Accountability: Bauchi Finance Ministry Hails Gov Bala For Awards Feat
BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA Bauchi
Bauchi Commissioner of Finance, Dr Yakubu Adamu has noted with delight that the current accountability and transparency institutionalized in his ministry accorded Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed the Award from International Charted Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) in 2021 as Third Best Governor in the country in terms of accountability and transparency.
“In the vain, in 2022, ICAN awarded His Excellency as the best Governor of the year. Also it may interest you to note that just last week, His Excellency received an award as best performing Governor in the area of urban development”, the commissioner defended.
Dr. Adamu, Thursday at the ongoing reintroduced ministerial press briefing being held at the Abubakar Umar Secretariat, Bauchi, appreciation to the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve 1 state and support afforded them to record such tremendous achievements.
Adamu also thanked the Chief Executives, Management and staff of all the Agencies and Ministry of Finance’s Headquarters, without their commitment and dedication to duty, he argued, such achievements could not have been recorded.
Adamu enumerated other achievements of his ministry to the procurement of 104 assorted new officials’ vehicles to Public Officers in the state, and another procurement in 2023/2024, of new 92 new assorted vehicles for allocation to public officers for effective and efficient service delivery within Government functionaries in the State.
“From the inception of this administration in 2019, the Government has approved and continued to maintain the payment of rented quarters to Federal establishments/Agencies working in the State, NGOs and State Government organization.”
Presently, the commissioner said, 92 houses were rented and the Government continued to pay the annual rent value of the said properties to ease accommodation problems to the mentioned offices and residential accommodation.
“As part of measures to improve source of funds to the State both external and internal, the State Government has secured funding for critical infrastructure in the State. These projects when fully completed will showcase the good image of the State not only in North-Eastern Nigeria but the country at large”.
“All the 10 different roads projects were kicked started and work is in progress as contractors have already received their 30% and 50% of the total contract sum as mobilization fees respectively. It is obvious that one can say without any iota of doubt that the projects will be fully completed within the agreed time frame as contained in the contract agreement”.
The projects are the design and construction of Wunti and Central Market Fly-overs in Bauchi metropolis; dualization from GSS Ningi to Gudduba Ningi L. G A 3. Dualization of CLIS Misau- GSS Misau; rehabilitation of Dindima- Yashi-Maina maji Road in Alkaleri LGA; and the design and Construction Geljaule – Lame Road in Toro LGA.
Others are dualisation of 5.2 Km Road from Straco Round About-Emir’s Place Azare Road; design and Construction of Boi Gambar Marti Lere Road in Bogoro LGA; design and Construction of internal Roads at Bauchi University, Gadau; rehabilitation Adamami- Disina- Jamaare Road; as well as construction of Kwanar Darajiya – Galdamari- Beli – Zigau Road.
According to Dr Yakubu Adamu, “The sum N4,167,201,167.38 billion was realized from June, 2019 to December 2023 as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with an annual increment of 20% during the period of this administration.
“2023 IGR performance is N30,334,559,621.46; 2022 – N25,233,999,683.40; 2021 – N17,596,773,945.61; 2020 – N13,039,294,812.42 and June December, 2019 to date is – N7,962,573,103.49,” while the total is N94,167,201,167.38.
He added that, “The Board has achieved all its assigned requirements under the World Bank Assisted State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program that enable Bauchi state government qualified for financial grants from the program for the years 2019 to 2021.”
