Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has expressed grief over the death of Alhaji Sani Abdullahi of Herwagana quarters, Gombe, who died yesterday.
In a condolence message, Governor Yahaya described the death of the late business man, party elder and community leader as a great loss not only to his immediate family but the state in general.
He said the late Alhaji Sani Abdullahi was an exemplary father, respected APC elder and selfless community leader who impacted on the lives of many even beyond his immediate community.
Governor Yahaya, extended on behalf of the Government and people of Gombe state, his heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s brothers, Alhaji Salisu Maibiredi, Alhaji Sunusi Abdullahi Mai Radio and other members of the family, praying Almighty Allah to reward his good deeds with Aljannat Firdaus and give those he left behind the fortitude to bear the great loss.
The Governor had earlier sent a delegation to attend the funeral prayer held at the deceased’s residence in Herwagana quarters, Gombe.
The Secretary to the Gombe State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi led a State Government Delegation at the instance of the State Governor to Biu Borno State for the funeral prayers of the Paramount ruler Mai Umar Mustapha who died in the earlier hours of Tuesday the 15th September 2020.
The funeral prayers which took place at the late Emir’s Palace witnessed a large crowd of sympathisers from within and outside Borno State.
The Emir who accented the the throne in June 1989 left behind 4 wives, 70 children and 208 grandchildren.
The Secretary to the State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi was accompanied on the condolence visit by Commissioners of Trade, Commerce and Industry Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu Mohammed, Rural Development Usman Jahun Biri and Principal Private Secretary, Usman Mamman Kamara. Others are Special Advisers on Community relations Mohammed Auwal and Health Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed Kalla.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya had earlier issued a Condolence message on behalf of the Government and People of Gombe State to Biu Emirates Council and the Government and people of Borno State.
The Secretary to the Gombe State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi led a State Government Delegation at the instance of the State Governor to Biu Borno State for the funeral prayers of the Paramount ruler Mai Umar Mustapha who died in the earlier hours of Tuesday the 15th September 2020.
The funeral prayers which took place at the late Emir’s Palace witnessed a large crowd of sympathisers from within and outside Borno State.
The Emir who accented the the throne in June 1989 left behind 4 wives, 70 children and 208 grandchildren.
The Secretary to the State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi was accomplish on the delegation by Commissioners of Trade, Commerce and Industry Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu Mohammed, Rural Development Usman Jahun Biri and Principal Private Secretary, Usman Mamman Kamara. Others are Special Advisers on Committee relations Mohan Auwal and Health Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed Kalla.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya had earlier issued a Condolence message on behalf of the Government and People of Gombe State to Biu Emirates Council and the Government and people of Borno State.
…Commiserates with Biu Emirate; Government, People of Borno State
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has received with sadness, the news of the demise of the Emir of of Biu, Borno State, Alhaji Umar Mustapha Aliyu who died yesterday at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya, in a condolence message, said the demise of the first class traditional ruler, especially at this time is indeed a great loss not only to the Biu Emirate or Borno State, but the country as a whole.
He described the monarch as an exemplary leader and a man of peace who, throughout his reign, was known for preaching and promoting unity and harmony among the diverse people of his domain, the state and the nation at large.
The Gombe Governor consoled the bereaved to take solace in the fact that the late Emir left behind legacies of honour, dignity and selfless service, urging them to uphold and sustain same.
The Governor, on behalf of the Government and people of Gombe State, extended his heartfelt condolences to his Borno state counterpart, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and through him, members of the Biu royal family as well as the government and people of the state over the great loss, praying Almighty Allah to grant the deceased monarch Aljannat Firdaus and comfort those he left behind.
A six man committee to the review existing and draft new laws for Government Parastatals and Agencies in Gombe State have been inaugurated by the Secretary to the Gombe State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi.
Performing the inaugural ceremony Professor Njodi said Government was mindful of the obsolete nature of some laws that serves as a cog in the wheel of progress to Government Agencies and Parastatals in the State.
He said given the evolution and dynamics the State has under gone since creation some twenty two years ago, it was only necessary for the present administration to look into the possibility reviewing obsolete laws and creating news ones in line with current trends and realities.
