By Haruna Abdulrashid
Since the establishment United States Agency for International Development Nigeria State2State in 2020, it has made lots of efforts and supported activities in Gombe State and other six states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Sokoto which involved Communication Strategy training for the Information and Media Staff of the State, which led to production of a Communication Strategy document by Ministry of Information.
An implementation review meeting was held at Lailah Suites, Gombe aimed at verifying the activities, successes and challenges of the impact of support given by State2State to improve Public Finance Management, Monitoring Evaluation Learning, Internal Generated Revenue plus other public assisted projects in three priority sectors of Health, Education and Water, Sanitation & Hiygiene.
In his welcome remarks, the State2State Team Lead of Gombe field office, Muhammad Abubakar, gave an overview of programs of State2State for the four years of its existence from 2020 to 2025.
He explained the role government staff and the Communication Strategy document has played in improving budget performance, adding that, “there has been increment in accountability, transparency and effectiveness in target Local Governments including other existing LGs participation, particularly in PFM, MEL and IGR plus improved planing of budget” He said.
The STL said, “Gombe State Governor was the first to host State2State leadership on December 2nd 2020, which led to a transformational committee made of technocrats, experts and CSOs to be established in 2020.
“The Governor was live at the launching of the project and also attended the Federal Policy dialogue in Abuja in August 2022, a demonstration of high and strong political will that led to the support by State2State, budget performance improved when the state responded to citizens need and CSOs engagement. Like wise a Standard Action Plan for the Ministry level Communication was signed.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Ethical Orientation Miji Tilde, represented by the acting Director of Information, Mr Richard James, who showed his excitement on the result achieved, stressing that reviewing the meeting is an important insight to solving previous problems of perceived gabs in information management commended State2State for providing solutions in capacity building and strategy, this leading to development of achieved knowledge in disseminating information of government activities, especially in the three priority sectors of Health, Education and WASH.
Tilde also delivered a recap of objectives, implementation milestones and achievements, sighting the production of the Communication Strategy Document and signing of SAP I.
While presenting the objectives and expected results of the meeting, the Communication Specialist, Mr Israel Odibah, urged the participants to put more efforts in taking their job seriously for a good determination and commitment in information dissemination.
According to him, considering the previous communication strategies, their dedication will lead to the improvement of more awareness and sensitization of the citizenry on the development of IGR and budget performance in the 3 sectors of Health, Education and WASH.
Also speaking, Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Gombe State Governor, Suleiman Musa, appreciated State2State for the workshop saying, “It has touched the life of Information and Public Relations, the citizenry and state government programmes at large. Most of the developments of State programs on health, education and WASH have improved with the support from State2State.”
Musa hoped the support will be continued, while he recommended crucial government policies will involve IPRs and media in sensitising and be communicated to the citizens before sending to the state Assembly.
On his part, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalism Gombe State Council Farouk Muazu, represented by the Vice Chairman Emmanuel Akila, thanked USAID Nigeria State2State for upscaling their capacity, hoping for continuation for better future.
Mu’azu also appreciated the Ministry of Information for the approval of the programme which has improved capacity of participants.
