Gombe evolves 10-year Development Plan
…Deputy Governor heads steering committee
Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has constituted a steering committee for the preparation of Gombe State 10-Year Development plan.
Headed by the Deputy Governor, the steering committee is saddled with the mandate of giving general direction to the process of plan preparation, approval, and implementation.
It is also to evolve an effective coordination of all the MDAs for the smooth conduct of exercises of plan development and implementation, and to determine its own mode of operations for the success of the assignment.
It is also to engage widely with the public; the political class, traditional institution, private/ business sector, civil society organizations, labour unions, religious organizations, professional bodies, women and youth groups and all relevant stakeholders in the state for the purpose of the plan document.
Other areas of the committees’ mandate include; to undertake any activity that will facilitate the success of the development plan as well as to coopt individuals and organizations into the Committee for an effective and all inclusive plan.
In his address at the inaugural meeting of the committee, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau noted that the preparation of the plan was in line with the strategic vision of the present administration to put the state on a solid development platform through a coordinated and orderly development strategy.
“Distinguished members, the 10- year development plan is intended to serve as a pathway for the state to be on an accelerated development trajectory. The process for the preparation of the document will be participatory with the Ministries,Departments and Agencies (MDAs) driving the process in collaboration with sector stakeholders and development partners.”
The Deputy Governor further explained that the Gombe State Development Plan is predicated on facilitating longer term visioning for the state’s development planning and policy making, sustained long-term response to findings of the 2019 Gombe State Needs Assessment: and support the basis for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. (MTEF).
He said, the 10-Year Development Plan is also expected to be in line with overall national development priorities, existing state sectoral plans and the Sustainable Development Goals( SDGs).
Dr. Jatau further explained that the plan will strive to deploy a holistic approach that will positively impact on all the people of the state by setting a clear engagement framework with the Nigerian state in the areas of security of lives and property, equal distribution of resources, good health and education amongst others.
He urged members of the Committee to consider the assignment as an opportunity to be part of building a prosperous future for current and future generations.
Members of the steering committee include the Secretary to the State Government, Emir of Gombe,
Commissioners of Finance, Health, Education, Water Resources, Women Affairs, Youth and Sports, Enviroment, Works and Transport, Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Others are Commissioners of Commerce,Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Special Adviser, Budget, Planning and Development Partners Coordination, Lead Consultant, Representative of Civil Society Organisations, Representative of Development Partners while Permanent Secretary, Budget,Planning and Development Partners Coordination serves as Secretary.
The idea of development plan for Gombe State is timely, especially at this trying period of economic hardship and backwardness anticipated from this outbreak of corona virus that affects countries globally.
Development plan initiatives is not new to countries that piloted reform objectives and brought outcome that aided the development plan objectives. Infact the foresight of this administration is commendable, because of many years since the creation of Gombe State there has never been policies in different sectors of education, Agriculture, commerce and industries, mining, youth and poverty alleviation mechanism and other ramifications that need designated plans and objectives.
Today Gombe State regards intervention by the World Bank and other donor agencies like UNICEF, USAID and ADB as the only source to build it’s education,youth empowerment and health sectors, which their plans and priorities, design to carryout in the respective states that seek their contribution even though it’s a loan given to beneficiaries. We must as a matter of concern create policy in the educational sector since Gombe State have no policy of education in the state, in my own submission as a development partner that facilitate program for literacy among household women and empowerment initiatives, I understand the challenges we are facing within the sector of education, why because through our program we are able to X-ray the other communities and evaluate how program of education is been organised, which directly I blame the past administrations for their cosmetic intervention in the sector, I brought this matter due to the rate of enthusiasm I foresee in this administration with the state of emergency declared by Governor Muhammad inuwa yahaya led administration .
The development plan in the educational sector, which is the area I belong, am suggesting a total review of the sector, because no records are provided in respect of schools mapping in Gombe State.
There is no tentative records of the number private schools in Gombe State and it has become a business that every year school census is conducted, instead of providing a kobo tool box that would cover the whole of schools in the state with the total number of students /pupils.
Payment of WAEC registration is misplacement of priority in which for the number of years that Gombe State Government is paying the fees no success is recorded, instead students that are going to graduate from high school should be given all necessary assistance once they pass their exams in flying colours and this would encourage competition among students and yield good result.
Deployment of teachers to rural areas should be attached with incentives and remuneration, hence the issue of hard to staff is a major challenge affecting those teachers deployed to rural areas.
Recruitment of teachers also to include not only those with educational qualifications but those will not less than degree in different fields.
We hope and pray that this objective would help considerably in making Gombe State a better economy and develop once again.
True sustainable development initiatives