“Our history dates back to the 1970s when we were in the North Eastern states and since Gombe state was created from the former Bauchi State, some of these laws from Bauchi are still been use in Government Agencies and Parastatals”
He said past administrations in Gombe State did little or nothing to address the abnormalities inherent in laws that are obsolete and inimical to the development of Government Agencies and parastatals.
Professor Njodi said governance is all about maintaining a depository of knowledge for future generations.
“I may decide to change something today but if it is not in the books another person will come and bring his own that is why you can easily say Government did not do anything because is not in the book”.
The SSG said it is in the wisdom of the present administration that a standing committee is been inaugurated to look at all existing laws regarding Government Agencies and parastatals and to advice Government on the way forward.
Earlier speaking, the Chairman of the committee Barr. Caleb Ubale said laws are necessary for the proper guidance and direction of any establishment without which there will vacuum, chaos and confusion.
“Most of these laws are obsolete and some we borrow them from Bauchi state so we need to do our laws to reflect our independence otherwise we will still be seen as an appendage of Bauchi state”
Barrister Caleb Ubale thanked the Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for finding them worthy to serve in the committee describing the composition of the committee as men with vast experience.
The term of reference of the standing committee include; Review of all existing laws of Government Agencies and parastatals in line with current trends, draft new laws for the newly established government Agencies and parastatals in the State and make any other recommendations incidental to the assignment.
…As ITF Sets to Establish Regional Office in Gombe.
The Industrial Training Fund, ITF is to establish a regional office in Gombe State to coordinate and oversee the training of youths in skills development across the North-East sub-region of the country.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has already endorsed this development and directed immediate provision of a temporary office accommodation and 4 hectares of land for the construction of a permanent site of the ITF.
During a meeting with officials of the ITF led by the Director General, Mr. Joseph Ari, represented by the Director of Procurement and Logistics, Mohammed Abdullahi Ningi, Governor said one of the cardinal objectives of his administration is to advance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state through human capital development that will usher them into the realm of economic prosperity.
To this end, the Governor explained to the ITF officials that he personally visited the corporate headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE to canvass for the support of the Directorate towards training of youths in the state on vocational skills and entrepreneurship development.
He noted that at a time when white colar jobs are scarce, coupled with dwindling economy, governments at all levels must encourage skills development if the country must grow and become a power house in the manufacturing sector.
He regretted the level of insecurity in the North-East and some parts of the country, saying if past administrations had done the needful towards youths empowerment, the crisis rocking the region would have been averted.
The Governor was however happy with the coming of the Industrial Training Fund to the State after so many years of failed attempts, assuring of his administration’s readiness to partner with the organisation towards building the capacity of the youths in the State and the North East as a whole.
To demonstrate this readiness, Alhaji Yahaya directed the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau to ensure that the ITF gets an office accommodation and a 4 hectares of land for the construction of its proposed permanent office and 7 skills acquisition centres.
Earlier speaking, the leader of the delegation from the Industrial Training Fund, Mohammed Abdullahi Ningi said that the agency’s team was in Gombe state at the instance of the Director- General to finalize arrangements with the Government of the State on the establishment of a regional office that will also house 7 skills acquisition centres in Gombe, which is going to be first of its kind in the sub-region.
Mohammed Ningi who is ITF’s Director Procurement and Logistics, said when fully operational, the office will coordinate the training of youths in skills development in the North- Eastern states.
He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his enthusiasm towards the establishment of the office, describing the Governor’s body language as a reflection of a political leader who means well for his people.
The Industrial Training Fund was established by Law in 1971 to promote, accelerate and encourage the acquisition of indigenous skills required in industry and commerce to meet developmental needs.
It provides direct specialised training in the areas of research and consultancy services, engineering and technology, management, human resources development, safety, computers and information training, vocational and apprentice training, accounting and financial management, advisory and management consulting among others.
…As ITF Sets to Establish Regional Office in Gombe.
The Industrial Training Fund, ITF is to establish a regional office in Gombe State to coordinate and oversee the training of youths in skills development across the North-East sub-region of the country.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has already endorsed this development and directed immediate provision of a temporary office accommodation and 4 hectares of land for the construction of a permanent site of the ITF.
