Umar Faruq Usman
Governor Muhammed Badaru has restated the commitment of his administration on prudence and diversification of the state economy through agriculture.
He said his being meticulous about the state finance was done in good faith and to ensure judicial application of the scarce resources.
Governor Badaru disclosed this during an interactive session with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Directors of the state civil service held at Ahmadu Bello Hall in Dutse.
Governor Badaru who lamented the low revenue from the federation account explained that the only solution to these challenges is diversification of the economy and boost the state’s internally generated revenue.
The governor who took time to explain the dangers on relying on oil revenue added that the new direction is on renewable energy and agriculture which Jigawa state has in abundance.
He pointed out that despite low allocation from the federation account as result of crash of oil price at the global market; his administration was able to implement 45% capital provision of the state’s 2016 budget.
The governor therefore explained that his administration policies will boost and harness the abundance agriculture potentials of the state.
He noted that already the policies on agriculture have started yielding results as Dangote and Lee Group are investing on Rice and Sugarcane production.
Governor Badaru however, expressed his disappointment over the attitude of some politician who are bent on inciting people against the government, insisting that the Sugarcane project was for overall benefit of the people and the state in general.
While speaking on the staff biometric and attendance registrar introduced by his administration, he said it was not meant to witch-hunt anybody, instead it is intended to checkmate absenteeism and weed out ghost workers from the state’s payroll.
The Governor also assured the civil servant of continuous training well as prompt payment of salaries and other entitlement as usual.
He also thanked them for their dedication and selfless services to the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Head of Civil Service, Alh Inuwa Tahir said the Interactive session was a quarterly meeting with aim of providing platform for the civil servants to discuss burning issues affecting the state.
Also speaking, the State’s Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Usman Ya’u commended the state government for prompt payment of salaries and leave grants.
He however requested the government to hasten the take-off the HND conversion training signed with some Nigerian Universities.
