The State Governors

Have The Governors Truly Delivered?

With the little expectation from the local government administrations, and a seeming far-away Federal Government, the bulk of expectations from the people fall on the 36 state governors of the country. To a large extent therefore, the image and profile which democracy and governance get across the land is defined by what the state governors do or fail to do. For thirteen years, the people have seen governors come and go. But have they seen their works? Do they remember the works of those who have governed them before? Has there been impact? Last May 29, a new set of governors came on board, some serving fresh terms, while others are starting off a second term. Indeed, is there anything to show for the trillions of naira that have gone to the various states in the last one year? Yes, in some states, there are visible signs of development efforts, yet in some states, it is all motion, no movement, just as in some others, it is complete case of inertia. And yet, it is work-in-progress in a few others. In this assessment, our correspondents across the states take a clinical look at what the governors have done, been doing, or trying to do vis-à-vis the governance impact on the people. The verdict is revealing.

NOTES:
(1) The allocations exclude those to councils. Even though states control these funds, it is difficult to ascertain how the money is distributed at the end of the day.

(2) The net allocations are after deductions of eternal debt, contractual obligation (ISPO) and payment for fertilizer, state water supply project, state agricultural project and National Fadama Project.

(3) Internally generated revenues are also excluded.

(4) The governors of Bayelsa and Kogi states are too new on the job to be rated.

***** The Outstanding Performers...

Godswill Akpabio/Akwa Ibom

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N281.284bn • Net:ˆ
Projects, Projects Everywhere

When Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was sworn into office for a second term on May, 29, last year, he promised to make the next four years of his administration the best period in the history of the state, a beacon of hope for the country and a pride to the memory of the fore fathers of the state. Security has been boosted with the setting up and equipping of two security outfits namely the Quick Response Squad tagged Operation Thunder and the Joint Task Force (JTF). In all, 717 projects have been executed during this period. The breakdown follows: a Banquet hall, Guest Houses - 3, Power, water treatment, sewage/slush plants - 3, roads - 35, bridge - 1, electricity - 184, mini water - 48, school blocks/health buildings/civic town halls - 442. There was also the Ibom gas plant, underground drainage system in Uyo completed. Beautification and expansion of road junctions had been achieved. He completed the dualisation of the Aka-Ibesikpo road with street lights. Work has been completed on third ring road with the fourth flyover in the state capital; dualisation of Abak-Uyo road; Olympic size stadium is on course; Cineplex session of the N33 billion Tropicana entertainment centre has been completed; and the contract for international arrival hall at the Ibom Airport has been signed.

Rotimi Amaechi/Rivers

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N290.695bn • Net: N283.168bn •
The Shining Star from Rivers

The case in Rivers State was one of hitting the ground running immediately Governor Rotimi Amaechi assumed office. Since 2007 when Amaechi came into office, there had been a lot of changes. From reconstructing dilapidated roads to building new ones, dualization of roads, electrification of rural areas, free medical services, elevated education scheme and power generation, Amaechi is considered as one governor who has kept his colleagues on their toes and lots more. With Rivers wearing the appellation- mega construction site, he has spurred such revolution in different sectors of the state that if made the yardstick of assessment, very few colleagues will scale the test. At his inauguration for a second term in office, Amaechi had said he would not only consolidate on the records on ground, that he would go further and open up new grounds and this has remained his attraction in the last one year. He is still spearheading development revolution in the state. The most celebrated of Amaechi’s projects are in education and healthcare, with ultramodern facilities and well-motivated workforce. He also rates very high in security and roads.

Babatunde Fashola/Lagos

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N132.263bn • Net: N123.031bn •
Consolidation as the Way Forward

Governor Babatunde Fashola, on being sworn in for the second term last year, promised to continue the state’s 11-point agenda initiated during the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fashola, however, told the people of Lagos that efforts would be concentrated on consolidation as against initiating new capital projects. In housing, the administration has launched Lagos HOMS, a low-cost scheme aimed at making housing affordable and accessible. This initiative has resulted in series of commissioning of housing estates in different parts of the state. The administration has awarded 156 inner-city roads project, at a cost of N58.7 billion, a major giant stride that it recorded since its return to office. The administration has opened the transport sector to both water and rail transportation in the drive for megacity. In agriculture, Fashola’s administration recently unveiled a mega rice factory capable of generating thousands of jobs and had announced the completion of Ikeja power audits and the development of Independent Power Plant for Ikeja Central Business District already in the pipeline. The light rail project is also on course.

