The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Jatau, on Monday urged public and private sector stakeholders to embrace honesty, accountability, speed and accuracy in service delivery as part of efforts to deepen reforms and attract investments into the state.
Jatau, who also chairs the state’s Ease of Doing Business Council, made the call while declaring open the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Nationwide Town Hall and State Engagement on the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme at the Gombe International Conference Centre.
He said improving the ease of doing business goes beyond facilitating commercial transactions and should focus on delivering efficient, transparent and satisfactory services to citizens and investors.
“The essence of ease of doing business is not merely about buying and selling goods and services. It is about ensuring efficient, transparent, accountable and satisfactory service delivery by everyone involved,” he said.
The deputy governor warned that inefficiency and delays in public service undermine investor confidence and hinder economic growth.
“Every individual and institution providing services must be guided by honesty, accountability, speed and accuracy. Delays and inefficiencies erode public trust and discourage investment,” Jatau added.
He explained that the Federal Government introduced the SABER Programme to strengthen business-friendly policies across states, particularly in land administration, regulatory frameworks for fibre-optic infrastructure and the efficiency of investment promotion agencies.
“Precisely what we are here for today is to improve the business environment, which is not only necessary but indeed inevitable in attracting investment, enhancing productivity and ensuring sustainable economic development,” he said.
Jatau urged participants to actively contribute ideas that would strengthen reforms in Gombe, noting that the engagement provided an opportunity to review the state’s performance under the SABER programme, assess achievements and challenges, and identify areas requiring further support.
Expressing confidence in the state’s prospects, he said Gombe possesses the potential to emerge as a national model for business excellence.
“Gombe has the potential to become a model of business excellence in Nigeria,” he said, attributing the progress made so far to Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s commitment to reforms aimed at positioning the state as a preferred investment destination.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Alhaji Jalo Ibrahim, described the engagement as a vital platform for dialogue between government and the private sector on issues affecting economic growth.
“The reforms championed by PEBEC and supported through the SABER Programme are designed to remove bottlenecks, simplify regulatory processes, improve service delivery and enhance the ease of doing business across the country,” he said.
According to him, Gombe remains committed to the reform agenda, stressing that sustainable economic transformation can only be achieved through strong collaboration between government and the private sector.
Addressing participants virtually, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating the political will needed to improve Nigeria’s business environment.
She noted that small and medium-scale enterprises remain central to economic growth, job creation and national development.
Also speaking, SABER Focal Person, Kabiru Tsoho, said the engagement would equip entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to expand their operations and attract investment.
He cited initiatives such as the Buhari Industrial Park and the Agro-Livestock Development Zone as evidence of the Gombe State Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, land administration and the overall business climate.
