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Covid-19: Gombe Governor launches Home Schooling Transactional Radio Instruction.

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has launched the Home Schooling Transactional Radio Instruction, TRI for Primaries 1,2 and 3 pupils in the State.

The initiative is an educational improvement programme, supported by United States Agency for International Development, USAID and implemented by Strengthening Education in North East Nigerian States, SENSE through the American University of Nigeria AUN to bridge the learning gap created by the abrupt closure of Schools across the country occasioned by the Coronavirus Pandamic.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said at the launch that the Home Schooling Transactional Radio Instruction, TRI for pupils of primaries 1,2 and 3 is coming at a time when the state government has already begun classes on radio and television for pupils of primaries 4,5 and 6 as well as junior and senior Secondary School students in the State.

The Governor who was represented by the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Hon. Babaji Babadidi said with the launch of TRI, classes through the electronic Media can now reach students of both Primary and Secondary schools in the State.

The Governor explained that the declaration of the State of emergency in the Education sector by his administration was to correct the abnormalities inherent in the sector particularly at the basic level which he described as determinant for the success or otherwise of the intellectual development of an individual.

He commended USAID, American University of Nigeria AUN and Strengthening Education in North East SENSE for their continued support in the areas of the provision of free instructional materials and improvement of teachers service delivery through various workshops and trainings to compliment Gombe State Government’s effort.

In a virtual address to the event, the founder of the American University of Nigeria and former vice President, Atiku Abubakar said inspite of the covid-19 pandemic, learning must continue through the home schooling initiative to keep students up to speed with their curricular activities.

Atiku Abubakar said his dream was to ensure access to quality education for all Nigerian children whom he described as fundamental to the country’s future.

He said Northern Nigeria must strive to bridge the educational disparity that exist between it and the south as it is only by so doing that the region can realise its potential as formidable force in the country.

While commending Gombe State Government, USAID AUN and Strengthening Education in North East SENSE for the partnership, the former Vice President expressed optimism that TRI will improve learning among children of primaries 1,2 and 3 which is the stage for human mental development.

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Gombe Government reiterates commitment to e-Governance, ICT development.

The Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi says Government operations cannot afford to be left behind in the principles and practices of information and communication technology ICT.

Professor Njodi stated this when he hosted the management of Wills Smart Technology in his office.

The SSG said with the world going digital in all its ramifications, Gombe State cannot be indifferent, hence Government’s resolve to strengthen the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the promotion of ICT in the State.

He asked the management of Wills Smart Technology to engage with specialists in relevant ministries and agencies in the State and to recommend areas of mutual benefit of the partnership for Government’s possible consideration.

The Secretary to the State Government commended the management of Wills Smart Technology for considering the North East and Gombe State in particular for its pilot project.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Office of the Company, Mr Kofi Wills Abraham said they are in the state to seek partnership with Gombe State Government on creating platforms that will ease Governance and other activities through Technology.

He said, E-Governance, when deployed through the current technology will advance livelihood of the people and create jobs and wealth especially for the teeming youths in the State.

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Gombe begins 2nd phase of distribution of palliatives.

…targets associations, vulnerable groups

Determined to continue to cushion the effect of covid-19 on the vulnerable groups, the Gombe state committee on relief and palliatives has commenced the second phase of the distribution of relief materials to registered associations and vulnerable groups across the state.

The committee, chaired by the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar Shehu Abubakar lll had earlier distributed relief materials where nearly 3000 house holds across the state benefitted.

The 2nd phase of the relief materials distribution exercise was carried out by the Secretary of the committee, Barrister Mela Nunghe, who is also the commissioner for Special Duties. He listed 19 groups and associations that will benefit from the exercise.

Presenting the relief items, Barrister Nunge said all the listed associations are government registered with elected leadership who met the committee’s criteria.

He said food items provided by the committee for the beneficiaries include Rice, Maize, Sugar, Vegetable oil and Tomato paste among others.