**** The Above Average Performers...

Peter Obi/Anambra

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N59.459bn • Net: N57.688bn •
Keeping Up the Tempo

As he was being sworn in for the second term, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State promised to build a better Anambra despite all the political challenges he has encountered in the state. He said his government would work tirelessly to meet up with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 2020. He has built 131 heath centres, 103 schools, 267 boreholes, 160 roads, 77 bridges and renovated of 21 Secretariat in Anambra State. College of Medicine Building, which is among the 18 new buildings at the Anambra State Teaching Hospital, Awka, which secured accreditation a few weeks ago. He has completed the first and second phases of the Secretariat buildings for Anambra State. He is also constructing the Senate Building at the Permanent Site of Anambra State University at Igbariam, under construction, as well as the Faculty of Agriculture. There are 20 bridges completed or on-going in Anambra State. He has also built a second Business Park, Onitsha North Local Government Head Quarters and a new Anambra State   Government Lodge, Onitsha. The new Onitsha Hotel and  Convention Centre is under construction.

Gabriel Suswam/Benue

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N63.067bn • Net: 
Quenching the Thirst

At his swearing-in last year, Governor Gabriel Suswam restated the commitment of his administration to the welfare of the people by completing all on-going projects and embarking on new ones. Suswam also promised to continue to enhance social welfare and provide good governance in its broadest conception. He said his focus would be to serve the people of the state without any form of discrimination. “In seeking re-election, my motivation was, and remains, a strong commitment to serve all the people of Benue State without any form of discrimination whatsoever,” he said. The first port of call was the well fare of the workforce. For state government raised its minimum wage to N18,000. Several roads have been completed and new ones are being constructed. On the provision of social amenity, the government also embarked on the construction of  Katsina-Ala and Otobi water works, already  inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan, as well as the gigantic Makurdi water works with reticulation job yet to commence.

Emmanuel Uduaghan/Delta

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N257.139bn • Net: N245.091bn •
Targeting Unemployment

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s re-election as Delta State governor has been committed to the development. Except for recent developments, he has made stability of the oil rich state the central plank of his administration’s policy – which was the focus during his first term. With one year gone in his second term, Uduaghan has successful delivered on the construction of a modern international airport in the state capital. He has also gone far in the development of the Warri Industrial Park, with support of World Bank, USAID and the British development agency, DfID. In the long run, this is expected to create about 500 jobs for the youth. He has activated the SME machinery in the state by promoting and sustaining a viable micro credit scheme that has been running for years. He has also invested a lot of resources in maternal and infant healthcare.

Adams Oshiomhole/Edo

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N72.995bn • Net: N65.359bn •
In Touch with the Grassroots

Governor Adams Oshiomhole became the governor of Edo State winning his election petition at the Court of Appeal. Four years on, Oshiomhole is believed not to have disappointed his supporters. Amongst other things, Oshiomhole has constructed and rehabilitated numbers of schools, roads and resuscitated the economy. He has also embarked on several schemes that would provide jobs and reduce security threat in the state. In a state where godfathers had been having a field day without much benefit for the people, Oshiomhole has managed to deliver on his promises after a not-so-promising start. He has beautified the capital city and embarked on massive road rehabilitation and construction across hundreds of villages in the three senatorial zones. He has also invested massively in education, healthcare and provision of potable water.

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo/Gombe

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N51.768bn • Net: N47.904bn •
Weathering the Storm Calmly

Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, has in spite of security challenges, continued to make conscious efforts to putting the state on the path of infrastructural development. Dakwambo, who appears unperturbed by the present insecurity challenges, swung into action by flagging off road projects. Apart from embarking on total reconstruction of 12 roads in the Gombe metropolis, the governor started the payment of compensation to those whose houses or shops were affected by the Boko Haram attacks. Also, in his people-oriented service delivery, Dankwambo has commissioned about 60 new tractors and distributed them to the local government councils to enhance their reach to farmers in the state. This is in addition to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to create jobs for the people. Dankwambo was until his voyage into politics, a senior civil servant. He rose through the ranks to become the Accountant General of the Federation. He emerged the PDP candidate in the keenly contested primary of the party ahead of the 2011 governorship election.

