By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has expressed fears that the multiple roads construction projects recently flagged-off in various parts of the state may not be a reality, attributable to galloping costs of commodities and materials bedevilling the society and construction companies respectively.
“I think there are problems, and that the economy is bad, it is almost a free-fall of the naira, and most of our postulations and focus economically are plans put in jeopardy, because we not be able to do what we want to achieve within the timeline”.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) in Bauchi over the weekend, the governor said, “Costs are so high, even the projects that we recently flagged-off may not be achieved, this is the stack reality, because cement is almost three-times the cost of estimates, and almost everything”.
He added, “Even those things that are within us, our food security is in jeopardy, and we have to look at things dispassionately. Of course we are at the centre in the country, and we are almost a good basket, but every week or every day, trailers load of foodstuff are leaving the state, going to other places”.
Senator Bala Mohammed told the council to during the emergency meeting initiate things that could give relief to the people of the state, however, expressed regret that the best they were doing are the payment of salaries and wages, saying “But even the salaries and wages are grossly inadequate to put food on the table”.
Governor Bala further told the council, “So we should be ready, and don’t think that because you are not a governor, that the first port of call is not you, and from both sides, even those elected, there is envy, there is malice, and there is despondency everywhere”.
Mohammed, therefore stressed the need for the council to refocus and chart beneficial course at the emergency time with the main thrust of putting food on the table, and stepping down the tide of disgruntlement of ill-feelings noticeable everywhere in the state.
He emphatically stated, “I call on members of the council to initiate projects and programmes within ministries or MDAs that would add to the common good that would cushion the effects of these economic problems to the people. This is our agenda, and we have to look at it now”.
“It is not easy being a governor of you want to perform, because it is not me they are praising, even that they are praising me, it is you that are working, not me, and each and everyone of you is important to the success of our vision, the Bauchi Project 2”.
He pointed out, “There is anger and hunger, and the common man dissapate between federal respondibilities and state responsibilities. We are all a government, it is not easy to just pass the buck, to say it is federal government responsibility, it is all our responsibilities”.
The Governor, while saying he doesn’t believe in blames game, other than Bauchi state to be an Island of good governance in doing better things, stressing the his administration’s anchored projects have much social impact, especially in education, health, humanitarian services, among others, thereby adding impetus to investment, and capturing the feelings of people.
He explained that council members are representatives of government in their own rights to initiate things that will add to the common good of the state, as they don’t have to wait until they were told to do things they believe within their assessment or sense of judgment that are good for the state.
Mohammed further explained that the State Executive Council is made to stimulate ideas and discuss policies and programmes of government, as well as analyse themselves as to where they are, where they want to go, and how they will go there, saying “We have done so much in that regard ever since we came back to office”.
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