Ignorant writer on Jigawa state’s 2025 budget estimates
By Lawal Jet Kaugama
On Friday, in an online news platform, SOLACEBASE, I read an article written by one Aminu Abubakar who claimed that Governor Umar Namadi planned to spend N400 million for principal officers of the Jigawa State House of Assembly overlooking the suffering of ordinary people in the state who are struggling with life.
The writer went further to say that there are social amenities the governor should use the money for.
To me the writer is either ignorant of a democratic government or does not understand the functions of the different arms of government in a democracy
Aminu claimed that the review of Jigawa State Government’s 2025 budget estimates show that a sum of N100 million was planned to be spent on purchasing Toyota Prado for the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly in 2025.
Another sum of N100 million is earmarked for two vehicles meant for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House.
Also, another sum of N100 million was to be used to purchase two number motor vehicles for the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly while another N100 million was planned to be used to purchase eight units vehicles for directors in the House of Assembly.
This would mean N400 million was planned for vehicles for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other top staff of the Assembly in 2025.
By this budgeted amount, it would mean that a sum of N50 million is being planned to be spent on each Bike by the government, Aminu claimed.
The Jigawa State House of Assembly, like all state assemblies, is a unicameral body composed of a number of elected members, each representing a constituency in the state. Their primary functions include lawmaking, oversight of the executive arm, and appropriation of funds.
It’s essential to understand that in a democratic government, the legislative, executive, and judicial arms have distinct roles and responsibilities. The allocation of funds is typically done through a budgeting process, which involves both the executive and legislative arms. Does Aminu and his ilks want the principal officers of the House to work without tools? Did he even know that Gov. Namadi is so prudent that he planned to buy fairly used vehicles for these officers in order to cut cost?
If Aminu is concerned about the allocation of funds in Jigawa State in the 2025 budget, I recommend he verifies the information through reputable sources, such as official government establishments, websites or credible news outlets, instead of sitting in his closet and write something he has no knowledge of it’s working or function.
I therefore, strongly condemn the article’s baseless accusations against our amiable governor. The claim that he is buying expensive cars for Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other principal officers of the state assembly is not only unsubstantiated but also misleading.
Some people are known for criticising baselessly but cannot commend a leader who is doing good to his people.
Governor Namadi’s administration has been focusing attention on improving the lives of Jigawa State citizens, as evident from his address marking the one-year anniversary scorecard of his administration .
He has implemented various initiatives aimed at economic uplift of different age groups, social and economic classes, youth employment, agricultural transformations, and human development services.
Instead of spreading unfounded and ill-informed information, the article’s author should focus on the governor’s achievements, such as providing social protection and welfare programmes that have uplifted hundreds of thousands of people in the state.
The governor’s commitment to transparency and accountability is also worth acknowledging, as seen in his efforts to ensure that government programmes reach the intended beneficiaries.
I urge the author to retract his statement and issue an apology to Gov. Umar Namadi and Jigawa people for spreading misinformation about their governor who is given to churning out pro-people policies and programmes.
It’s essential to promote responsible journalism and hold public figures accountable based on verifiable facts, not baseless accusations by a confused writer who is fronting for opposition elements in the state.
Lawal Jet Kaugama is former chairman of Jigawa Radio Corporation