Musa Rabiu Kwakwanso/Kano

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N93.003bn • Net: N88.43bn •
Dwelling on Infrastructural Development

In Kano State, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso surprised his people with a gift of N2.24billion road project flag-off. This is one of the numerous infrastructural development projects that his administration has embarked upon since he returned to the state Government House a year ago. It was the dualisation of Kabuga-BUK new site road, expected to cost N3.03 billion while the Sheikh Jaafar road is put at N2.24 billion. Kwankwaso said his government intended to fast-track economic development and modernisation of Kano city, which he claimed has continued to attract unprecedented human and vehicular traffic due to its commercial status. Speaking on a phone-in radio programme with the Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, the governor said some his administration’s achievement included the entrepreneurship scheme that has given means of livelihood to 44,000 women, healthcare scheme tagged Lafiya Jari and other development initiatives in the state. Kwankwaso was first sworn in as governor of Kano State on May 29, 1999. However, his re-election bid was thwarted in 2003, when Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) defeated him at the polls.

Olusegun Mimiko/Ondo

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N87.905bn • Net: N83.091bn •
Waxing Stronger and Stronger

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has pursued aggressive policies on education, rural transformation, infrastructural development, urban renewal, revamping of agriculture, job creation, human capacity development, housing schemes and industrialisation. Through food security for each household and availability of agricultural produce for industries, he promised to end the situation where many people in the state feed only once in a day. He said his worry about poor enrolment of pupils in public schools informed the inauguration of a modern prototype Model Public Primary and Secondary Schools in the state. Tagged, Caring Heart Mega Model Schools, the model primary and secondary schools which have been built in different parts of the state are to be situated in each of the 18 local government areas of the state. His government opted to pay N22,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state as against the Federal Government approved N18,000 minimum wage. Ondo State was said to be among the states with the highest infant mortality rate. Today, Ondo prides itself as having the lowest mortality rate, a feat yet unparalleled by any government. The Mother and Child Hospital model has been adopted by the World Bank as a benchmark for Africa.

*** The Average Performers...

Theodore Orji/Abia

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N57.952bn • Net: N54.054bn  •
People-led Development

Following his re-election, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State set for himself the task of building “a new foundation” for the state. To this end, Orji has been engrossed with the building of twin blocks of new state secretariat that is about 85 per cent completed. The foundation stone for a new government house has been laid, an 11, 000-capacity international conference centre is on the cards while a new judiciary building would be ready in July. There has also been an accelerated pace in urban renewal as the commercial city of Aba has become a huge construction site with roads and drainages being rehabilitated. Government said it has so far invested over N5 billion to give Aba a facelift. Umuahia has been receiving attention in terms of infrastructure. Abia’s rural areas are not left out as new roads have continued to spring up in the hinterlands. The government runs what it calls a bottom-up strategy, where communities determine what projects they want and the funds are given out to them to award and monitor the projects.

Murtala Nyako/Adamawa

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N58.154bn • Net: N53.958bn  •
Changing Gear

Since his victory at the February election, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has entrenched a liberal approach to governance. By hinging the thrust of his administration on transparency and accountability, the state is believed to have assumed a different status in governance. Within his first 100 days, he has provided potable water in almost all the taps in Yola.  Nyako has completed the Jimeta township roads. The beauty of Yola has started to attract the envy of political opponents, as the nylon tar that stretches from the Welcome to Yola gate along Numan Road up to the city centre through the airport has been completed. Schools and hospitals have been built in different locations of the state while renovation work to upgrade decaying infrastructural facilities occupies a central position. Nyako, a retired Naval officer was Military Governor of Niger State. A successful farmer, Nyako headed the reconciliation committee of PDP ahead of 2007 polls and was later elected as the state governor in April 2007.

