Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas has urged top government functionaries in various positions to strive to uphold the values of accountability and good governance.
The Governor stated this while declaring open a three days induction retreat for top government office holders in Taraba State at the Nigerian Army Resource Center, Abuja.
Declaring open the three days induction retreat for Commissioners, members of the State House of Assembly, High Courts judges, Permanent Secretaries, and Heads of Board and Parastatals, the Governor explained that workshop is designed to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge, insight, and tools to excel in their jobs.
According to him, as representatives of the people and key stakeholders, the participants all have a pivotal roles to play to ensure that the future of Taraba State is bright.
He urged them to rise to the occasion and serve their people with dedication and integrity. He equally tasked them to accord priority attention to the welfare of the people and also be accessible to them.
He disclosed that Taraba State is blessed with abundance of human and natural resources, and officeholders must inspire citizens to reach their full potential.
In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Taraba State government, Barr Gebon Timothy Katap, said the induction retreat portrayed Taraba State Governor as a pragmatic leader.
He said the retreat will empower participants to understand their responsibilities and the demands of their various offices.
He said that the State government is going to put in place a performance indicator to measure and check the performance of its officeholders to ensure productivity.
Resource persons who delivers various Papers at the retreat, commended Governor Agbu for his foresight in organising the event.
They posited that the induction course for the State government appointees will provide a veritable platform for growth and development in the future.
Delivering a paper, Country Director of BudgIT, Mr. Gabriel Okeowo, noted that Taraba was at its lowest ladder as far as the economy is concerned. He, however, commended the state government for investing in training its main policy makers.
He said the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was bound to increase, given the new leadership at the helm of affairs. Okeowo, however, stressed that the new administration needed to investigate why the IGR was dwindling over the years.
He enjoined the state government to make adequate use of technology in its effort to attract investors to the state by building a functional website.
According to him, Taraba State should use data in its planning for effective results.
Also speaking, Dr Peter Akpe, whose paper was titled “Understanding the Governance Landscape”, said Taraba State has done well to organise the training.
He said the various lectures lined up at the retreat will fine-tune the focus of office-holders.
Akpe noted that output and results were bound to be better given the type of fresh perspectives of the government, adding all hands will have to be on deck for progress.
In her own submissions, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, harped on synergy.
She noted that government works better when all the sectors have a smooth working relationship. Using her personal experience in the Civil Service, she discussed the relationship between the civil force and political leaders within the system, saying that appointments must be based on merit rather political patronage.
The induction workshop was attended by the members of the national assembly from Taraba State, former Governor Jolly Nyame, Former Deputy Governor Alhaji Armayau Dauda, and other dignitaries from outside Taraba State.