Nunge listed Gombe state chapters of Christian Association of Nigeria and its Women wing, Jama’atul Nasril islam, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) among others scheduled to benefit from the gesture.

All the benefitting associations are to be segmented into groups to avoid chaos during the distribution exercise while more qualified vulnerable groups will be listed out by the committee after the 19 selected associations are attended to.

Barrister Nunge noted that the Emir of Gombe-led committee deployed IT mechanism during the 1st phase of the exercise to ensure the targeted persons in each associations get the relief materials and will ensure same approach is sustained in the 2nd phase.

He affirmed that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is passionate in supporting the needy as such the committee will ensure fairness in the exercise, even as he assured that such gesture will continue as long as the pandemic lasts.

Some of the officials that represented the benefitting associations in the distribution exercise expressed optimism that the relief packages given out will reach out to vulnerable persons in their respective associations.

They thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for bringing succour to their vulnerable members such as those with physical deformities, orphans, widows and the poor.

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Gombe Government reiterate commitment to e-Governance.

The Secretary to the State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi says Government operations cannot afford to be left behind in the principles and practices of information and communication technology ICT.

Professor Njodi stated this when he hosted the management of Wills Smart Technology in his office.

The SSG said with the world going electronic in all ramifications, the State cannot be indifferent hence Governments resolve to strengthen the Ministry of Science, Technology and innovation for the promotion of ICT in the State.

He directed the Management of Wills Smart Technology to engage with specialist in relevant Ministries and agencies in the State and to recommend mutual benefit of the partnership for Government possible consideration.

The Secretary to the State Government commended the management of Wills Smart Technology for considering the North East and Gombe State in particular for it pilot project.

Mr. Kofi Wills also said the company engages in E-Education, E-Health, E- Agriculture and E- Revenue collection as training and technological facilities will also be provided in Sectors for improved Government performance.

Speaking further, Abraham said, E-Governance when deployed through the current technology will advanced livelihood of the people and create jobs and wealth especially for the teeming youths in the State.

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Gombe Governor signs revised 2020 budget.

…Appropriation reduced from N130. 8bn to N107bn

Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has signed the revised 2020 budget into law.

The initially signed budget, tagged ‘budget of change’ was 130, 828,737,593.48 billion and now reviewed downward to the sum of 107,371,408,593.48 billion Naira due to the global economic shocks as a result of covid-19 pandemic which has affected national and personal incomes.

The revised capital expenditure for the 2020 fiscal year as passed by the House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Inuwa Yahaya now stands at N57,006,609,493.48 as against the initial figure of N71,046,953,693.48 while the recurrent expenditure is reviewed down to N50,364,799,100.00 against the earlier signed figure of N59,781,783,900.00, leaving a total variance at N23,457, 329, 000 which means a decrease in percentage terms of 17.6.

Governor Yahaya said revising the appropriations law to face current reality became necessary to enable government review its priority areas.

He said despite the downwards review of the budget, the state government ensures that health, education, agriculture and other critical sectors remain the top priorities of the state.

The Governor said the health sector’s budget in particular has been increased as a demonstration of the administration’s resolve to combat covid-19 and its socio-economic impact on the lives and means of livelihood of the people.

He said the sum of N500 million Naira is provided for the Task force to boost the health sector and equally N500 intervention for activities including the establishment of isolation centres, renovating, upgrading and equipping of the health care facilities as well as in procurement and provision of medical supplies.

He said Government will remain focused in strenthening the health system, particularly on issues around covid-19 such as the commencement of coronavirus testing in Gombe and the upgrading of general hospitals in Kumo, Billiri and Bajoga.

Governor Yahaya said Government has also made provisions in the revised budget for other sectors of the economy with a view to ensuring that the state prepares ahead of post covid-19.

