Chima Azubuike, Gombe
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is collaborating with Gombe state government to fashion a ten years development road map for 2020 – 2030.
Speaking at a consultative forum for ward and traditional rulers on Wednesday, in Balanga LGA, the Executive Director of Foundation for Youth Awaking and Empowerment (FOYAE), Mrs Linda Allabura, said they were in the ward to sample the views and expectations of residents through consultation, on policies regarding their various Wards which will be implemented on the 2020/ 2030 Development plan before proceeding to the local government level.
Allabura stated that the meetings with stakeholders have been productive adding that residents within the ward level had yielded positive contributions on what they expect in the plan.
She said, “The consultative meeting aims at bringing together the people of the community to have their ideas on what their needs are that should be included in the ten years development plan that Gombe state is working on.
“They are expected to speak out their needs, after all this it is the voice of the people that will resonate in the 2020-2030 development plan. This programme was initiated by the Gombe state government but UNDP is supporting together with federal government.
“We received the cooperation of leaders in the ward level, most of whom had retired from government. FOYAE sat with members of the community to understand what they have and what they want to reflect in the plan.”
Also speaking, Pastor Emmanuel Tukur and Imam Ibrahim Buba in their separate remarks expressed delight with the initiative saying that they can actually tell the government their plight directly which ranges from the lack of good road, hospitals,
schools , pipe borne, water and electricity.
Right move in a right direction