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Gombe Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has inaugurated 24 newly elected chairmen for the state's 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 13 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The governor urged them to deepen grassroots governance, consolidate gains, and accelerate development in their respective areas. He reminded them that their electoral victory is a call to selfless service, not personal considerations.
The 24 chairmen include the 11 newly elected chairmen for the LGAs, along with 13 chairmen for the newly created LCDAs. The creation of LCDAs is one of the significant governance reforms undertaken by the Inuwa administration to bring government closer to the people and improve service delivery.
The LGAs and LCDAs are responsible for delivering essential services such as healthcare, education, rural infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, agriculture, and community development. Inuwa noted that local governments now play a strategic role in community engagement, intelligence gathering, and conflict prevention due to growing security challenges across the country.
The governor also highlighted the achievements of the Joint Projects Development Agency (JPDA), a successful partnership between the state and local governments that has delivered roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water projects, and agricultural interventions across Gombe State. He challenged the new council chairmen to address insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and declining economic opportunities in their respective areas.
The newly sworn-in chairmen are expected to immediately assume office and begin implementing policies aimed at improving governance and service delivery across the state's 11 LGAs and 13 LCDAs. The governor commended the Local Government Secretaries who managed the councils during the transition period, the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, election officials, observers, the media, and residents for ensuring a peaceful election.
And as Inuwa puts it, “The confidence reposed in you by your various constituencies comes with enormous responsibility. Your decisions must always reflect the collective interest of the people and not personal considerations.”
The creation of LCDAs is a significant governance reform aimed at bringing government closer to the people. It was a key plank of the Inuwa administration's development agenda, aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring equitable development across communities.
The governor assured residents that his administration would continue strengthening local governments as vital institutions for inclusive economic growth, social stability, and sustainable community development. He urged the chairmen to regard their electoral victory as a call to selfless service and to put the interest of the people first.
The LGAs and LCDAs were financially distressed when Inuwa's administration assumed office in 2019. Many were unable to pay salaries, and others were burdened by unpaid gratuities and decaying infrastructure. But the governor noted that through prudent financial management, fiscal discipline, transparency, and responsible leadership, the councils have become financially stronger, with salaries paid promptly and inherited gratuity liabilities cleared.
“Let your performance become the strongest campaign for our party. Let the people see and experience the dividends of democracy in every ward, district, and community. Good governance remains our greatest political asset,” Inuwa urged the new chairmen.
The governor highlighted the achievements of the JPDA, a successful partnership between the state and local governments that has delivered roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water projects, and agricultural interventions across Gombe State.
The Inuwa administration has taken significant strides to strengthen local governments and bring development to the people. But the governor acknowledged that there is still more work to be done, particularly in addressing insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and declining economic opportunities.
And so, as the governor puts it, the task ahead for the new chairmen is clear. They must put the interest of the people first, address the challenges facing their respective areas, and deepen grassroots governance to consolidate the gains of the Inuwa administration.