Isa Yuguda/Bauchi

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N67.489bn • Net: N61.752bn •
The Spirit of Consolidation

Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has kept faith with the people on his promises since he was re-elected. He had promised during the campaigns to complete all on-going projects and programmes as well as embark on new ones that would impact directly on the people of the state. Yuguda’s administration has so far completed 42 projects, cutting across health, education, youth and women empowerment, agriculture and power among others. In the 2012 fiscal year budget, Yuguda presented a total of N132.5 billion to the State House of Assembly as against N112 billion spent last year with a view to completing all on-going projects and starting new ones. He said: “It is on this promise that all the major projects and programmes have been earmarked for completion within this fiscal year. New projects and programmes will only be earmarked upon where they become absolutely necessary and have direct bearing on the economy and the lives and welfare of the people.”

Liyel Imoke/Cross River

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N61.943bn • Net: N58.635bn •
Tackling Poverty and Underdevelopment

Cross River State has witnessed massive development in virtually all sectors of the state since Governor Liyel Imoke was returned for another term of four years. Such developments are witnessed in the healthcare, education, agriculture, electrification, water, urban and rural transportation to regenerate the rural and urban economy. Imoke, who no doubt is consolidating on his achievements, has continued to attack poverty and under-development head-on. Apart from building and renovating several schools across the state, he has re-introduced scholarship awards for indigenes to study at home and abroad. The governor is known for his prudent management of state resources, has ensured the flow of private investor money into the state’s unproductive assets to make them operational with a view to lifting the state’s tourism. Imoke has been credited for asphalting more than 800 kilometres of roads across the state.

Kayode Fayemi/Ekiti

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N49.125bn • Net: N44.263bn •
Good Start for a Poor State

The administration of Dr. Olukayode Fayemi in Ekiti State came on board October 15, 2010. It was armed with an eight-point agenda described as its working programme. They are: Good Governance, Infrastructure, Modernizing Agriculture, Education, Health, Industrial Development, Tourism and Women Empowerment. Twelve new roads are under construction, including Igbaraodo-Ikere, Ado-Ekiti the boundary of Ondo State, Ikere-Ise-Ijan-Ode/Ijesa-Isu-Ikole, while some, such as Ado-Ilawe-Eriyinyan road, have been completed. Abandoned projects are also being completed. Under the modern agriculture initiative, government is said to have engaged over 2000 youths, while Orin farm settlement has been rehabilitated and new ones established. Ekiti was the first to give one computer per pupil in the secondary schools across the 16 local governments, where 11,000 computers have been distributed as first batch, in partnership with the Samsung. The health agenda has been centred on Free Health Mission to all local governments, while hospitals in the state are being refurbished. The governor has introduced Free Medical treatment for under age and social security scheme (SSS) for the elderly.

Sullivan Chime/Enugu

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N54.438bn • Net: N52.329bn •
Consolidating on All Fronts

Governor Sullivan Chime has performed creditably well in the areas of road construction, education, agriculture, rural electrification, among others. Recently, the state government announced that it was mobilising and engaging all resources to ensure that the state achieved self-sufficiency in food production by 2015 and export 80 per cent of the total output by 2020. At least, 10 rural and urban roads which link several council areas have been constructed within the past one year and they have gone a long way in boosting movement of goods and services from the rural to urban areas.  In education, for the first time in 30 years, schools were provided with 300 new buses. Government has also embarked on the rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings. The administration has recruited additional 2000 teachers for secondary schools. It also recruited another 2000 volunteer teachers as part of the newly introduced Volunteer Service Scheme whereby retired teachers are recruited on volunteer basis to help cushion the effects of the limited number of teachers in the state’s school system. In healthcare delivery, the Chime administration has introduced the first health emergency scheme, Enugu State Medical Emergency Support Scheme.  The ultra modern diagnostic centre located within Enugu metropolis is nearing completion.

