By Kure Tashilane.
Nasarawa State Governor Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule has inaugurated the house built by Nasarawa State Government and donated to the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru Jos, Plateau State as part of the state’s contributions to the development of the national think-tank.
The inauguration took place on Wednesday 21st August, 2024 before declaring open a three (3) day training for the staff of Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission in collaboration with NIPSS and Meridian INN Consult in Jos.
The building donated to NIPSS was in line with the tradition over the years where various states of the federation had made similar donations with their names boldly written on the houses built and donated as their contributions to the development of the institute.
” When I became Governor, I was told that Nasarawa State before now has not done anything to support NIPSS either in form of building donation as other states had done. I was moved on hearing that …
” So, I thank the contractor who was actually my senior while we were in Government Technical College Bukuru who has done a very wonderful job. He was very prudent in the management of Nasarawa State resources. So, in the name of God Almighty, I commission this building which is being donated to National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies ” The Governor noted.
In his speech before declaring open the 3days training for the Directors of Personnel Management, Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics and Directors of Social Services drawn from the 13 LGA’s and 18 Development Areas of the state assured his administration’s support for Local Government Autonomy.
” One of the reasons you are here is with regards to Local Government Autonomy. For me, the local government autonomy is coming with mixed feelings. A lot of people are so excited about it; but for us in Nasarawa State, we have always operated in compliance with the provisions of the law on autonomy …
” We have always given them (LG Chairmen) free hands to operate and the fact remains that the local government areas in Nasarawa State had never gotten enough money for themselves – let alone the Governor taking money from them ” Engineer Sule explained.
He pointed out that the state government has always been augmenting local government money to enable them meet up with their responsibilities and by extension persuading them to have some savings for the rainy days.
” If you know what we went through to get the current Chairmen disciplined and to agree that they must be having some savings. It took a lot of efforts. So if we (Governors) no longer have the authority to persuade them to do some savings. I am afraid of what will become of local government administration ” The Governor asserted.
He stressed that; unless you find people who already have that mindset and vision as local government Chairmen, you will have problem; especially with the coming on board of the word local government autonomy.
” So, the idea is for you to learn from here, so that you can apply what you have learnt when you go back – as local government Chairmen cannot do what is wrong without some of you endorsing it. If you don’t agree, they will not do what is wrong ” He pointed out.
The Governor impressed it on the trainees to always guide their Chairmen in the right direction as they come and go as chief executives and politicians that they are. But they are always there and would eventually retire as civil servants.
” When the right thing is being done, people have the tendency to follow. One thing is certain, tell people the truth, if they like, they take it. If they don’t want; they leave it, that is their business …
” So, the essence of you coming here is for you to understand that; there is another wall outside the enclave of Nasarawa State. The moment you understand that and you learn that; there is knowledge beyond the knowledge you are getting in Nasarawa State, the better we will become ” The Governor noted.
Engineer Sule equally pointed out that Nasarawa State has great potentials and the prospects to be one of the pace setters in terms of comparative advantages in oil and gas, agriculture and solid minerals combined; and as such, the state ought not to be poor.
He stressed that such huge prospects and potentials need and requires people with the right knowledge to bring these prospects out and utilize them as all the prospects had always been there but there were no people with vision to drive the prospects to reality.
The Governor recounted how he is receiving everyday different groups of investors in various aspects of the state prospects and how invitations kept coming from foreign countries recently; from India and China all connected to the state potentials in solid minerals, agriculture and oil exploration initiatives.
” The world Bank has shown that the wealth in Nigeria in terms of solid minerals is over 700bn Dollars and I believe very strongly that at least 10% of that figure would be in Nasarawa State …
” Because, everywhere we go, they kept telling us about the lithium we have. CATL is the biggest electric vehicles batteries producers in the world which is based in China. The single share holder after the government of China called Mr. Pai was in Nasarawa during the commissioning of the largest lithium processing plant ” The Governor said.
The Governor appreciated the Director General National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies Professor. Ayo Omotayo and his management team all those who made it possible for the training to be carried out.
” It is a while, I have not been here and today, I have the opportunity to be here as the Special Guest of Honour; to see what I have seen and to hear all the good things I have heard from the DG NIPSS ” He observed.
Earlier, the Director General National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies Professor Ayo Omotayo challenged participants of the 3days training on the topic; Policy and Strategy in Governance and Poverty Alleviation to pay attention to the major variables which is poverty alleviation.
He charged them to be intentional as they go about applying what they will learn in NIPSS by ensuring that poverty is eradicated from the society.
” Your Governor must have seen something before he included poverty alleviation as wherever poverty rate is high, there is the tendency for crime rate to be high as well – urging the participants to go back as changed people who would henceforth effect the needed changes we look forward to in the system …
” When you come to the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies, we stretch your imagination as we believe that if 100 people are in a place, all of them cannot think the same way – so we learn from your perspectives ” The DG noted.
In his opening speech, the Chairman Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission Barrister Sani Bawa appreciated the state Governor Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule for approving and sponsoring the entire training of the 100 staff of the commission at the prestigious National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru Jos.
He equally recounted all the support and the commitment demonstrated by the state government in stabilizing the Local Government system in Nasarawa State.
Barr. Bawa noted that; Local Government Autonomy is not a complete detachment of the councils from the state but an avenue for the third tier of government to be more responsive to their responsibilities moving forward under the guidance of the state government.
He made a case for the sustenance of the ongoing savings culture being practiced in the state by Local Government Chairmen as it has turned around the financial status of the local councils over time.