Gombe received N26 billion as grants for its achievements under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank-assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme in four years. The finance and economic development commissioner, Muhammad Magaji, disclosed this in Gombe on Tuesday shortly after the inaugural State Executive Council meeting.

Mr Magaji said the grants were given due to the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability (SFTAS) programme reforms implemented in Gombe.

“The various reforms initiated by Governor Inuwa Yahaya made the state transparent enough to attract such grants. The grant has helped the state government execute a good number of projects, from infrastructure to improved healthcare, amongst others, which have impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state,” Mr Magaji explained.

The commissioner added, “We were able to implement the SFTAS reforms and earned over N26 billion for Gombe state in grants. The grant is between 2019 and 2023, that’s the first administration of Governor Yahaya, and it has helped in executing good projects for the benefit of the people.”

He said this “means Gombe state is more transparent and accountable; whatever we are doing is out in the public for people to see, and we are not hiding any skeleton.”

“We have initiated reforms and abided by them. Our account books are there for everyone to see according to the national chart of accounts. We publish our annual accounts for the state government,” added Mr Magaji. “Our budgets are in order and also published on time and regularly for everyone to see.”

The commissioner also mentioned that the Gombe government had adopted the SFTAS requirements to ensure the state cleared its arrears while paying contractors on time.

The commissioner said the reforms helped the state government progress in the transparency index.

“We were also able to reform a lot of areas in governance, and we achieved a lot, making Gombe the first in ease of doing business, ranking Gombe in the transparency index from 36 to number seven,” the commissioner noted.

Mr Magaji said going forward, the state government would concentrate on driving more investments to establish industries and create jobs for youths in Gombe.

(NAN)