Rochas Okorocha/Imo

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N69.841bn • Net: N61.841bn •
The ‘Populist Governor’

Governor Rochas Okoracha of Imo State is an unusual man in Government House. He is a populist. The first thing he did on assumption of office was to donate his salary to his Rescue Mission Agenda which he said would liberate the people of Imo from political bondage. Okorocha declared free education from primary school to higher institution level. He has also slashed his security vote from N6.5 billion to N4 billion. Some of the projects accomplished within one year are: New Executive Council (EXCO) Chambers, Government House Chapel, An Ultra-Modern office building for the First Lady, An Ultra modern office building for Deputy Governor,  Remodeling of abandoned Imo Hotel, Construction of the Heros Gate, Renovation of the Concorde Hotel, Reconstruction of abandoned Imo Parliamentary Quarters now known as Concorde Hotel Extension, Renovation of the Commissioners quarters, deputy governor’s and Speakers’ Lodges and the Imo House in Abuja.

Sule Lamido/Jigawa

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N64.411bn • Net: N61.375bn •
Pursuing Development with Aggression

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State is aggressively pursuing development in all sectors with a view to giving the state a face lift. Lamido is believed to have done creditably in the area of education, healthcare, roads, water supply, economic empowerment and electricity. For example, the education sector had received face lift in the last one year. This includes building of classes, hostels, libraries, laboratories, recruitment of teachers, provision of teaching and research equipment and reviving agencies under the state ministry of education to make them functional for educational development. One important aspect is the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff. Lamido was better known as a rights activist before venturing into politics. In the dark days of military rule, he was a staunch critic of the unpopular regime of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. In 1999, he was appointed minister of foreign affairs by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was elected governor in 2007 on the platform of PDP.

Ibrahim Shema/Katsina

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N70.401bn • Net: N67.971bn •
Education as a Pilot Programme

Governor Ibrahim Shema has made education a pivotal programme of his administration. To this end, he has spent heavily on free primary and secondary education while insisting that every child that attends public schools in the state writes the National Education Council, NECO, West African Examination Council, WAEC, and NABTEB examinations fully paid for by the government. Agriculture, the second most important focus of Shema’s administration, has received enormous supports from government. The governor said they cultivated over 13,000 hectares of land through irrigation in the last four years and that they didn’t have up to 1,000 hectares when they came on board in 2007. He was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice when the late President Yar’Adua was governor of Katsina State. He later emerged PDP Deputy National Chairman (North-west) zone. He was elected governor in 2007, succeeding Yar’Adua and re-elected in April 2011.

Saidu Dakingari/Kebbi

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N58.687bn • Net: N54.43bn •
Apostle of Rural Development

in the last one year, Dakingari has concentrated a lot of attention and resources in the rural areas of the state. This has paid off as a number of feeder roads have been built. An example is the road from Malando to Ingaske to Wara. In the past, anybody assessing Yelwa and Wara, had to go through Yawuri, Libeleko, Salka, Auna and then Wara in Niger State. All that, is now a thing of the past, as the road has made travel more pleasant for commuters. The government has also upgraded many junior secondary schools to the status of senior secondary schools and converted some senior day secondary schools to boarding schools. He has equally upgraded some dispensaries to rural health centres and others to general hospitals as a way of bringing health services nearer to the people. The provision of potable water has also received massive attention of his administration. He did this through the borehole system and also through the ordinary well system.

AbdulFatah Ahmed/Kwara

•  Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N50.725bn • Net: N50.04bn •
A Very Encouraging Start

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, inaugurated about 60 social and physical infrastructural projects in commemoration of his first 100 days in office. He said the projects were designed to signal the direction of the administration in the next four years. The government has job creation, rural electrification, overhaul of the sector, provision of water resources, among others, as its priority. Among the projects executed by his administration so far include  jobs for 2,000 youths, electrification of communities such as Owode Kekere, Alabe-Oja, Rore, Bokungi Zambulu Electrification, Lata, Gwette-Kuta, Kambi, Agbabiaka, Madi and Aran-Orin. The administration has also completed no fewer than 600 kilometres of roads in the last one year and as well rehabilitated and equipped general hospitals in the three senatorial districts of the state. These hospitals are located in Offa, Ilorin, Kima, Sare and Omu Aran. He has also sunk bore holes in three senatorial districts of the state to cushion the effect of acute water shortage in the state. The government has also carried out the rehabilitation of 500 schools across the three senatorial districts of the state in the last one year.