He said N300 million has been provided for Agricultural inputs, seeds and chemicals, N1 billion for youths empowerment, N1 billion for women empowerment while N150 Million has been earmarked for enforcement of law and order by ministry for internal security and ethical orientation.

He added that the Ministry of Commerce has also been allocated the sum of N500 million naira to boost small and medium enterprises while N350 million was provided to facilitate public awareness and sensitization on covid-19 and other relevant issues.

Governor Yahaya noted that in the revised budget, government has also made provision of 700 million naira for the provision of palliatives to the vulnerable to support them recover their means of livelihood post covid-19.

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Gombe Governor commiserates with Kwara counterpart over father’s death.

Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has condoled with his Kwara state counterpart, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq over the passing away of his father, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Abdulrasaq, the Mutawalli of Ilorin who died today at the age of 93 years.

In a condolence message on behalf of the Government and people of Gombe state, Governor Yahaya said he was deeply saddened by the news of the demise of the legal icon, whom he described as a principled, disciplined and humble statesman who dedicated his life to the service of Almighty Allah, growth of the nation and the good of his community and humanity.

The Gombe Governor said although the late Mutawalli of Ilorin died at a time his elderly counsel and wisdom were most needed, especially by his son, Governor Abdulrazaq, “We must take solace in the fact that the late diplomat left behind a lasting legacy through his progeny and exemplary life which will continue to be cherished not only in kwara state but across the nation.”

He prayed Almighty Allah to reward the deceased’s good deeds with Aljannat Firdaus and comfort the family he left behind with the fortitude to bear the great loss.

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NARD, NMA laud Governor Yahaya’s transformation drive in heath sector, others.

The National leadership of Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors, NARD and the Gombe state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA have applauded Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for signing into laws, the Hospitals Management Board, Contributory healthcare scheme as well as for his government’s transformation drive in the health sector in general.

The two associations gave the commendation during a courtesy visit on Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the Government House.

The First National Vice President of NARD, Dr. Jullian Ojebo who led a joint delegation of NARD and NMA described the modernisation of the specialist hospital with requisite operational facilities as well as renovation and completion of other dilapidated sections of the health institution, such as Resident Doctors’ complex and staff quarters is worthy of commendation.

He also praised the Governor for devoting 10% of the state’s 2020 budget to the health sector.

” We are aware aware that in most states of the federation so much is not given to health, but thos is the first time in the history of Gombe state that 10% of the the budget is allocated to health. For this we say kudos to your Excellency and this goes to show that you have the people at heart and their welfare and wellbeing are paramount to you”.

“Driving through Gombe on our arrival, we noticed the state specialist hospital has been transformed into a world class health facility, your network eleven hundred is still very much on course and the Gombe Goes Green 3G planting campaign is springing up steadily.”

Dr Ojebo noted that Gombe state government has done very well in managing the coronavirus pandemic, but stressed the need for domesticating the covid -19 inducement allowance to health workers in the state as approved by federal government.

He observed that the love lost that once ensued between the state Government and the state chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors was due to communication gap and the lack of understanding of the transformational drive of the Governor in the health sector in the State.

He therefore apologized to the state government for the action of his members, stating that going henceforth there will be cordial relationship between the Government and the medical doctors.

He said, though the national body is aware of the pending issues surrounding the welfare of state’s resident doctors, their backlog of arrears, allowances and promotion even before the coming of the present administration, but still have every reason to give kudos to Inuwa Yahaya’s government for revitalizing the health system in the state, while expressing confidence on his ability to address the pending issues.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Gombe state chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Kefas Paul Zawaya said Governor Yahaya has kept faith with most of his key campaign promises made to the association by setting up machinaries in motion for the establishment of state hospital management board and health contributory scheme within just one year.

Additionally, he lauded the Governor for committing over 600 million to scale up NSHIP programme to cover other LGAs across the state, saying NMA is confident the Inuwa administration is on course to improving health sector.

