By Comrade Bishir Dauda
In Katsina State, a silent revolution is taking place. First, His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umar Radda, the first PhD holder to become a governor in Katsina State, since 29 May 2023, has taken courageous decisions and progressive measures that impact leadership and governance in the state. He first disrupted the archaic system by appointing many graduates into his government. This is a radical departure from the past in which politics, party affiliation, and godfatherism rather than competence and merit were the criteria for political appointment.
Young people, women, and persons with disabilities have now got a break under the Radda administration. The last successive administrations ignored them. Instead, busybodies and charlatans dominated the Government.
Under the past era, young and talented youth were ignored and held in contempt. Women were manipulated and exploited to secure votes on election day only. The government treated PWDs as trash.
Today, Governor Radda and Katsina State are the winners. We are witnessing real and tangible improvement in governance as a result of far-sighted decisions.
One example of why it pays to prioritize talent and competence in political appointments is the Community Development Programme, a bottom-up governance approach the Dikko administration is implementing to deliver services to the grassroots. The coordinator of the scheme, Dr. Kamaluddeen Kabir Katsina, a well-groomed academic and no-nonsense activist, has been working without buzz, transparently, efficiently, and effectively. Even the work ethic has changed. For example, by 8:00 am, you will always find the coordinator and his staff working in the office; sometimes they don’t close till 8:00 pm. In other climes this is normal, but in Nigeria, and in the public sector, it is a paradigm shift.
The Dikko administration’s social protection and safety measures implementation have been effective in tackling socio-economic distress in the state partly because of CDP.
Some of the safety measures implemented under the administration and through CDP include sales of fertilizer and other agricultural implements to farmers. These include solar-powered irrigation pumping machines, tilling machines, etc., at highly subsidized rates. Free distribution of grains to the poorest people and empowerment of women, youth, and the poor, among others.
The Community Development Program is succeeding in Katsina State because of two important factors: 1. The governor is sincere. He is given the coordinator all the necessary support to succeed. 2. The coordinator is prepared, trusted, and highly committed.
Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina,
Executive Director,Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative.