Babangida Muazu Aliyu/Niger
• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N67.361bn • Net: N59.635bn •
A Reformist in Government House

Under his watch as helmsman of the state, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, in addition to other development strides he has taken as chief servant, articulated an economic development agenda targeted at transforming Niger State into one of three most developed states in Nigeria (out of 36 States) by the year 2020. This aspiration has been encapsulated in its Vision 3-2020 Strategic Document which is guiding its development efforts in all the critical sectors, particularly in education, agriculture, health, housing, infrastructural development, culture and tourism. The government has also, during the period under review, embarked on the Minna International Airport project. This is aimed at creating an investment hub around the airport to stimulate accelerated economic development of the state and the North central region of the country. He rose through the ranks to become a permanent secretary in the federal civil service before his foray into politics. An outspoken personality, he was first elected governor in 2007 and re-elected in the April 26, 2011 poll.

Ibikunle Amosun/Ogun

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N57.44bn • Net: N55.756bn •
Laying a Solid Foundation

Immediately he was sworn in, Governor Ibikunle Amosun set a five-point agenda: affordable qualitative education; efficient healthcare delivery; agricultural production/industrialisation; affordable housing and urban renewal; and rural and infrastructural development/employment generation. He has gone round the state to assess their needs. Of particular concern to the governor is employment generation. The employment plan was 'Ogun State Rapid Employment Generation Programme' aimed at engaging 10,000 people which the administration has already absorbed into the civil service. On infrastructure, Amosun’s government has completed six lanes of 2.4 km from Ibara Roundabout-Ita through Eko-Totoro Road in Abeokuta to CCECC. There is free health care for children under the age of 5 and senior citizens above the age of 70. Another area the government had given considerable attention is agriculture through which it intends to reduce poverty on one hand, and enhance wealth creation and employment generation on the other hand. He recently released one billion naira to farmers to boost production and the resuscitation of farm settlements. Education is free both at the primary and secondary schools. At the tertiary institutions, tuition fees have been reduced drastically.

Rauf Aregbesola/Osun

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N54.564bn • Net: N52.72bn •
Balancing Controversy with Action

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has, in spite of the many controversies, tackled his challenges head-on. With rebranding as his start-off point, Aregbesola sought to initiate a new social order in the state before he started to deal with the crux of the issues confronting the state. Overhauling of the education sector in Osun State is one of his key goals. About N30 billion has been sunk into education. The government is planning to build 100 elementary schools, 50 middle and 20 high schools. Schools uniforms and the O-meal programme designed to ensure adequate feeding programmes for school pupils are also on the cards. There is the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme which has employed 20,000 youths. The governor also launched Jigi Omoluabi. The exercise was a two-week free eye care service. It included diagnosis, surgery, treatment, prescription and counselling. Over 18,000 patients were treated by the medical mission that provided support for government. Also, there is Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme. The programme is a major platform for the food sufficiency programme. The programme is to promote rural enterprise for rural dwellers, especially farmers to have amenities through which farming and general food production will be enhanced.

Abiola Ajimobi/Oyo

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N68.598bn • Net: N65.061bn •
Rough but Steady Ride

In the midst of the face-off with workers over the payment of minimum wage, it is very easy to think there is nothing to celebrate for the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration. He has rehabilitated 199 roads and seven bridges across the state and is constructing a flyover bridge at Mokola, Ibadan at a cost of N2.1 billion. He has built ultra-modern Motor Parks at Temidire on New Ife Road and Podo Garage and is creating modern and satellite towns at Elenusonso, Ibadan, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ibadan-Oyo Expressway through PPP. The perennial flooding is also being addressed with the clearing of over 120 blocked drains in Ibadan metropolis, while 43 rivers and streams across the state are being dredged. On workers’ welfare, the state is paying a minimum wage of N19,100, while the doctors are enjoying an enhanced salary structure. Pensioners got a 140% raise, while two years of accumulated pension was cleared. The government has also overhauled and rehabilitated of Simeon Adebo Training School via provision of World Class learning aids, computers and infrastructural facilities . There is also a 50 per cent improvement in internally-generated revenue. The government has introduced the 3,500 Agriculture Cadets for agric extension services and established Oyo-Odu’a Farmers’ Academy at Awe, Oyo.

