Adamu Yalwa Gabi
Today’s topic is just like a wake-up call to the Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammad in motivating him to fulfill one of the integral parts of his campaign promises on the urgent need to revamp the state moribund industries to serve as an alternative for improving the revenue base of the state.
Bauchi State as a gateway of the North-Eastern part of the country was known not only because of the personality with high calibre in the eyes of the global communities it produced who was first Nigeria’s Prime Minister but also what it produced in terms of socio-economic potentials towards enhancing gross domestic product of the country.
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Once the name Bauchi State was pinched into the ears of any individual, what first come to his mind is the famous tourism site, Yankari Games Reserve that attracts visitors from across the country and beyond but was also not left behind in terms of industries that transformed raw materials to finished goods apart from it abundant natural resources endowered with.
The economic viability attached to those industries such as Steyr Nigeria Ltd, which assembled trucks and motorcycles (Hero Punch), Asbestos, a company that makes roofing sheets, and Arewa Ceramics Misau that manufactured toilet facilities the sink, toilet seater, and plastic rubbers which are now obsolete, not forgetting Zaki Flour Mills that produced processed maize grains and other by-products like bi-ski now overtaken by private investors, need the attention of the government in revamping them for optimum service delivery.
The negligence suffered by these moribund industries in the hands of previous administrations per se had contributed immensely to the shortfall of internally generated revenue for the State, thus leaving youth with no option the to become political thugs, beggars, or engaging themselves, in other forms of social vices like Sara Suka and theft, apart from parental negligence to earn a living by hook or crook as a result of their restiveness.
Before the present administration came on board in the state, there were lots of campaign promises made to penetrate the minds of the electorates with a clear manifestation that seized their attention to shun away from president Buhari’s ruling political party that gave birth to the majority of its legislative members in both the State and National Assembly not to talk of other key Federal political appointments, perhaps given room for PDP to win the Gubernatorial election.
Considering youth as the major tools used in bringing your Government into the limelight please rise up to expectation by revamping the moribund industries to serve as a catalyst for speedy economic recovery and development which will augur well for the state and simplify difficulties to be faced in your second term bid.
Without having a second thought, gone were the days when Government especially at the state level will continue to depend largely on Federal Allocation in meeting up its financial capabilities just as Kano has been the epicenter of commercial activities in the North.
Although, the Governor had performed averagely well while steering the affairs of the nation’s capital in the past by way of turning it into a global City that was needed at that level but still people of Bauchi that gave him the mandate which in turn deserved a reciprocal are waiting for his promise to be fulfilled so as to meet their yearning and aspirations just as it is expected to be a symbiotic relationship between them and the governed for the avoidance of been seen as a bird which spread its wings and soars like an eagle after getting the needful.
Regarding the new Government house that would lavish more than six billion naira alone and other ongoing road projects in the state, to me, as a Quantity Surveyor With the knowledge on estimated cost implications in the construction industry and with a qualification to practice the pen profession I see it as a misplacement of priority as civil servants are suffering from untold hardship due to non-payment of their salaries and promotion arrears or paid but in batches which were equally on top of his campaign promises, noting that Bauchi is a civil servant oriented State.
Your excellency sir, you may wish to recall that your election by citizens of the state was based on the achievements and successes recorded while in the federal capital territory, Abuja with the anticipation that you will equally set the same ball rolling.
Gabi, a journalist writes from Bauchi.
