Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has advocated the need for structural adjustment in governance to boost economic growth and development in the country.
Governor Sani Bello was speaking at 3-day Executive Leadership Retreat on Administrative Relationship, Strategic Communication and Management of Public of Finance for Economic Development organized for the newly sworn-in commissioners and other top government functionaries in the State at the 5th Chukker Polo Country Club, Kaduna.
He described the retreat as timely and informative,urged the participants to ensure they block all leakages in the system so as to improve the finances in the state.
He emphasized that the future will be tougher than it is presently, hence the need for structural adjustment and financial prudence.
“The future is looking very bleak financially and things will be tougher.” He emphasized”.
According to him, the state must work towards moving away from over-reliance on Federal Government Allocation and device other means of generating finance so as to strengthen the state economy.
“We need to block leakages, and we must do some structural adjustments to survive the challenges of the future and the only solution is to move away from dependent on Federal Allocations and to raise our internally generated revenue so that federal allocation becomes just an augmentation. Our main revenue should come from what we generate internally and what we get as FAAC should be an augmentation. ”
“We must change the narrative because we must survive. We must move our system from basically a publicly reliance system into a private sector system”, he added.
He further charged the participants on financial prudence and to avoid memos that are not relevant and by all means complete ongoing projects before embarking on new ones which must affect the lives of the people.
The Governor who called on the Commissioners as well as other government officials to ensure proper execution of government policies and projects also urged them to imbibe ethical practices.
Governor Sani Bello, however, advised them to be honest, and sincere while discharging their duties and avoid being tempted by worldly things so as to be fulfilled even after their tenure in office.
The governor promised that both the permanent secretaries and the directors in the state will undergo similar retreat as they play a critical role in policy formulation and implementation.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Alh. Balarebe Ibrahim commended Governor Sani Bello for the initiative which he said has given the participants the opportunity to brainstorm and face the challenges of service delivery to the people.
Alh. Ibrahim then appealed to the Governor to also organize retreats for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in various Ministries.
He then assured that the new executive council would do its best to make use of the knowledge acquired at the retreat and also change the narrative of governance under his leadership.
Among some of the commissioners who spoke included, Alh Mamman Musa, Ramatu Yar’adua, Rifkatu Chidawa, Haruna Dukku, as they appreciated the governor for approving the retreat assuring that they have learnt a lot which they said would help them in the discharge of their duties.
Also appreciating the governor was the Chairman and Chief Consultant of MBS AMINATO Investment Limited for the opportunity accorded it to carry out the exercise.
He assured that he will continue to do his best when called upon to carry out any assignment for the state.
Some of the paper presenters were Babawachiko Yahaya, Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs, Dr. Ogho Okiti and Alhaji Musa Saleh.