Magatakarda Wammako/Sokoto

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N59.713bn • Net: N57.954bn •
Refocusing on Rural Areas

Since re-elected on February 18 this year after a series of litigations, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has increased efforts to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state. Wamakko, at his inauguration two months ago, promised to complete all ongoing capital projects in the state. And in fulfillment of this pledge, he recently embarked on tour of rural communities to commission projects that were already completed.  This included 200 upgraded dispensaries and over 300 solar and motorized boreholes that were constructed across 300 villages and towns in the 23 local government areas of the state. Government has also completed many feeder roads which to a large extent connect the rural communities to urban centres by enhancing the transportation of farm produce and commodities. Wamakko has enhanced the welfare of civil servants through the construction of 2000 housing units at Bado area of Sokoto, 500 units at Mana and 1000 units at Arkilla/ Kalambaina area. There is another 700 housing units built for members of staff of local government in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Danbaba Suntai/Taraba

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N56.84bn • Net: N55.381bn •
Driving Quality Health Programme

The Suntai administration has stepped up efforts to raise the quality of health delivery service in the state. To this end, he has gone as far as Egypt to bring 30 expatriates to man the Jalingo ultra-modern specialist hospital and had spent about N42.6 million on recruitment and another N167 million on accommodation and furniture. The creation of Taraba Road Maintenance Agency (TARCMA) to tackle road rehabilitation and construction is one of the enduring initiatives of the government. There had been expansion and improvement of rural and urban water supply which had gulped millions of naira while agriculture had also benefitted from the release of N68 million for purchase of tractors and implements. The establishment of an Agricultural Products Marketing Agency to buy off food crops that are on sale throughout the state at reasonable prices as a way of encouraging farmers had yielded forth fruit. He has also embarked on several developmental projects that have been adding value and changing the lives of Taraba people. Such developmental initiatives include the construction of a state university, release of 29 Mitsubishi pick-up vans and five Toyota Hilux trucks with Motorolla multi-security utility system for joint patrol of the police and the military at the state’s porous borders with neighbouring countries.

Ibrahim Geidam/Yobe

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N56.558bn • Net: N54.565bn •
Thinking Shelter and Quality Education

To Ibrahim Geidam, the infrastructural standing of Yobe State is a shinning testimony of the modest success his administration has recorded in the last one year. Citing from good road networks to housing, Geidam is confident there is the need to celebrate the state. For example, the Premiere Yobe International College based in Mamudo, near Potiskum, has been completed and academic activities started in the school. The government had also completed the 300 housing units initiated by his predecessor, the late governor Mamman Ali. There is the construction of 256 more housing units within the state capital, which has been completed upon approval. In the state, if you were supposed to pay N3 million for your house, what you are now expected to pay is N1.5 million. If you had already paid for your house and falls within the years, the government will refund 50 per cent of what you had paid. And if you had already paid for your house within the years specified, government will refund 50 per cent of what you had paid.

Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari/Zamfara

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N57.278bn • Net: N51.253bn •
Primary Education Reformist

Since he took over the mantle of leadership, Governor Abubakar Yari has been confronted with the need to redeem the standard of primary education in the state. It was though difficult at inception, it has begun to assume positive shape. Yari, for about one year, had repeatedly expressed concerns over the unfortunate grading of his state as about the most educationally disadvantaged in the country. Squarely facing the challenge, he paid N1.5 billion last year as the state’s counter funding for the Universal Basic Education programme. But Yari would later contend with the challenge of investing huge amount of financial resources to reinvigorate the moribund state of primary education system in the state as an imperative alternative towards achieving future developmental breakthrough. While this later picked up and the state found its feet in several other monumental projects, education remains the starting point and the platform atop which the administration still stands.