Dr. Zawaya who asked his visiting colleagues to go round the state for a health facility inspection tour to see things for themselves, urged the Governor to take the transformation drive to general hospitals and staff quarters across LGAs in the state.

The Resident Doctors are in Gombe for their National Executive Council meeting tagged Gombe 2020 with the theme ‘ targeted violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria’s healthcare facilities: The effects on healthcare service delivery.

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GOMBE SUBEB CHAIRMAN INSPECTS FLOODED SCHOOLS, ASSURES OF GOVERNMENT QUICK FIX.

The Executive chairman Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB Hon. Babaji Babadidi has visited some Schools that were recently affected by flood in Gombe metropolis.

The chairman who was accompanied on the visit by some Senior staffs of the Board, visited the Yelwan Bogo Primary school, Hassan Central and Family Support Primary primary school Jauro Kuna.

At the Yelwan Bogo Primary school which is almost getting wash away by a monstrous gully Hon. Babaji Babadidi directed the School head teacher to evacuate all valuables of the School to the new school compound donated by the community.

The Gombe SUBEB chairman told leaders of Yelwan Bogo community to identify a suitable land so that the Board can look into the possibility of building another School since present one is no condusive for teaching and learning.

He thanked the community for donating a School compound to serve as a learning centre for the over four hundred and and fifty pupils of the school describing the act as commendable.

At the Hassan Central primary and Junior Secondary School the Executive chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board inspected fallen walls where he charge the head teacher of the school to ensure the safety of facility at the institution while the Board makes plans to re-erect the wall.

Representatives of the Schools visited express satisfaction with the urgency at which the Board responded to the plight of the Schools describing it as heartwarming.

The village head of Yelwan Bogo Alh. Mohammed Khalid however appeal to the Gombe State Government to arrest the gully erosion in the area so as to save the School and surrounding houses.

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24 YEARS AFTER STATE CREATION,GOMBE SOUTH INDEGINE ASSUMES DUTY AS PERMANENT SECRETARY GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Following the retirement of Alhaji Yakubu Bajoga from Service as the Permanent Secretary Government House, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the Posting of Barr. Balarabe Poloma mni, from Balanga Local Government of Gombe State to take charge as Permanent Secretary Government House.

The posting makes Barr. Balarebe Poloma the first from Gombe South to occupy the office of the Permanent Secretary Government House since the State was created in 1996.

This action of Governor Inuwa Yahaya no doubt portrays him as a fair, just and considerable leader who delights in carrying every section of the State along as well as keeping to his oath of office which reads in part “I will be fair to all manner of people in respective of tribe, religion or greed”

A trip down memory lane shows that the occupants of the office since the creation of Gombe state are mainly from Gombe North, as can be seen thus;
Alh. Abubakar Sule Bage, 1996 – 2007.Dr. Sani Jauro 2007- 2019 and Yakubu Bajoga served from 2019 – 2020.

Until his posting as the Permanent Secretary Government House, Balarabe Poloma, is one of the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the Gombe State Civil Service. He was appointed Permanent Secretary in 2003 and have Served in Various Ministries and MDA’s from Ministry of Justice to State Independent Electoral Commission SEIC, then to the Civil Service Commission.

A man full of ideas, and a versatile Adminstrator per excellence,Barr. Poloma is a Member National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies NIPPS Kuru.

The Permanent Secretary has since resume Office, promising to put in his best in his new place of assignment.

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24 YEARS AFTER STATE CREATION,GOMBE SOUTH INDIGENE ASSUMES DUTY AS PERMANENT SECRETARY GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

The posting makes Barr. Balarebe Poloma the first high ranking Civil Servant from Gombe South to occupy the office of the Permanent Secretary Government House since the State was created in 1996.

A man full of ideas, and a versatile Adminstrator per excellence,Barr. Poloma is a Member National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies NIPPS Kuru.

The Permanent Secretary has since resume Office, promising to put in his best in his new place of assignment.

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