The Secretary to Government of Gombe State, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, says social challenges such as poverty and insecurity can be minimised if Local Government Areas in the country are empowered to carry out their constitutional responsibility.
The SGS stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 2nd North-East Local Government conference with the theme “Strengthening Grassroot Governance for Sustainable Development in Northeastern Nigeria”.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the workshop held in Gombe at Flourish Hotel, Federal Low-Cost.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary/Principal Private Secretary (PSS) to the Governor of Gombe State, Professor Mu’azu Shehu, Njodi remarked that the conference couldn’t have come at a better time when the North-East subregion is plagued by social conflagration of monumental proportion.
He urged participants at the conference to make meaningful contributions towards addressing pertinent issues confronting the zone.
On Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s strategic move to develop the state, Njodi intimated the participants that the present administration in the state has performed credibly well in promoting grassroots governance through the 2019 NEEDS Assessment survey.
He said the NEEDS assessment survey identifies the developmental needs of each community, and documented it in the Development Plan for Gombe State to develop through extensive public participation and consultation.
He also mentioned that the current administration’s budget processes are participatory, allowing citizens and stakeholders to identify projects and programs for government funding.
The SGS explained that the annual development needs and public opinion surveys are usually conducted by the Governor’s Office through the Research Documentation Directorate to gauge public opinion, gather feedback from residents, and determine priority areas for government focus.
Njodi also pointed out that the North-East Governors Forum has succeeded in promoting regional integration, enhancing peer review, and addresses common challenges affecting the six states of the subregion.
JD
IO
SGS office
4/12/2024
