Afrigather 
Governor Yahaya Bello’s work fee, tight schedule and the truth that he has packed his cupboard with equally youthful commissioners and aides are accountable for the way in which Kogi state is usually within the information each day for one cause or the opposite.
This reality makes certain journalists protecting the state, civil society teams and others shouldn’t have sufficient time to ruminate on some specific tales and occasions for lengthy earlier than they’re pressured to maneuver to different ones.
However we shouldn’t enable sure occasions to come back and go similar to that with out celebrating them and doing sure issues to plant them on the sands of time for the sake of posterity. A kind of occasions was the current honour bestowed on the state authorities by the World Financial institution which has to do with Transparency, Accountability, Monetary Probity and Integrity.
The award is a giant deal for 2 causes. One, the above virtues that earned the state authorities the award are believed to be uncommon in governance and public service in Nigeria. Two, the World Financial institution is a worldwide, respected establishment that isn’t given to pettiness and inanities and can be not within the native politics or sentiments which are prevalent of their nations of operation. So for a person or establishment to earn their commendation and award, one thing extraordinary will need to have transpired.
Truly, majority of Kogites and Nigerians generally are of the opinion that one thing extraordinary hit Kogi state in January 2016 with the approaching of Governor Bello which many submit is by sheer, divine association. If his coming was deemed extraordinary, his efficiency in workplace over seven years appears exceptional.
Even with about 42 mineral assets deposited within the state, Kogi had at all times struggled to satisfy up together with her counterparts throughout the nation when it comes to youth employment, human capital, infrastructure, safety and stability in addition to different indices of improvement. However this seven-year interval has seen a marked departure from the previous with roads and bridges, hospitals and faculties that are of world class requirements lined up throughout the state.
The administration additionally took deliberate steps to beef up the income profile of the state which culminated within the exceptional improve of the state’s Internally Generated Income (IGR) from N350 million month-to-month to N1.3 billion naira.
In the case of preventing for and defending the company and strategic curiosity of his state, no governor in Nigeria comes close to Governor Bello. And with regards to stopping highly effective forces from trampling upon the rights of Kogites, Governor Bello offers it his all and doesn’t get intimidated with the standing or profile of any particular person or organisation. The long-drawn battle between the state and the Dangote Group of Corporations over the possession of the Cement Manufacturing facility within the state is a working example.
And the massive one was the popularity of Kogi state as an oil producing entity by the federal authorities which Governor Bello painstakingly and persistently fought for, for years. And when the state authorities acquired the primary month-to-month 13 p.c derivation fund late final 12 months, it was a landmark within the historical past of Kogi state.
The World Financial institution and different respected worldwide organisations which are all in favour of Nigeria will need to have been taken observe of those milestones and landmarks going down in Kogi state.
And when the chance offered itself via the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Administration Venture (NEWMAP), the World Financial institution didn’t waste time to commend Governor Bello for the refund of $4.63 million surpluses below the scheme.
In response to a letter of appreciation titled ‘Refund of Surplus Venture Funds to the World Financial institution below the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Administration Venture (NEWMAP) (IDA Credit: 62770, 62780),’ signed by its Regional Director, Shubham Chaudhuri, the Bretton Woods establishment asserted that Bello’s motion made it doable for the organisation to increase its tasks to different states dealing with deficit funds.
That’s not all, Kogi state additionally lately gained the World Financial institution’s Awards of Excellence in three classes which embody Fiscal Transparency and Accountability, Debt Sustainability and Home Income Mobilisation. The exceptional increase within the state IGR will need to have performed an enormous function within the latter.
Celebrating the awards, the Commissioner for Info and Communications within the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said that the target of the World Financial institution’s state fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability programme was to push Nigerian states in the direction of enchancment of their PFM programs, processes and establishments.
On his half, the Auditor-Basic of the state, Yakubu Okala, attributed the success within the areas of fiscal transparency and accountability to self-discipline, in addition to the establishment of a clear and accountable governance system by Governor Bello from the inception of his administration.
There isn’t a doubting the truth that Governor Bello isn’t celebrated sufficient for the integrity, brilliance and imaginative and prescient he has introduced into governance within the state. However we should acknowledge that it’s heartwarming to see world establishments celebrating somebody who others on the native stage prefer to criticise unfairly for political causes or different causes that aren’t altruistic.
