Sule mounts the saddle in Nasarawa, promises rapid development
Another landmark feat in the political history of Nasarawa State was recorded with the formal handing over and inauguration of Abdullahi Alhaji Sule as the executive governor of the state, which indicated the formal exit of the former Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura and his deputy Silas Agara from the State Government House.
The swearing-in of Sule, which marked the fourth of its type in series of governance since the present democratic dispensation in 1999 and the sixth since the creation of the state in 1999, was held amidst joy, cheers and admiration, as people from all walks of life turned out to witness the change of power from the out-gone Governor Alamkura to the new Governor Sule.
The event, which took place at the Lafia-square, in the heart of the state capital saw in attendance of elder statesmen from the state, various political, cultural and interest groups, friends and business associates of Engineer Sule, business community from within and outside the country, technocrats, members of the diplomatic corps, aca
demia, members of the state traditional institution, Hon. Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly, former members of the state executive council under Almakura, former and serving members of the National Assembly, among others.
In his inaugural speech, Sule assured he would take the state to another level of development, where he hoped to address immediate issues confronting the people of the state within his first 100 days in office.
He however, said within the next 48 hours of his government, he would distribute grinding machines and other incentives to women in particular as part of efforts to empower them to a fulfilled life.
Governor Sule also pledged to address critical issues bordering on pension and gratuity, where he said that he would commence the payment of salary arrears, complete the Lafia Airport project and would embark on the construction of rural roads and electrification in the state.
Sule listed security, education, health services, agriculture, social development, real estate development, mineral development, youth and women empowerment, structure of governance, industrialisation and civil service as some of the areas his administration in the next four years was going to focus on.
While he pledge to encourage industrialisation as one of the “cardinal objectives of our government”, he stated that, “employment and wealth creation will be integral part of the overall industrial policy of this administration. We will adopt an integrated employment creation strategy, whereby industrial, agricultural, commercial, vocational and such other related ventures are encompassed. To this end, small, medium and large scale industries shall be encouraged.”
According to the new governor, “it is conventional to talk about recording some achievements within the first 100 days in office by new Administrations. We shall not be an exception to this. We have, therefore, identified some high impact projects to achieve this objective in the interim before medium and long- term arrangements take effect.”
He mentioned that his government would set up the State Economic Management and Investment Advisory Council, Review and reform “our civil service structure, review the payment of pension and gratuity and commence payment, visit the payment of salary arrears with a view to commence payment; completion of the Lafia Cargo Airport, Kwandare; commencement of the construction of rural roads in each of the 13 local governments and commencement of rural electrification in at least, three villages in the state.”
Other projects he hopes to accomplish within his first 100- day include the commencement of the construction of 2km solar power street light projects in each of the Local Government Areas, commencement of the construction of Technology Innovation Hubs in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Karu; provision of state-wide free medical outreach; screening and training of youths for small scale agricultural and trading enterprises in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), supply of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to farmers for the current farming season and construction of some classroom blocks in the local governments.
On the internally generated revenue (IGR), he said: “Government will develop innovative strategies and deploy technology for the optimum generation, collection and management of all revenues due to the state. Government will also incentivise tax payers by laying out infrastructures for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) and similar entities.
He added that his government will design enlightenment and sensitisation programmes for the people to understand the need for them to meet their tax obligations so that they could get more from government.
“Government shall adopt a robust investment policy and drive which will be structured on interim, short, medium and long term arrangements. Government will establish a one stop shop Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to process, regulate and manage all investments of the state and to also drive our investment initiatives. We shall explore the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) approach for special infrastructural development projects in the areas of railway services, health, energy, water supply and roads. We assure our potential investors that government will deploy strong political will and consider granting some special support and incentives to our pioneer investors,” he said.