** The Underperformers...

Martin Elechi/Ebonyi

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N48.795bn • Net: N40.479bn •
Challenges Here and There

Governor Martin Elechi may not be particularly smiling now even when his colleagues are rolling out the drums. While he has continued to consolidate on his achievements in education, road construction, youth empowerment and healthcare delivery, his government has continued to grapple with problems of communal clashes which predate his coming into office of his administration. The Ezza-Ezillo communal clashes claimed innocent lives last year. There is the growing belief that what happened on the 31 of December, 2011 when many innocent persons were killed by unknown gunmen could have been avoided if the state government had shown interest in settling the matter. This, no doubt, has remained a big challenge for the Ebonyi governor. But the state said to be the poorest in the South-east has been witnessing important development projects in roads, healthcare and education in the first one year of his second term.

Patrick Yakowa/Kaduna

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N73.946bn • Net: N67.964bn •
Navigating under Difficult Circumstances

On assumption of office last year, Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State was specific on the priorities of his administration: security, health, education, poverty alleviation and provision of basic infrastructures. And in the past one year, the state government has disbursed poverty alleviation materials, and distributed hospital equipment, drugs, hospital kits and furniture to primary health care centres in the three senatorial zones. The government also purchased 186 tractors and sold them to farmers at a subsidised rate. The construction of the Fourth Bridge across River Kaduna to solve the chaotic traffic congestion in the Southern part of the metropolis alone, was said to cost N6 billion. Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Suleiman Yahaya Richifa, said 20 tarred roads, 40 earth roads and 144 bridges and river crossings have been constructed across the state. The security situation in the state, like in some states in the North, has remained challenging following activities of the Boko Haram sect.

Kashim Shettima/Borno

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N68.668bn • Net: N65.568bn  •
Grappling with Security Challenges

Even with the rising insecurity in Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has continued to show resilience and commitment to the development of the state. The greatest achievement of his administration is its commitment to the restoration of peace and tranquility in the state, equitable distribution of basic amenities to all communities, repositioning and restructuring of the state Civil Service for increased efficiency and effectiveness, employment generation and entrepreneurship development. Others are the provision of potable water supply, functional education, qualitative health care delivery, food and agriculture, youth and women empowerment, rural development and urban regeneration. In mid-2007, Shettima, an agricultural economist, was appointed commissioner for finance and economic development by his predecessor, Senator Ali-Modu Sherrif. He later held several other portfolios such as commissioner for local governments and chieftaincy affairs, education, agriculture and health in the cabinet.

Umaru Tanko Al-Makura/Nasarawa

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N49.68bn • Net: N43.219bn  •
Heavy Burden of Rural Development

The main focus of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) administration in Nasarawa State is that man or woman in the village, in the ghetto, the vulnerable, the people who don’t have any avenue of courting favours, who don’t have the opportunity to get contracts or big jobs or drop names that open doors. To this end, his administration has bought more than 25 heavy equipment and machines that will take on rural feeder-roads and build bridges to help the people that are in the hinterland. The government said it is providing transport facility with the fares reduced to the barest minimum. It also claimed to have provided transformers and linked up villages to the National grid in order to reduce the problem of power in the hinterland. He is also providing three kilometers of roads in every local government, an effort said to be different from the rural roads project. These are, however, in addition to the ongoing construction of an airport to complement other developmental initiatives in the state

David Jonah Jang/Plateau

• Federal Allocation (May 2011-April 2012) • Gross: N57.27bn • Net:N54.768bn •
Working in the Midst of Ruin

Considering the enormity of security challenges that Plateau State had faced in the past one year, it is only natural to give credit to the state government for having pulled through to making modest impact on the people, riding on three-pillar policy that had so far guided the administration of Governor Jonah Jang. The governor, on assumption, had declared a state-of-emergency in the education and health sectors. It then took up the responsibility of building three standard science secondary schools in the three senatorial districts in response to the rot in science-based. Apart from this, the government during the period under review, has carried out infrastructural projects, especially the hitherto abandoned projects. Among them is the Zaria Road Stadium built half way and abandoned 18 years. There is also the construction and dualisation of the abandoned Jos University Teaching Hospital Road (JUTH). It is about 70% completed. Though some of these projects started during the first tenure of the administration, the state has used the last one year to consolidate on them.