Gombe State Hosts Jigawa Executive Council Retreat as Governor Yahaya Showcases Governance Achievements
Gombe State played host to the Jigawa State Executive Council and top government officials for a two-day retreat aimed at enhancing governance efficiency and fostering peer learning. Speaking at the event, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya highlighted his administration’s key achievements, positioning Gombe as a model for sustainable development and public service reforms.
The retreat, themed “Ascending the Peak: Achieving Greater Jigawa Vision Through Innovation and Transformative Leadership,” provided a platform for knowledge exchange, with Governor Yahaya emphasizing the importance of learning from successful governance strategies. He outlined several milestones achieved under his administration, including advancements in infrastructure, investment promotion, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
Among the flagship projects highlighted was the Network 11-100 Road Project, aimed at enhancing road infrastructure across the state. He also spoke about the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, designed to boost industrialization and economic growth. Gombe’s commitment to improving healthcare was evident in the establishment and equipping of hospitals and primary healthcare centers (PHCs), ensuring access to quality and affordable medical services.
Governor Yahaya further emphasized Gombe’s success in urban renewal, citing the introduction of a digitized land administration system that has improved efficiency and transparency in land management. He proudly noted that Gombe consistently ranks as Nigeria’s top state for ease of doing business, a feat achieved through deliberate policies that attract investments and create an enabling business environment.
Environmental sustainability was another key area of focus, with the Governor referencing the Gombe Goes Green (3G) initiative, which targets the planting of one million trees annually to combat deforestation and climate change. In the area of public service reforms, his administration established the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, alongside a biometric attendance system to tackle inefficiencies such as ghost workers, absenteeism, and redundancy.
“The introduction of a biometric attendance system has effectively addressed issues of accountability and efficiency in our civil service. These reforms have set a strong foundation for sustainable governance,” Governor Yahaya stated.
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, commended Gombe’s rapid development and peaceful atmosphere, stating that the choice of Gombe for the retreat was intentional. He noted that the state’s governance model offers valuable lessons for Jigawa as it works towards achieving greater administrative efficiency. Governor Namadi expressed confidence that the retreat would reorient officials towards delivering impactful governance.
Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, also emphasized the retreat’s role in strengthening collaboration and leadership capacity among government officials. The event featured goodwill messages from the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and development partners, reinforcing the commitment to transformative governance.
The retreat served as a significant moment for inter-state collaboration, with Gombe showcasing its progress as a benchmark for governance excellence in Nigeria. The exchange of ideas and best practices is expected to inspire Jigawa’s leadership in its pursuit of innovation-driven development.