By Malam Umar Namadi
Global development challenges are growing and evolving rapidly in response to financial difficulties created by the global pandemic and climate change. Governments around the world face challenges in meeting their legal obligations. Nigeria and ligawa are not immune to the effects of the global financial crisis. Our population has grown from barely 4 million in 2001 to 7 million in 2022, of which about 3.4 million people are under the age of 15 or older. Poverty and food insecurity remain high despite the concerted efforts of the current administration to address them through strategic investments in agriculture, heath and essential infrastructure. The dynamics of all microeconomic variables; the youth unemployment rate 33 percent in 2021 as against 38.61 in 2015, the State’s Gross Domestic Product of N2.2 trillion in 2021 as against N900 billion in 2015 suggest
significant improvement in our macroeconomic space, but it is not yet at the desired destination. Climate change continues to disrupt livelihoods and degrade our environment along downstream communities. The state economy is predominantly derived from agriculture-dominated smallholder farmers.
Therefore, in the face of these macroeconomic realities, Jigawa State MUST innovate and consolidate on the existing reforms of our leader, His Excellency, Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, to make our state works for everyone and integrate the gains for building a more robust, smarter Jigawa that is self sufficient and secured.
The choice we have to make in the next election will determine the trajectory of our dear state, not just for our generation but for the generations that will follow us. As we ponder consolidating the gains of our Leaders, His Excellency, Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, in “Making Jigawa Great Again”, it is essential to retool and prepare the state to continue the marathon race of making Jigawa a place for all to thrive. Serving Jigawa State as a Commissioner of Finance and Deputy Governor was a great honour. I have seen the revival of our state as one of the leading states regarding fiscal reform and infrastructure renewal. In recent years, we have witnessed the growth of our business ecosystem. We plan to make our beloved state a powerhouse in ease of doing business in Nigeria and the technology hub of the northern states. I am proud to be part of the team that has made Jigawa a place where fiscal sustainability, infrastructural renewal, social and economic opportunities abound.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am running for the
exalted office of the Executive Governor of Jigawa State because I believe
we have to sustain and improve on the gains achieved between2015 to date
and build a state that works for our grandchildren. I am excited to share my
plans with you on how we will work together and build on existing reforms
for prosperous future for all.
This comprehensive plan lays out my vision for sustainable growth, modern, efficient and profitable agriculture, youth empowerment, employment and productivity. Comprehensive environmental policy, an improved quality education system, an innovative, accessible and affordable health care system. Also a comprehensive social security arrangement as well as enhanced security system. With this, we will build a knowledge-based economy, expanding opportunities in terms of empowerment, employment,
self-productivity for young people, strengthen our infrastructural renewal
- Robustly upscaling and sustain modest achievement in the agricultural
sector by creating an innovative and sustainable agricultural system
through strategic investment in improving farming production through up-scaling modernization and mechanization. Investing in irrigation infrastructure, promoting all- year-round food production through expansion of irrigation facilities, research, development and strategic partnership with local and international partners to attract needed investments to the sector, thereby achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and increasing the State’s internally Generated Revenue. - Improve the quality education system of Islamic, Primary, Secondary and tertiary education by consolidating and up-scaling gains made within the sector by ensuring timely recruitment of additional qualified teachers, provision of instructional materials, funding researches, infrastructural renewal and training programs (seminars, symposiums, workshops), monitoring, reward and punishment systems for performance and punctuality.
- Ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources through protection, afforestation, reforestation programs and enforce compliance with environmental safeguards protocols. Our policy and programs on the environment will be designed to address the sevare consequences of climate change, such as flooding, desert encroachment, erosion and other natural disasters on our environment.
- Improve an innovative, accessible and affordable Health care system for all through increasing budgetary funding to the health sector, to sustain the 15% benchmark of the Abuja Declaration and institutionalization of other innovative financing instruments that will inject more funds into the health sector without prejudice to the existing budgetary allocation. Also the expansion and strengthening of contributory health schemes to cover the informed sector as well as the sustenance of free materal and child health care system.
- Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a priority sector for achieving socio-economic development, thereby reclaiming the past glory of the State as the leader in e-governance and use of ICT foir human capital development and digital jobs creation.
- Investing in people – creating a conducive and inclusive environment for youth empowerment, employment and productivity through training and retraining, efficient and effective civil service, regular payment of salaries, investments in agriculture, ICT, business inclusion, a vocational skill, ultra-modem skills acquisition centres, renovating, upgrading and equipping the existing one to undertake demand driven empowerment training.
- Rural Transformation-connecting rural economies to agriculture, solid
minerals value chains and up-scaling rural access infrastructure. - Securing Jigawa by building inclusive community led response to security, adopting new technologies, strengthening local govemment councils, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the good people of the State. We will also strengthen Mediating and Arbitration.
- Accelerating Urban Infrastructure -Expanding on the Jigawa Urban
Renewal Program to make our state a place that create economic opportunities for all by expanding affordable housing projects, urban
development and strengthening land administration.
10.Attracting Local and International Investors for Development – we will work with development partners across the globe to drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and improve our
state’s IGR and GDP.
11.Social Security – Review and improve the existing social security arrangement to cover pensioners, the poor, elderly and vulnerable.
12.Internally Generated Revenue – sustain the present drive of enhancing the state revenue by capitalizing on the growth of industries and strengthening of the revenue enhancement strategies to achieve at least 40% of the state allocation from the federation account in the first two years of our administration.
My co-Jigawans, this is our project, and my ultimate goal is to make Jigawa a particular state that works for everyone irrespective of where he comes from by creating enabling environment for opportunities so that all our residents can thrive in peace and tranquility. This is an essential moment for Jigawa State. I hope I can earn your trust and support in continuing to move the state forward.
Namadi is the Deputy Governor Jigawa State and APC Governorship flagbear in the state.
