Speech Delivered by His Excellency, Umaru
Al-makura Governor of Nasarawa State, on the Occasion of the Inauguration of Transition Committee and Boards of some State Institutions, Lafia: Wednesday, 20th March, 20191. His Excellency, the Deputy Governor;
2. The Right Honourable Speaker, Nasarawa State House of
Assembly;
3. The Honourable Chief Judge of Nasarawa State;
4. The Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of
Appeal;
5. The President, Customary Court of Appeal;
6. Principal Officers and Members of the State House of
Assembly;
7. His Excellency, the Deputy Governor-Elect;
8. Members of the State Executive and Security Councils;
9. The Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State;
10. Special Advisers;
11. Permanent Secretaries;
12. His Royal Highness, the Emir of Keffi and Acting Chairman,
Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs;
13. The State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC);
14. Chairmen and Chief Executives of Commissions, Boards and
Parastatals;
15. Executive Chairmen of Local Government Councils and
Overseers of Development Areas present;
16. Your Royal Highnesses, Emirs and Chiefs;
17. Distinguished sons and daughters of Nasarawa State;
18. Gentlemen of the Press;
19. Ladies and gentlemen.
It is with a sense of fulfillment that
I address you today on the occasion of the Inauguration
of the following:
i. Transition Committee;
ii. Boards of the Teachers Service Commission; and
iii. Nasarawa Broadcasting Service.
2. It would be recalled that following the successful and
peaceful conduct of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on
Saturday, 9th March, 2019 which saw the landslide
victory of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the
emergence of Engr. A. A Sule as the Governor-elect of
Nasarawa State, it has become necessary to kick-start the process for the
smooth hand-over of the mantle of leadership to my successor, the newly elected
Governor.
3. Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to
give credence to this endeavour, therefore, I approved the composition of a
High-Powered Transition Committee to set the stage, guide and chaperon the
process towards smooth and seamless transition in order to sustain the progress
and development of our dear State.
4. Let me state that the appointment of the Transition Committee
is intended to serve as a vehicle for the holistic evaluation of my stewardship
and the performance of this administration during my tenure in office. This
course of action has become imperative in view of the need to review the
activities of this Government in order to highlight areas that are critical for
sustenance and improvement by the in-coming administration.
5. Ladies and gentlemen, in carrying out the assignment, the
Transition Committee will be guided by the following Terms of Reference:
i. To review the Administration of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura in all sectors
during its stewardship (i.e. 29th May, 2011 to 29th
May, 2019);
ii. To identify challenges in the implementation of policies,
projects and programmes of the Administration and suggest likely steps for the
incoming Administration to explore;
iii. To examine Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs), as well as Government-Owned Companies in the State, including available
manpower and make appropriate recommendations;
iv. To consider and recommend any other issue(s) that may be
incidental to the Terms of Reference of the Committee (i.
to iii. above);
v. To plan and execute a befitting handing over ceremony from
the outgoing administration to the incoming one 29th May,
2019; and
vi. To submit report within four (4) weeks from the date of
inauguration.
6. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I need to point out that
Government was meticulous on the selection of members of the Transition
Committee. In this vein, due consideration was accorded to proven experience,
integrity and commitment to service of individuals who have been called upon to
serve in this assignment. I belief that members of the Transition Committee
will live up to expectation in the service of our dear State.
7. As part of this event, the Boards of the Teachers Service
Commission and the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service will also be inaugurated in
furtherance to our commitment to reinvigorate the operations of the
institutions for optimal performance. As you are aware, in our determination to
enhance education in the State, we have made substantial investment in the
provision of infrastructure and other facilities towards the creation of the
enabling environment for teaching and learning to take place in our schools.
Accordingly, for these efforts to be meaningful, appropriate manpower
components of the sector must also be looked into in
order to uplift the standard of education in the society.
8. This informed the appointment of the Chairman and Members of
the Teachers Service Commission who were carefully chosen based on their
pedigree that will assist towards the recruitment, training, promotion and
discipline of teachers in our secondary schools for effective teaching and
learning. I urge the Chairman and Members to quickly settle down and formalize
the appointment of teachers recently recruited for our secondary schools.
Members of the Commission are also enjoined to set mechanism in place for
clearing all outstanding issues relevant to the welfare of our teachers.
Similarly, in our avowed commitment to overhaul the Nasarawa Broadcasting
Service (NBS) for enhanced performance, the Board of the station was also
constituted. This is aimed at improving the operations of the outfit as the
only vehicle that disseminate and propagate Government policies and programme,
as well as other social needs of the people of the State. I belief that, with
the caliber of the Chairman and Members, the station
will receive a new boost and focus on the discharge of its responsibilities.
9. Before concluding this address, my dear appointees, let me,
therefore, congratulate you all on your well-deserved appointments to serve the
people of Nasarawa State in the various capacities. Let me also express the
sincere appreciation of the Government and people of Nasarawa State to you all
for accepting this onerous task.
10. As the Transition Committee is set to commence its
assignments, I charge you to come up with lofty ideas that will further
reposition the State in all spheres of human endeavour. I also charge you to be
objective in your assessment and recommendations towards the sustained
socio-economic development of our beloved State.
11. At this juncture, I urge you all to justify the confidence
that the Government and good people of Nasarawa State repose in you.
12. On this note, it is my pleasure to inaugurate the
i. Transition Committee;
ii. Boards of the Teachers Service Commission; and
iii. Nasarawa Broadcasting Service.
13. I wish you success in your respective assignments.
14. Thank you and God bless.
