Retreat for Executive Council members and permanent secretaries

At the inception of the present administration, Government introduced series of reforms that were clearly designed to enhance and facilitate service delivery to the people of Katsina State. In conformity with efficient service delivery, there is need to, on regular basis, review strategic documents in order to make them be in line with present realities.

2. As you are all aware, during our campaign, in preparation for the 2023 General Elections, we went round the 34 Local Government Areas of the State and promised to put in place policies and programmes that will improve the lives of citizens of the State.

3. When we took over the Government in May, 2023, we came up with series of strategies to fulfil our campaign promises. The first and foremost strategy was to transform Katsina State public service into effective instrument of good governance, accountability and monitoring of service delivery. Our goal was to encourage workers in the State to restore and build confidence in handling matters affecting their respective offices. In other words, our desire was to make workers under Katsina State to consider themselves as change agents that will serve as vehicles to our destination.

4. Part of our major challenges include the use of archaic policy documents, circular etc that can no longer stand the taste of time. In order to ensure global best practices and meet the contemporary needs and challenges, we introduced our Blueprint that spells out our policies and programmes. In addition we reviewed some existing policies and adopted others that were found to be in line with our yearnings and aspirations. Also, we forwarded amendment bills to the State House of Assembly in order to amend and update outdated Laws in the State to ensure effective service delivery.

5. The need for training and retraining cannot be overemphasised. It is on this note that we constantly organize training to educate and sensitize workers on our aims and objectives and how best to achieve them. In addition, part of the objectives of organising this retreat is to salvage the public service in line with the New Public Management (NPM) Reform which is designed to make it more transparent and accountable and at the long run helps to sustain democracy in the management of State affairs.

6. It is pertinent to note that reforms are carried out to promote organizational effectiveness, promote fiscal stability and attain development in general. This becomes necessary taking into consideration the declining nature of the Institutions as they relate to service delivery. Similarly, as we all know democracy is the only form of government that guarantees the survival and implementation of government policies and programmes with emphasis on citizen active participation in making decisions that affect them.

7. Recently we established the Community Development Project which was carefully set up to decentralise the process of governance. Under this Department, Communities will be given the opportunity to decide the best projects to be executed in their Communities and as well provide them with the opportunity to execute them. Funds are earmarked for allocation to each ward across the 34 Local Government Areas to enable them to execute projects by themselves. This is to encourage communities to own such projects and maintain them. This is therefore part of our strategies to formulate and implement public policies in Katsina State.

8. I will not forget to mention that one of the strategies we adopted which strongly facilitate our success during the few months. Since we took over the administration of the State was the establishment of strong and effective synergy with the State House of Assembly and the Judiciary. With good understanding and constant discussions on issues that affect the State, Legislature and the Judiciary help greatly in oiling the machinery of Government that makes it very successful.

9. To ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of implementation of our policies, programmes and projects, I made it a duty to constantly go round the State and inspect ongoing projects as well as discuss with people in the Communities on the success or otherwise of our policies and projects. Alhamdulillah we have been receiving commendable reports on the issues. In addition, members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly and other top Government officials are assigned to go to their constituencies and monitor the progress or otherwise on the implementation of policies and execution of projects in their localities.

10. As participants in this important retreat, you are the major actors in the implementation of Government projects, programmes and policies. You are therefore expected to contribute, make all the sessions interactive and ask as much questions as possible for the success of the event. In addition, as soon as you return to your respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies, design a template/work plan for the successful implementation of all the recommendations and decisions arrived at during the event.

11. At this juncture, I wish to welcome Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the entire team of Resource Persons to this great event. We decided to select Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development to organize this retreat due to their track record and capability to handle the training programme. I believe that at the end of the programme participants will return home richer in knowledge and more committed to their responsibilities. The venue is carefully chosen to ensure that participants are not distracted from presentations during the programme.

12. Finally, I wish to pray to Allah to guide and help us to formulate and implement our designed programmes and policies successfully.

Long live Katsina State and Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.