During a meeting with officials of the ITF led by the Director General, Mr. Joseph Ari, represented by the Director of Procurement and Logistics, Mohammed Abdullahi Ningi, Governor said one of the cardinal objectives of his administration is to advance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state through human capital development that will usher them into the realm of economic prosperity.
To this end, the Governor explained to the ITF officials that he personally visited the corporate headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE to canvass for the support of the Directorate towards training of youths in the state on vocational skills and entrepreneurship development.
He noted that at a time when white colar jobs are scarce, coupled with dwindling economy, governments at all levels must encourage skills development if the country must grow and become a power house in the manufacturing sector.
He regretted the level of insecurity in the North-East and some parts of the country, saying if past administrations had done the needful towards youths empowerment, the crisis rocking the region would have been averted.
The Governor was however happy with the coming of the Industrial Training Fund to the State after so many years of failed attempts, assuring of his administration’s readiness to partner with the organisation towards building the capacity of the youths in the State and the North East as a whole.
To demonstrate this readiness, Alhaji Yahaya directed the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau to ensure that the ITF gets an office accommodation and a 4 hectares of land for the construction of its proposed permanent office and 7 skills acquisition centres.
Earlier speaking, the leader of the delegation from the Industrial Training Fund, Mohammed Abdullahi Ningi said that the agency’s team was in Gombe state at the instance of the Director- General to finalize arrangements with the Government of the State on the establishment of a regional office that will also house 7 skills acquisition centres in Gombe, which is going to be first of its kind in the sub-region.
Mohammed Ningi who is ITF’s Director Procurement and Logistics, said when fully operational, the office will coordinate the training of youths in skills development in the North- Eastern states.
He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his enthusiasm towards the establishment of the office, describing the Governor’s body language as a reflection of a political leader who means well for his people.
The Industrial Training Fund was established by Law in 1971 to promote, accelerate and encourage the acquisition of indigenous skills required in industry and commerce to meet developmental needs.
It provides direct specialised training in the areas of research and consultancy services, engineering and technology, management, human resources development, safety, computers and information training, vocational and apprentice training, accounting and financial management, advisory and management consulting among others.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says Gombe State is open to investors that will assist in driving his administration’s vision of making the State a one-stop-shop for trade, commerce and manufacturing.
Governor Yahaya stated this when he received senior officials of Keystone Bank, led by the Managing Director in charge of Northern Region, Ahmed Jibril Lawal.
The Governor said the banking sector has gone through alot of reforms and transformation owing to the capitalist nature of the Nigerian economy which presupposes the need for financial institutions to devise ways and means of dishing out products that can sale in any circumstance.
The Governor disclosed that Gombe State Government is keen on devising means of generating money to stimulate the economy in the face of the covid-19 pandemic, hence the people will need the support of financial institutions in the areas of health, agriculture, education, trade and investment, saying his administration is amenable to what the bank is bringing to the table.
He directed relevant members of the State Executive Council to avail themselves to discussions with the bank on areas of mutual benefit.
He said because of the relative peace Gombe enjoys, the State has maintained its status as a business hub of the North- East, adding that the state is open to financial institutions who seek to do business in the State so long as they can come up with packages that will better the lots of the p6 and uplift their social being.
“You are in Gombe, you know the history of the state, so you know how best to serve the people, the most important thing is how you relate and gather customers, especially with good packages that will help stimulate the economy post covid-19”.
” In Gombe, we are coming up with an industrial park perhaps the first of its kind in the North East measuring about one thousand hectres in size and we are willing to accommodate whoever is interested as an investor to come and join hands with us to put up agro-allied industries because of our potential in agriculture, solid minerals and other natural resources”.
The Governor expressed the belief that the value chain along the Agricultural sector can do alot of good to the economic wellbeing of the people.
He said the federal government has identified the Wawa-Zange grazing reserve to be used as a model project for the National Livestock Transformation Programme which is aimed improving livestock production and animal husbandry as well as combating incessant farmers/herders clashes.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the Keystone’s approach to corporate social responsibility is commendable and that the state will do everything necessary to support the bank for a mutually beneficial goal.
