Follow Us on Google
- Inaugurates Steering Committee for full implementation
From John Adams Minna
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has earmarked the sum of N9.864billion annually for the development of the 247 political wards in the state.
The money will be used to undertake special projects at the grassroots in deliberate efforts to bring development to the people at the grassroots.
Consequently, the Governor has inaugurated a steering committee for the full implementation of the Ward Development projects with the resolution to give priority attention to the development of the rural communities in the state.
Speaking while inaugurating the steering committee at the council chamber, government house Minna on Wednesday, the governor said out of N9.864b annual budget for the Ward Development, N3m will be expended monthly on each of the 274 wards of the state to undertake any project that is very dear to the people.
Governor Bago described the inauguration of the steering committee as “very historic” for the people of the state, saying that the ward development project which has been long awaited has now kick-started with the inauguration of the State steering Committee.
According to him, the state steering committee will in turn inaugurate Local Government Committee while the Local Government Committee will later form Committees at the Ward level.
He however pointed out that the list of people to make up the Local Government Committees will vary from Ward to Ward as a template has been produced to accommodate critical stakeholders in the Ward Committees.
Other News
The Governor therefore reminded the Committee members of the herculean task ahead of them and urged them to wear their thinking Caps as the State Government requires a Needs assessment from different Wards through their Committees to ascertain the degree of what they require, ranging but not limited to health, education, sanitation, water, security and infrastructure.
He expressed confidence in the Committee members, stressing that the members have the capacity to deliver and therefore counting on them to carry out their task diligently, and with all sense of responsibility.
Governor Bago also advised the committee that those who will be saddled with the responsibility of executing the projects should be people of the respective Wards who are expertise in various fields to enable them participate and be productive in the development of their areas while also expressing optimism that the initiative will help in rapid development of the State.
Farmer Umaru Bago also disclosed that N3m is set as a baseline as there are other interwoven Agencies like the Local Government Area Councils, SUBEB, healthcare centres, Ministries of environment and education which also have projects to be domiciled in Wards and as such, there should be synchronisation so as to have even spread of projects across the State.
The Chairman of the State Steering Committee and Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Phalalu Bako Mohammed, thanked the Governor for the Confidence reposed on them and assured that they will work assiduously to achieve the desired result.
He commended the farmer Governor for all the developmental projects being executed across the State, describing his efforts as unprecedented.
According to him, the Committee disclosed that the committee will immediately embark on citizens engagement, sensitization and would ensure the funds are judiciously utilised through proper monitoring and evaluation of projects.
Other Committee members are Mu’azu Hamidu Jantabo, Commissioner, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as the Vice Chairman, Alh. Aminu Musa Bobi who is also the Niger State APC Chairman, member, Hajiya Binta Mamman, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Member, Engr. Ibrahim Panti, Special Adviser, Ward Development Project, Member.
Others are Mohammad Nma Kolo, Special Adviser, Political, Member, Yahuza Abdullahi, Director-General, Wards Relations, Member, Iliyasu Zakari, Niger State ALGON Chairman, Member, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Bello, Permanent Secretary, Rural Development will serve as the Secretary of the Committee.
