My People Need Basic Amenities And Not Flyovers - Aminu Tambuwal

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has promised the people of
Sokoto State to be more concerned about their basic needs and not in
the construction of bridges and flyovers.
He made this known to civil servants and heads of government agencies
in the state that paid him the traditional Sallah homage at Government
House on Sunday in Sokoto, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Tambuwal said he would not use available scarce resources to construct
flyovers in place of people’s needs in the areas of health, education and
access roads.
He said the needs of the state were different from other states,
particularly those inaugurating bridges and flyovers.
“Our needs are completely different, states by states, and our priorities
are not the same.
“I will not take Sokoto money to construct flyovers or bridges; these
are not the priority of the state. Our priorities are tailored to the needs
of our people.
“What we need in Sokoto state, particularly for our people in the rural
areas are not bridges, flyovers, which are projects in billions.
“But what they need are smaller projects like basic health clinics,
cottage hospitals, cottage industries, feeder roads, school infrastructure
and scholarships to encourage learning,” he said.
The governor further renewed his administration’s commitment to
change all negative indices of development associated with the state in
the past.
He added that the state government was expanding the Internally
Generated Revenue base of the state.
“The State IGR was less than 700,000 per month; as such we cannot
compare ourselves with other states that generate billions monthly.
“So we are assuring you that this administration will embark on projects
and policies designed to meet the needs of the people and change the
negative narration about the state for instance in area of education
would be pursued with vigour,” Tambuwal said.
He assured the civil servants of prompt payment of salaries and
allowances, which he said were statutory, while other incentives would
be worked out to further mobilise them to render optimal services to the
state.
He ascribed the achievements of his administration to the proactive
strategies and support received from the bureaucracy, noting that
attending to the needs of the civil servants was a sure way of reducing
corruption in public service.
The state Head of Service, Dr Buhari Kware, who led the delegation,
commended the governor for making payment of salaries and allowances
of civil servants a priority.
Kware pledged the support of all civil servants in the state to ensure
the execution of government programmes successfully.
Similarly, Tambuwal had while receiving members of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) led by the state party Chairman, Alhaji Isa Achida,
advised politicians not to use thugs before, during and after elections to
intimidate opposition.
He told the party faithful not to expect intervention from him or from
the state executives should anyone run violate the law and admonished
youths to resist from being used as thugs to attack opponents.