By Adamu S. Ladan
With the presentation of certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it can be said the road is now clear for Dr. Dikko Umar Radda to set in motion the machinery of governance in Katsina State.
At an epoch making but brief ceremony, the INEC National Commissioner, Prof. A.A. Zuru presented the certificates of return to Dr. Radda and his Deputy, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe, amidst chanting by a crowd of supporters and well wishers who gathered at the commission headquarters to witness the event.
Speaking shortly after collecting the certificate, Dr. Radda thanked the electorate for the confidence reposedin him, assuring that he will not betray their trust.
Later in the evening, another groundbreaking event took place at the Council Chambers of Muhammad Buhari House, Katsina, where the state governor, Rt.Hon Aminu Bello Masari, launched two important committees: Transition, and Inauguration Committees.
The committees are to ensure smooth transition and handover to the incoming administration. The committees are chaired by the Director General of APC campaign council in Katsina state, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and the state commissioner, Water Resources, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, respectively.
Speaking while inaugurating the committees, Masari, who read out their terms of reference charged them to work diligently.
Responding on behalf of all the committees, Arc. Ɗangiwa, while commending the choice of membership assured the governor that they will produce the best of results within the time frame given them.
Earlier on Wednesday, the governor-elect, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, had inaugurated eleven committees to retune his blueprint for the state.
Inaugurating the committees, Dr. Radda, said though the document he presented while launching his campaign provided insight of his strategic plan for the state, there was need to inject more inputs of professionals into it to make it workable.
The blueprint, according to him, was originally his own thoughts, and now that the people have given him their mandate it became necessary to subject it to their scrutiny.
This he said, was with a view to institute an all-inclusive governance in the state.
Hence, he explained, professionals from diverse background with impeccable characters and positions were drawn to enrich the document.
Giving insight into specific areas of his priorities, Dr. Radda said he wanted the committee on agriculture to propose policies and strategies for the development and support of the sector and allied industries.
Noting the place of agriculture as the mainstay of the economy of the state, the governor-elect said his administration would underscore investments in the sector with incentives on land and value chain development as well as building the technical and organisational capacity of farmers.
These, he explained, would be achieved through the revival and Promotion of agricultural extension services, as well as enhancing the ministry of agriculture capability.
On Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) support, Dr. Radda wants a robust touch on the sector to make it a key player in jobs creation.
Echoing the need for the state to reclaim its past glory on education, the governor-elect wants to make the sector contribute towards the development of the state by making it more relevant for social and economic progress.
This, he emphasised, would be achieved not just through establishment of a curriculum that imparts basic skills in traditional subjects, but also in promoting social cohesion between the content of education and the needs of the labour market.
Stressing that the promotion of preventive healthcare will be the cardinal principle of his administration health policy, the governor-elect charges the committee on health to emphasise on a strategy for a healthcare system which will be driven by quality medical services that are affordable and accessible to the people.
Another area that will receive his attention, according to the governor-elect is land reform that will make the sector in tune with best global practices.
Katsina City, which had transformed from a provisional headquarters about three and half decades ago, will also receive a boost according to Dr. Radda with the production of Masterplan befitting its current status.
However, Dr. Radda said all these laudable goals cannot be achieved without funding from an improved internally generated revenue (IGR). It’s on this premise he said a committee on the IGR was expected to come up with strategies for the development and support of revenue generation that is driven by increase in Investment, technology and infrastructure for future generations.
Similarly, Dr. Radda observed that no matter how much investments were made in all the sectors, there would not be any development without peace and security.
It's in this regard, he said, his administration had as its top priority, the development and support of climate of peace, security and stability in the state.
Consequently, he said the administration will establish a Social Care Sector under his office as part of the strategies of ensuring permanent security in the state.
In furtherance to the realisation of peace and development, the governor-elect also said he would want to see the role of traditional institutions streamlined as heads of unit within the framework of developmental efforts of the state.
On the religious front, Dr. Radda said his administration would give priority to the promotion of Islamic Education for the attainment of moral and ethical values, social justice, economic prosperity and political balance.
Similarly, he underlined the need for the enlistment of organized religious groups by his administration to advance the principles of cooperation and collaboration to bring development in the state.
Considering the importance of public service in the conveyance and implementation of these policies and programmes, the need for a vibrant and technology savvy public service sector, according to Dr. Radda, has become a matter of necessity. Hence, the governor-elect said his administration would undertake a public sector reform.
The reform, according to him, will target improvement in the quality of public service and the lives of public servants to make the sector more relevant for social and economic progress of a modern state.
As the Director-General of the APC campaign council in Katsina state, Arc. Ahmed Musa Ɗangiwa said in a remark to introduce the reform committees, the governor-elect's blueprint was a work in progress, therefore, all eyes will now be on these committees of wise men to produce a document that will stand the test of time.
A document which, according to the DG, will transform the state into a united, secure, industrious, caring and God fearing democratic society committed to making the basic needs of life affordable for every citizen.
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