Earlier speaking, the Managing Director, Northern Region of Keystone Bank, Ahmed Jibril Lawal said the Bank was at the Gombe Government House to pay respect to the Governor and to intimate the Government and people of the State of the bank’s objectives and packages.
He said keystone Bank is a development and partnership bank which is now rebranded towards providing support and bettering the lives of the people.
It is for this reason that the Managing Director disclosed that the Bank will undertake the renovation of a secondary school in the state as part of its corporate social responsibility.
He thanked the Governor for according the bank the honour of assembling his cabinet members to interface with them, saying the gesture is a reflection of the long standing relationship that has existed between the Gombe State Government and the bank dating back to the days of Habib bank and Bank PHB.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has extolled the moral impact of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC on the lives of Nigerians especially those who pass through the one year mandatory scheme to the nation.
Governor Yahaya stated this when he granted audience to officials of the service, led by the state Coordinator, Mrs Florence Yaakugh who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
“We shall continue to cherish and sacrifice to the service both individually and at Government level” the Governor said.
He noted that “except for the Army and the police, I am yet to see an organisation better than NYSC in terms of contribution to the social upliftment of the Nigerian people especially with respect to unity and the impact on moral upbringing and contribution to human resource needs of the country”.
He said bearing in mind the contributions of the NYSC to the development of the country, nothing will come in the name of the service that his administration will not support.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya thanked officials of the NYSC for their presentation and the request they forwarded, assuring them of a symbiotic relationship for the upliftment of the social conditions of the people.
He said the State Government and the NYSC have a long standing relationship which makes it easier for the state to enjoy manpower needs at both the State and Local Government levels, covering fields like education, health and other relevant areas.
The Governor said the State Government will continue to complement the good gestures of the NYSC through supporting activities of the service so that needs of the State and those of the NYSC can be met.
He expressed appreciation to the Gombe office of the NYSC for donating items in support of the state Government’s fight against the covid-19 pandemic”.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his administration will not relent in assisting the NYSC towards advancing skills development among corps members which he explained will help both the government and the NYSC to kill two birds with one stone as young Nigerians can acquire skills and get their minds preoccupied.
He said while Gombe, like others grapples with paucity of funds, the state will continue to assist the NYSC up to the limit of its resources.
Earlier, Mrs. Florence Yaakugh took her time to speak on corps welfare, provision of permanent orientation camp, elections, health initiative for rural dwellers, provision of mattresses and bunk beds for use at the camp, renovation and provision of facilities at the temporary camp among other things.
She thanked the state Government for its continued support to the NYSC office in the state, soliciting for more assistance.
… Directs Agency to Address Issues of Pending Promotions
..Approves suspension of Salaries of Absentee Personnel
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has formally received the report of the committee on Primary Health Care Development Agency staff verification exercise.
The committee, headed by the state Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya was mandated by the Governor to ascertain the precise number of the staff on the payroll of the PHCDA as well as determine the gap in human resources to enable government plan for staff recruitment, training, welfare and resource allocation for improved healthcare services.
After weeks of the committee’s engagement, the report revealed that about 4,304 primary health care staff were verified across the state out of which 135 personnel were found to be absent.
Having studied the document submitted by the committee, the Governor directed immediate suspension of the salaries of all PHC staff who failed to physically appear before the verification committee.
He also directed that all PHC staff with non relevant qualifications be transferred out of the agency and payroll to other departments where their qualifications are needed within their respective local government areas.
The state Governor also directed the agency and its governing council to ensure that issues of PHC staff with pending promotions across the 11 LGAs are immediately addressed.
Meanwhile, the state ministry of health has disclosed that about 20 medical doctors on government’s payroll were not at their duty posts for a very long time and in some instances for years.
The ministry said while the salaries of the said absentee medical doctors have so far been suspended, a panel will be set up to investigate the matter with a view to probing the root cause of their absence from duty and those found wanting will be prosecuted and the salaries paid recovered.
Sahel Online News 