…Okays Purchase of 40 Brand New Toyota Hiace Buses For Gombe Line, Others
…Gives Update On Take-off Of Lincoln University College Kumo
…Government Bans Bush Burning, Under-Age, Inter- LG, Night Grazing
The Gombe State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the draft 2023 budget proposal for presentation to the State House of Assembly.
The council, has also approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework earlier sent to the House of Assembly for legislation which will be used as a parameter in preparation for the 2023 Appropriation Bill.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the State Executive meeting, the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji explained that the N173. 72 billion proposed budget for 2023 was 11 per cent higher than that of 2022.
He said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is expected to present the budget estimate to the State House of Assembly Thursday, 3rd of November 2022.
The state government had earlier held a town hall meeting with community and religious leaders, trade unions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), among others, as part of citizens engagement in budget preparations.
On Council’s approval for the procurement of 40 Toyota buses, the commissioner of finance said 30 of the vehicles will be injected into Gombe line to add value and efficiency to the transport company.
“As you are all aware on assumption into office, His Excellency bought 50 units of brand new18 seater Toyota buses for the state transport company to improve easy commuting of goods and services within and outside the state”.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Meshack Audu Lauco, who coordinated the briefing, explained reasons why the Lincoln University College Kumo is yet to take off as earlier planned.
He said the September dateline for the commencement of academic activities in the University was put on hold due to a legal process instituted against the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement entered into between the Gombe State Government and Lincoln University of Malaysia.
The commissioner recalled that on the 2nd of March 2022 the Gombe state Government signed a PPP agreement with the Lincoln University College Malaysia to run the former Gombe State University of Science and Technology Kumo.
He however added that on the 3rd of March 2022 some groups of persons believed to have been politically motivated Instituted a legal process to gag the state from proceeding with the PPP arrangements.
Meshack Audu Lauco added that on the 10th of March 2022 the said persons filed a case at the High Court 8 Abuja seeking an injunction to restrain the state Government, the NUC and the Lincoln University College from going ahead with the implementation of the PPP.
He said with the issue in court it became virtually impossible for the state to move ahead “therefore we had to defend ourselves, the NUC has to defend itself and the Lincoln University College had to also defend itself”.
The information and culture commissioner however revealed that on the 27th of October a judgement was delivered in favour of the State Government, stressing that with the court victory, the Gombe State Government will pursue the implementation of the PPP without further delay.
He disclosed that the academic brief, the master plan and the draft law for the Lincoln University College has been produced.
Also briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting relating to his Ministry, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Mohammed Magaji Gettado explained that the Council ratified measures to forestall the possibility of farmers/herder clashes which usually occurs during harvest.
He said in view of some natural factors that affected food production across the country this year, it becomes pertinent on the state Government to put in place measures that will help to safeguard farm produce.
To this end, the commissioner said, from now until the end of January 2023.the State Government has banned inter local government, under-age and night grazing of cattles and bush burning.
He added that an expanded security meeting will be convened by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to fine tune understanding among critical stakeholders.
Mohammed Getado equally advised farmers not to burn the residue of their farms in the spirit of the African brotherhood.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Director-General
( Press Affairs)
Government House
Gombe
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