The Chief Servant and Accountability in Service
 

By DANLADI NDAYEBO |

DURING his inauguration as the Governor of Niger State on May 29, 2007, the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, promised to provide the people of the state accountable and responsive leadership characterized by openness, transparency and equity. In choosing that path, he had at the back of his mind that the Servant Leadership model of governance entails that service to the people is the hallmark of leadership. So it was not out of place that he opted to be simply addressed as The Chief Servant of Niger State.

It is Governor Aliyu’s belief that this novel governance paradigm means so much in defining the character of governance in Nigeria where leadership position is sometimes misconstrued to mean a God given opportunity to loot the treasury.

Knowing full well that he was elected by the people of the state to provide leadership driven by exemplary service, accountability, openness, and consensus, he had at all times created platforms to give vent to this ideal, which has made Niger State a leading example to emulate by others. Dr. Aliyu’s vision of governance is rooted on mobilizing support and buy-in of the people as key stakeholders in Niger Project, and their welfare, concerns and needs define the policy goal and objective. He has consistently pursued this goal as he strove all these years to make Niger State an enviable one among its contemporaries. The Governor and his team share this ideal which has won the administration the support and followership of the people.

One of the novelties introduced by the Chief Servant in a bid to make Niger, the flagship of States in Nigeria is the State of Service Address, which was instituted in 2008. The rationale for this annual address to the people of the State is that the Government owes the people a duty to inform them,  in a thorough manner, the quality of governance they receive in a given period, key decisions taken by the government and the preference of some options over others, general overview of the revenue profile of the state and what are next lines of action that Government intends to adopt.

This no doubt is all geared towards reinforcing the fact that the citizens are central to governance and therefore getting their input in decision making process is imperative. For the Chief Servant, he owes the people a duty to inform, seek their consent and report back to them on the progress of work on a regular basis. For him, as the Chief Servant elected by the people, he and his team, as a matter of good judgment, need to constantly go back to the people through dialogue to keep them abreast of the state of his service to the people.

The 2009 edition of the State of Service address which he delivered at the hallowed chamber of the Niger State House of Assembly on the occasion of the presentation of the 2010 budget estimates, on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 was an opportunity for Aliyu to engage the people of the state with key highlights of development and governance profile of the Administration in all sectors. He took time out to explain the administration’s programmes on key sectors such as agriculture, education, human capital development, women and gender, youth development and job creation, tourism, etc. It also reviewed strategies for building alternative sources of revenue for the State.

Between July 2008 and November 2009, Governor Aliyu informed of a sustained effort at strengthening budgetary processes and budget discipline among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which has made them more responsive to the needs of the people and more effective in service delivery even in the face of dwindling resources occasioned by the global financial crisis.

During the period, a total of N57,908,885,145.06k was received by the State Government, made up of  N29,961,253,991.25k – statutory allocation from the Federation Accounts (FAAC); N7,069,340,012.49k from Value Added Tax (VAT); N5,942,516,933.02k from the Excess Crude Account; N8,114,861,626.64k from Federation Accounts augmentation, and N3,793,546,320.87k from internally generated revenues (IGR). In addition, the following revenues were received: N2billion bridge finance loan; N222, 410,060.18 – refunds from International creditors; and N804, 956,200.97 from exchange rate gains. Also, the state took N6Billion bond for financing infrastructural projects throughout the State.

From the profile of revenue in-flows, the Niger helmsman gave a blow by blow account of monies expended and progress recorded in all the sectors, noting strongly that the State, during the period under review, relied heavily on the Federation Account for over 90% of its revenue receipts, forcing it to strengthen its internal revenue generation capacity by doubling the monthly collection target from N200million in 2008 to N400million in 2009.

It is however significant to note that the Talba Administration recorded huge progress in spite of the meagre resources that were available after the payment of salaries and staff emoluments. In the Agricultural sector, for instance, government de-emphasized the mundane approach to agricultural practice which focuses mainly on tractor hiring, grains distribution and fertilizer procurement / distribution to farmers, even where such was unnecessary. The move followed the realization that there was much more to agriculture in a fast changing world than fertilizer allocation and tractor hiring.

Government strengthened the Buffer Stock programme by procuring 6,272.3 metric tons of assorted grains from our farmers to encourage them to produce more and to stabilize the market prices of the commodities for the benefit of the public. This is aside the new understanding with the Abuja Commodity Stock Exchange to ensure that Niger State farmers benefit from their hard labour.

