Dikko Radda, the governor of Katsina State, has revealed that his administration has significantly improved in the areas of human capital development, including insecurity, medical tourism, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, infrastructure, and other areas.
Radda made the revelation as he marked the second anniversary of the midterm evaluation of how his administration has fared since taking office in 2023.
The Best Dialysis Center was established, 158 PHCs were upgraded, 400 tractors were purchased, and agriculture equipment was used to revolutionize the state’s agricultural sector. Additionally, 75 junior and senior secondary schools were renovated and upgraded, as well as 75 junior and senior secondary schools.
The Governor referred to the anniversary briefing held at the Government House in Katsina as a moment of reflection and acknowledgment of the trust the government and Katsina’s citizens placed in him and the government when he was given the task of leading.
He reiterated his commitment to his inaugural promise, saying, “I made a promise to build a future where every citizen, regardless of background or status, can live with dignity, opportunity, and security. My solemn oath is still to keep that promise.
The governor revealed in a statement released on Thursday by Ibrahim Mohammed, his chief press secretary, that the governor’s development plan, titled “Building Your Future,” underwent a thorough evaluation by an expert panel of 11 subcommittees and over 200, many of whom are currently employed by his government.
The administration established the Katsina State Development Management Board, the Strategic Policy Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (SPIME), the first-of-its-kind Katsina State Irrigation Authority, and the state-recognized Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) for MSMEs, among others.
A comprehensive 2, 000-page staff audit and skills gap analysis report are currently being looked at for implementation because we recognized that institutions are nothing without the people, so we introduced merit-based promotions starting with the competency-based appointment of permanent secretaries, according to Governor Radda.
We cleared the state’s and local government’s pension and gratuity backlog, allowing the state to concentrate on the new contributory pension scheme, in an unprecedented way.
FULL TEXT President Tinubu’s Statement on the Second Anniversary
Governor Radda noted that insecurity affected 26 of the state’s 34 local government areas when addressing the security issues that he had inherited when he took office. He emphasized the importance of his administration’s commitment to combating banditism, noting that “I made a significant pledge during my campaign to fight insecurity and that I would use all the available resources to do so.”
Governor Radda praised the establishment of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, saying, “We did not waste any time passing the law and setting up the community-driven security outfit, which has inspired other states.
“We have made significant progress in the fight against insecurity, but much more needs to be done” To put an end to this menace, we are working with the military and the federal government.
The governor urged people to “work with the authorities and provide information where it will lead to the arrest or termination of bandits,” while maintaining that “we will continue to support victims rather than pay ransoms to bandits.”
Governor Radda outlined significant investments in agriculture and livestock development in response to food insecurity. The Katsina State Agricultural Mechanization Centre was established in the administration’s support for thousands of farmers using small-scale irrigation methods.
We are set to revolutionize the sector with 400 tractors, matching implements, combined harvesters, planters, mobile irrigation rigs, and other equipment, the governor said, adding that extension workers’ numbers increased from 74 to over 780.
Establishing processing zones will be the next step in the sector’s effort to produce value-added and consumer goods. Governor Radda predicted that Katsina will soon start to export processed agricultural products.
The governor added that there had been significant improvement in healthcare delivery, stating that “in my first term, I pledged to provide one fully functional primary healthcare center in each of the 361 wards,” with 158 already finished.
The establishment of “the best dialysis center in the country” includes the recruitment of 638 additional workers, the sponsorship of 41 medical students abroad, and other significant healthcare investments.
In collaboration with Siemens Healthineers, the administration has also pledged to construct “the country’s best radiology and laboratory diagnostic center.”
The governor referred to Katsina state as a primary destination for medical tourism, saying, “We are deliberate about making that happen.” To give our citizens access to the best healthcare at reasonable prices, we have developed this strategy over the long term.
Since taking office, the governor has reported that “over 150 primary schools and 75 junior and senior secondary schools have been constructed” and that this is the “fastest rate in our state’s history.”
Construction is currently underway for an additional 77 secondary schools.
More than 7, 250 teachers have been hired by the administration, and the administration is introducing computer technology to schools to give students a firsthand look at contemporary education.
Governor Radda remarked, “Education is a collective responsibility, and we are all accountable.” Schools and communities must be at the forefront of education reform.
Governor Radda spoke about infrastructure, citing the completion of all inherited road construction projects and the opening of new ones, including the recently completed 24-kilometer Eastern Bypass, which “will expand our capital city and serve our people for decades to come.”
Significant revenue growth and improved transparency have been achieved as a result of the administration’s embrace of technology, which includes the release of “a fully digitized Treasury Single Account and the automation of our revenue collection service.”
To “block leakages and increase efficiency,” major hospitals, health insurance, and drug supply systems have been digitalized.
The governor outlined what he called the “most comprehensive community-driven development in the country,” stating that “our budget for 2026 will be completely based on community needs assessment, and all MDAs will be required to implement their budgets strictly based on the priorities of our communities.”
Governor Radda expressed optimism about the administration’s future success, saying that “we have been able to begin implementing over 90% of the policies in my blueprint and by Allah’s will we will bring about new ones.”
The governor’s plan of action for the remaining term was laid out as follows: “Our goal for the next two years is to maximize how we used and utilise the investments we met and made over the past two years. Every positive step we take will be improved, and any errors will be corrected as much as we can.
He thanked the previous His Excellency Aminu Bello Masari administration for their assistance and efforts in the state. The Governor thanked the state assembly, traditional leaders, security officials, development partners, civil society, various associations, state executive council members, and civil servants for their support of the “Build Your Future” initiative.
Source: Channels TV
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