As Niger State concludes its one-week capacity retreat for newly appointed and elected council officials,expectations—Yakubu Bina.
By Mustafa Yakubu Bina, A Public Affairs Analyst..
Following the earlier dissolution of the Niger State Executive Council by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the subsequent nomination and screening of the Commissioners-designate by the State House of Assembly, as well as the election of the 25 Local Government Chairmen under the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tasks ahead remain enormous. Meeting the needs and aspirations of the people will require patience, resilience, hard work, commitment, and patriotism—qualities expected of leaders entrusted with steering the state’s affairs.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has demonstrated the passion of a visionary leader through massive transformational projects across the state, particularly in the capital. These initiatives, running into billions of naira, are commendable. However, more than two years into the administration, the government is yet to commission any major project worthy of celebration. This has raised concerns, as billions of naira have been invested in large-scale projects that appear abandoned or far from completion.
Despite this, the expectations of Nigerlites remain high. As the newly elected Chairmen and appointed Commissioners assume office, they must set aside personal sentiment, nepotism, favoritism, religious sentiment, and other divisive tendencies, by demonstrating fairness and justice in the discharge of their responsibilities. But the question many Nigerlites have continue to ask is that ‘were the outgone commissioners and chairmen really given the ample opportunity to operate’.
The saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected,” must guide all political appointees and elected officials as they work to improve or sustain the government reputation in the state and across Nigeria. The practice of assigning so-called “lucrative” ministries to preferred individuals for reasons other than competence, simply to channel funds to favored MDAs must be discontinued if genuine development is to be achieved.
The administration’s inconsistency, its worsening public image has raised additional concerns as the battered image has led to the blacklisting of the governor by the International Press Institute IPI Nigeria, The state government’s actions, which undermine local government autonomy and exploit the joint account system, must not be ignored because it undermines the grassroots development in the state.
The numerous abandoned projects across the state reflect, in the eyes of citizens, a lack of commitment and competence on the part of the government. Rather than showcasing “elephant projects” for political propaganda, what Nigerlites truly desire is the delivery of democratic dividends. The frequent signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) across the world, with no visible impact at home, also calls for restraint and reevaluation.
Furthermore, the insecurity ravaging much of Niger North, significant parts of Niger East, and areas of Niger South remains a major obstacle to development. It is unrealistic to expect investors—especially foreign investors—to operate in an environment plagued by insecurity.
Governor Bago’s persistent harassment, intimidation, and threats against the media, which is constitutionally empowered under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to hold government accountable, is unnecessary and counterproductive.
Local government officials must not see their positions as opportunities for personal enrichment at the expense of the people, especially those at the grassroots where basic social amenities are lacking. There is a pressing need to change the narrative and prioritize service delivery.
Local government autonomy is crucial for grassroots development and must be respected. The governor must decentralize power and demonstrate the political will needed to deliver efficient and effective services. Ultimately, accountability and transparency remain the hallmarks of good governance and must be upheld across all sectors.
It is important to note that for Niger State to achieve meaningful growth and development, the security of lives and property must be treated as a top priority, not merely through rhetoric but through decisive action.
That was a News Commentary written by Yakubu Mustapha Bina a journalist and analyst from Minna, on the Expectations of Commissioners-Designate and Elected Council Chairmen in Niger State.
