Few hours to the end of a historic 2019 that ushered in Bala Mohammed as the executive governor of Bauchi state, it is quite worthy to also know that the year has equally sent back Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa from his comfort zone in the United States of America to come back and work for the people of Bauchi state.
Within just few months since he was appointed by the governor to head budget ministry, Dr Gamawa has taken steps hitherto seen as impossible in Bauchi state to revolutionize the ministry and compel other MDAs to subscribe to the rigors of technology which he consistently argues, will embolden accountable systems in the state.
Below are few of his activities during the year under review; hyperlinks are created to refer readers interested in reading details:
- Crucial stakeholder-consultations concerning budget, planning and administration
- He vowed to ensure efficient mobilization, allocation and utilization of resources for the development of Bauchi state
- For the first time in the history of the state, transparency and accountability in governance that also ensures the development of medium-term expenditure framework and a robust fiscal strategy paper for the state was put in place
- Bauchi for the first time had a realistic budget that defies ‘copy and paste’ as has been the norm in the past
- For the first time, MDAs were made to present realistic budget that captures their needs and based on the economic realities of the state
- He tasked MDAs on open budget that defies the usual secrecy
- Bauchi for the first time prepares a citizen driven budget that encourages participatory governance; people in local communities made input in the budget document which ensures inclusivity
- He prepares, presented a medium-term expenditure framework of the 2020 proposed budget
- He supported Governor Bala Mohammed on time preparation and presentation of the budget estimates; the governor presented the document to the Assembly on 10th of December, 2019
- Because of its realistic nature and error free, the state House of Assembly accepted the document less than 15 days of its presentation
- The Speaker of the House while presenting the draft document to the Governor after undergoing rigors of scrutiny described it as comprehensive, and devoid of the usual copy and paste
- Dr Aminu Gamawa is very futuristic, he has since set his ministry ready for 2021; he has organized a 2 day sensitization workshop for budget preparation in various MDAs on ‘Zero Based Budget Preparation’
- The commissioner also sets the state’s budget to be tracked and requested other stakeholders to ensure that public spending are tracked and made accountable
- His openness philosophically motivated him to hold first media chat with journalists where he requested the press to hold government accountable
- Dr Gamawa supported the state government to seek for the support of World Bank for the construction of 500km roads
- His policies of open mindedness, scientificity and accountability stimulated the Hous of Assembly to advocate for the establishment of state Assembly budget and research office
- For the first time in the history of Bauchi State, technology will be used to monitor the execution of projects
These are few achievements among many I was able to recall, that were intelligently articulated, carefully crafted and comprehensively executed by the amiable Dr Aminu Gamawa.
Thanks to the Executive Governor of Bauchi state for appointing intelligent chaps like Dr Gamawa who is working tirelessly to support his Excellency in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Bauchi state.
We look forward to a prosperous and rewarding 2020 that will reinvigorate economic boom and put back to work the numerous unemployed youths and women in the state.
Muslim Lawal is a media aide to the Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Bauchi state.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
