Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on Monday pledged to pay all outstanding gratuities inherited from previous administration before leaving office in 2027.
Yahaya made the pledge while delivering his inaugural speech on the occasion of his second term swearing-in ceremony held at the Pantami Township Stadium Gombe.
He said that the previous administration left outstanding unpaid gratuities worth billions of Naira for eight years from 2012 to 2019.
The governor said that his administration was able to pay over N7.9 billion which covered four of the outstanding eight years.
Yahaya gave an assurance that he would ensure that he did not leave any outstanding gratuity when leaving office in 2027 and would also continue to pay retirees in the state.
“This administration in four years, we paid the outstanding for four years and we are not owing anyone salary or pension.
“We will not spend these four years (second term) and Gombe State will be owing anyone gratuity by God’s grace. We will try and ensure that within the next four years, everyone is paid the benefits,” he said.
The governor said his re-election was an opportunity to consolidate on his first term gains to do more for the people of the state.
He noted that his administration within the last four years had met the aspirations and yearnings of the people by investing in critical sectors toward the improvement of the well-being and welfare of the people of Gombe.
He said he was mindful of the confidence reposed in him which led to his re-election at the polls and vowed not to betray that trust.
According to him, my ambition, through the support of the people is to build a Gombe State that will become a source of pride to future generations and a model to the rest of the country.
“I am profoundly grateful for the trust you have placed in me. Your unceasing outpouring of support, prayers and goodwill shall continue to inspire me each day as we work together to build a better Gombe State,
“As the saying goes, ‘the reward for doing well is the opportunity to do more.’ Your decision to once again trust me with your votes represents a resounding vote of confidence on our first term performance,” Yahaya said.
He said that now that the elections were over, governance would be prioritised and to ensure that the collective interest of Gombe State superseded all other interests and considerations.
He said within the next four years, his administration would focus on economic empowerment and job creation; education and human capital development; healthcare and social welfare; and infrastructural development.
The governor appealed to the people of the state to support his administration, saying that with their support, he would strengthen good governance and accountability.
“With your continuous support and prayers, we shall overcome these challenges, seize emerging opportunities and create a future that is brighter and more prosperous for every resident of Gombe State,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yahaya is the fourth civilian governor of Gombe State after Abubakar Hashidu, Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Dankwambo since the state was created in 1996
