the capacity, skills and capabilities of workers.
 The administration’s resolve to embark on a massive restructuring of political apparatus in the state is to ensure that all political office holders in the states see their positions as public trust, an opportunity to render service to the people of the state.  This new awareness will create the needed mind-set to chart a new course in elevating public service that works for the people.
 Expectedly this new orientation has brought about the much needed team spirit that will galvanise service delivery in the state. The top to bottom demonstrable leadership model of Governor Abubakar is beginning to impact on all cadres of leadership including Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and across the state civil service and local government service commission. For us in Bauchi, it is a new dawn aimed at achieving world class service delivery, managing for results and a better Bauchi for all.
The governor’s leadership principle essentially “managing for results” created an enabling environment which has made government more responsive to the aspiration of the people. It is a leadership that frowns at flamboyant lifestyles and wasteful spending of public funds. In the last 12 months of being on saddle of leadership in the state, he remained focused on his administration’s set objectives. In line with his agenda of managing for results, the governor decided to cut down cost of governance by reducing number of political appointees to essentially those needed to deliver efficient service to the people. This has helped to save funds for investments in public infrastructure, education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and other social sectors
Among the milestone so far achieved by the governor is the payment of workers salary, which other states across the country still find it difficult to manage. Bauchi has set template for ensuring prompt payment of workers salary. Governor Abubakar believes that prompt payment of salaries to workers is crucial to performance and remains consistent in delivering this promise. It is no longer news that under Governor Abubakar’s watch three months arrears of salaries inherited from the immediate past administration was settled in what many public administration experts described unprecedented. For the governor, the decision to ensure regular payment of workers’ salaries is predicated on the principle that a well-motivated work force will put in their best in delivering efficient service to the people.
In furtherance of his campaign promise to uphold public trust at all times, in his inaugural address, the governor unveiled the administration strategy for nurturing a corruption free public service in Bauchi. The intention is to set a benchmark for assessing public officers and their fidelity to public trust. For the Governor, public office is a trust which is given by the people and must be guarded with high level of integrity and transparency.   He admonished civil servants in the state public service to abhor corruption and turn a new leaf. Following up to the strategy, he announced decision by the State Government to set up a Commission of Inquiry to review the activities of the immediate past administration of Governor Isa Yuguda.  
The committee which was headed by Alhaji Salihu Lukman undertook a forensic audit of all contracts, expenditure and appointments by the Isa Yuguda’s administration. Governor Abubakar disclosed that his administration noticed that corruption was eaten deep into the fabric of state’s socio-economic and political life, hence his resolve to sanitise the state. He also appointed a committee for the recovery of all government properties illegally taken carted away by former state public officials.
Through the work of the committee chaired by Air Commodore Ahmed Tijjani (retd), assets worth millions of naira has been recovered, while it work is still on-going. Other items recovered include monies worth millions of naira, lands and other properties. At the last count, the committee recovered over 70 vehicles, generating sets valued at N600 million, s and  several air conditioners , For Governor Abubakar, the exercise is to instil discipline, transparency and accountability in the handling of public trust and government property.
Another area of focus by the governor is the security sector, in view of its importance as an enabler in promoting political, economic and social development. The Administration places premium on security of lives and property of the citizenry. The state government working in collaboration with the federal government and the security agencies has continued to keep insurgency at bay in the state. 
Wholly taken, it is not difficult to see that the current administration is on a mission to restore the state to its pride of place in the north east region and the nation in general. The governor is focused and has kept faith with the people through the numerous innovations he has brought to bear in the governance of the state. With his eyes on the ball, and the support of all Bauchi stakeholders, making of a new Bauchi is a done deal.
Bello wrote this piece from Bauchi.