Farm Institutes Scheme was also re-introduced in all the senatorial districts of the State to create employment opportunities for our youths in line with our strategic Youth empowerment programmes among other initiatives.

Education, which is the foundation of sustainable development and the pedestal for the actualization of Vision 3:2020, has also received priority attention from the government. Under Aliyu’s watch, government established 2,825 new Primary Schools, 438 new Secondary Schools and 62 Junior Neighbourhood Secondary Schools. Also constructed 1,030 classroom blocks across our Primary and Secondary Schools were constructed as well as the renovation of 2,000 classrooms in our Primary/Secondary Schools.

Similarly, 30,000 pupils’/students’ furniture and 4,883 teachers’ furniture were supplied; 20 school Libraries were constructed and equipped and 548 school toilets were constructed as well as drilled 58 boreholes in various schools.

The free education policy took firm roots because of its impact on the lives of many families who otherwise could not send their children to school due to their low economic status. As a result, school enrolments in 2008/2009 session have increased by 28% while access to education in the State has increased by 69% during the period.

Importantly, Governor Aliyu implemented the Teachers’ Salary Scheme (TSS) with 30% increment, costing Government the sum of over N1Billion, above the Federal Government’s recommended 27.5% for qualified school teachers. It has also sustained the policy of payment of NECO, WAEC, NABTEB and related examination fees were sustained by Government. This has brought relief to many poor parents who hitherto watched helplessly while their wards left school without sitting for the final examinations because of inability to pay the examination fees.

A lot of work has also been done in the area of infrastructural development. Road construction in the capital city and other parts of the state continued to receive attention for the improved socio-economic well-being of the people. The road dualisation projects in Minna are at different stages of completion, while those selected under the N6b bond funding have commenced as the contractors have been mobilized. These include Minna township road construction; Kutigi-Fazhi road; rehabilitation of Minna industrial layout road network; Batati-Dabban road; Luma-Babanna Road; Bonu-Gurara Waterfalls; Mokwa-Raba road; Birigi Gwari-Lapai road; Minna Old Airport-Kuta road dual carriageway and the construction of road network in the Three (3) Arms Zone in Minna. The construction of 10 KM joint State/Local Government roads in each of the 25 Local Government Councils has also commenced.

As part of our urban renewal efforts, street lighting projects along major roads in Minna metropolis are ongoing. These include the installation of solar-powered street lights, the reactivation of the existing light systems and the installation of new conventional street light system, all are at different levels of completion.

The transformation activities in the health sector continued to receive the attention of Government. Each of the three new 110-bed General Hospitals being constructed at Gulu, Sabon Wuse and Nasko are at the completion stage and will be commissioned in the first quarter of next year. Government is also rehabilitating and upgrading seven Rural Hospitals across the State; renovated and equipped all the General Hospitals in the State as the upgraded Bangi General Hospital has been commissioned, while contract for the rehabilitation of the Kutigi General Hospital has been awarded.

Similarly, we constructed 100 Primary Health Care Centres, as well as renovated and equipped another set of 100 Primary Health Care facilities across the State, in partnership with the MDGs. Welfare programmes in the health sector were sustained, as we continued to provide free health care services for pregnant women and children under the age of five and the aged over 70 years. Free Eye surgeries for indigent patients were carried, including free cancer treatment services. The salaries of health care providers in the State have also been reviewed upwards. Government promises that these efforts will not only be sustained but will be expanded and become a routine.

The mass housing programme embarked upon by government remained in focus during the period under review, as the housing units in Minna, Bida, and Kontagora under the PPP initiative are at different levels of completion. Indeed, the M.I. Wushishi and Talba Housing Estates in Minna are both at delivery and occupancy stages. Aliyu’s government has completed and settled all liabilities as well as commissioned the Shehu Ahmadu Musa Housing Estate, Minna. Government is determined to meet its target of 5,000 houses by 2011.

Aliyu’s reform in the area of tourism is also yielding fruits. Laudable initiatives like the Zuma Rock Tourist Resort Village; Suleja Twin City Development; Zungeru Colonial Ruins Development Project and the Gurara Water Falls Resort are all on course.

It is noteworthy that the 23rd edition of NAFEST that weas  held in Minna in October 2009 was adjudged to be the best since its establishment and its attendant economic benefit to the participating states.

NDAYEBO is the Director General (Media Relations & Strategy), Government

House, Minna.