Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulmalik is the pioneer Director General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Mobilisation in Kogi state. The former special adviser to the state governor on media and strategy speaks on how he plans to go about his new responsibility, among other issues. OYIBO SALIHU reports. Excerpts:
How did you receive the news of your redeployment to the Bureau?
When Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello appointed me as special adviser on media and strategy , he did not tell me until that day. I just got a call from somebody to confirm if I was in Lokoja. The call inadvertently came from the man who became the Chief of Staff, Hon. Edward Onoja. He said his Excellency has decided to make you his special adviser on media and strategy, are you accepting it? I said of course, yes. He said no, I want you to say that you have accepted it. I pledged my allegiance immediately and job started. What actually impressed me most over that appointment was not only that I was given that recognition, but because of the fairness he displayed by ensuring that the first three appointments he made cut across the three senatorial districts. That gave me a high hope to want to do my very best for him to succeed because it has never happened. That wisdom he displayed endeared him to me and promised my God that I am going to do my very best to support him.
So, nobody can be perfect. I believed that in my former office, I did my best and here my jurisdiction is expanded. I was the spokesperson of his Excellency and my role was microscopic. Microscopic in the sense that I was only responsible for the media outing of the governor, but now as the Director General of Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Mobilisation, I am the spokesperson of the government. So, my role now is macro.
What is the composition and role of the Bureau?
As at the time I assumed office, I met seven directorates headed by directors. In addition to that, we have three parastatals: the Radio Kogi, the Graphic and the Government Printing Press. These three parastatals are very vital to information management in the state. We are trying to look at how we can reposition these parastatals to become more proactive in our quest to carry out the message of New Direction blueprint of his Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello to every part of the state. We are saddled with the responsibility to ensure that these three major parastatals are repositioned to meet their statutory obligations to the people. In addition to this, we are also hoping to bring on board, the state television.
On the issue of grassroots mobilisation, the governor is passionate about the needs of the people unlike what obtained in the past where the government solely decided on what to do for the people. This time around, the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has decided to push that obligation to the people. Tell us what you want and that is what we are going to give you. This form the basis of sending the blueprint team to every local government and ward in the state to interact with people to know what their needs are. So, if you take a copy of the New Direction blueprint, you will discover that every thematic area are direct reflections of what the people wanted.
What are the achievements of this administration since its inception?
It is amazing that in less than nine months, His Excellency, Bello has achieved so much. First, when we came on board, Lokoja township roads were nothing to write home about. The governor commenced immediate rehabilitation of the roads. Refuse dump were everywhere, he ordered that everything bins cleared and environmental sanitation exercise revived on monthly basis. He did not waste time and started the re-organization of the state civil service because it is the engine room of the government.
We inherited problems that appeared to defy solutions from the past administrations. That is, the problems of ghost workers and workers in diaspora. The wage bill alone is more than the Federal allocation and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) put together. That was why the state was in perpetual indebtedness to the civil servants. His Excellency has also made it clear that he is not going to be a governor who will only struggle to pay workers’ salaries. So, the first step was to constitute a screening committee to reposition the civil service so that we can ascertain the correct workers’ population in the state. When this is done, workers will be able to receive their salary as at when due and whatever is left, can now be used on physical development of the state.
The governor remains resolute despite challenges that Kogi state must be rid of ghost workers and workers in diaspora and to a very large extent, we have made some achievements. The courage with which he did the abolition was uncommon.
Just recently , an elder statesman Senator Tunde Ogbeha said there is no direction in Kogi state let alone the New Direction Agenda, how would you react to this?
Senator Tunde Ogbeha with due respect is entitled to his own opinion. However, the government of Yahaya Bello welcomes constructive criticisms. We will not be distracted by any destructive criticism. When you criticise us, justify it. When you justify your points, we would look into it and in that case, you are helping the government. So, we welcome constructive criticism because it is one of the elements that encourage good governance. If you are plying Lokoja road, you cannot say there is no direction because we all knew how we met it.
The civil service reforms that is going on now, a lot of mind blowing revelations were made, when you look at that, you cannot say there is no direction. His Excellency has just flagged off road construction in the three Senatorial districts, contractors have mobilised back to site. How would one say there is no direction? Our elders are free to inject their advice on grey areas so as to improve on them. This is what we expect from our elders. The people of Kogi state are very much aware and contented that there is new direction.
Recently, the governor instituted panel of inquiry to check the past administrations, some people viewed it as a way of witch hunting past leaders. What is your take on this?
That is evidence of New Direction! When late Prince Abubakar Audu came on board, he probed the past even the military that handed over to him. When His Excellency Ibrahim Idris came on board, he probed late Prince Abubakar Audu. So, what is new? We are simply saying let us look into some of this files. We are aware that there are some jobs that are awarded and money paid and nothing came out of it. So, if we are looking into them, would you say there is no direction? Why are you pre-empting us with your judgement? Let the panel finish its work and come out with report before criticisms. If you know you don’t have anything up your sleeves, why being afraid? This is the new direction we are talking about. A new direction that is blind to ethnic and religious sentiments.
Regarding the empowerment programmes for the youths, how (he cuts in)
The governor has said he belongs to the generation of the youths and equally promised not to disappoint them. The various agricultural schemes are targeted at the youths. We have two dams project at the Central and another one at the East. We have one in the West. All these are going to be harnessed to provide water for the people and instigate irrigation farming. The government is in negotiations to acquire the large parcel of land in Osara for irrigation farming and our youths are the target of this scheme. So, the youths of the state must engage in productive ventures since enabling environment has been created. His Excellency, Bello has the vision of ensuring food sufficiency through the youths of the state that will be given incentive to start farming.
