The Gombe State Executive Council on Tuesday approved the sum of N43.130 billion for the construction of a new ultra-modern governor’s residence, High Court and House of Assembly complexes.

The decision was made during the 37th SEC meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, held at the executive chamber of the Government House.

It was reported that since 2003 when former Governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu vacated the residence after his defeat, all the subsequent governors of the state, Danjuma Goje, Ibrahim Dankwambo did not stay at the official governor’s residence located at the Government House, despite several renovations to the edifice.

Governor Yahaya is also staying at his private residence located at the New GRA.

Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Mijinyawa Ardo Tilde, said the council after scrutiny had approved the total sum of N43.130bn for an ultra-modern governor’s residence and befitting High Court and House of Assembly Complexes.

He added that the council had also approved the sum of N10bn for the construction of roads in four local government areas of the state, and construction of Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GOSTEC) office accommodations.

Shedding more light on the projects, Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Dr Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, said the ultra modern high court complex would be constructed at N14bn, while N14.23bn and N14.9bn would be earmarked for the House of Assembly Complex and the ultra-modern governor’s residence.

He said following the approval, contractors would be mobilised to site and work would commence in earnest.

The commissioner added that the council also approved N10.4bn for construction of 77 kilometres roads in Kwami, Funakaye Nafada, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of the state.

According to reports, the projects, especially the ultra modern governor’s residence and the complexes, were approved amidst the current economic hardship occasioned by removal of fuel subsidy.

It is reported that workers under the local government service in the state are yet to start receiving the new minimum wage, being enjoyed by the state civil servants since 2020.

However, following the removal of the subsidy, Governor Yahaya had introduced N10,000 as palliative for both the state and local government employees.

Pensioners were left out in the ‘palliative,’ as some retirees still collect the sum of N7,000 as their monthly pension.

However, after much outcry, Governor Yahaya had on Tuesday launched the distribution of foodstuffs as palliatives to the underprivileged and physically challenged residents of the state.

The food items consist of a 5kg bag of rice, maize and sugar each and carton of spaghetti.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Education, Dr Aishatu Umar Maigari, said the council had approved N549m for payment of registration fees for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (MBAIS) for 19,840 indigent students.

She said the students were in 151 senior secondary schools in the state, including those on exchange programmes.

The commissioner added that 19,000 out of the 23,000 students passed a mock examination conducted by the ministry.

Maigari said, “In 2019 when Governor Inuwa Yahaya assumed office, only 22 per cent of students were getting five credits and above. In 2023, we had had 67.8 percent who passed with five credits, including Mathematics and English.” (Daily Trust)

Update news