As Bauchi State marks 40 years anniversary

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As Bauchi State marks 40 years anniversary
By; Mohammed Kawu
Bauchi State, christened as the pearl of tourism and Mecca of sports will this Wednesday be celebrating 40 years of its existence after it was carved out from the then North Eastern State, on 3rd February, 1976.
Bauchi State with a population of over 4.6 million based on the 2006 national head count is recognized as home to stakeholders in the country who have shaped the history of this great nation.
Bauchi is a state synonymous with politicians of great repute as it is the proud state that has produced the first and only Prime Minister that Nigeria ever had.
It is equally home to the famous Yankari Resort which is tourists’ delight any time of the year with the wonderful Wikki Warm Spring that has constant temperature of 31 degree centigrade.
Formerly Game Reserve, Yankari Resort and Safari had its idea conceived in 1956 by the defunct Northern Nigerian Government which was realized in 1964 when it was also demarcated as protected area under the Bauchi native authority.
Yankari Game Reserve which covers an area of 2, 244 square kilometers of protected area that has one of the richest concentrations of wild life in the country had its doors opened to tourists also in 1964.
Bauchi In the 40 years of its existence as a state which is largely agrarian has witnessed the good, bad and ugly in its transformation journey to greatness with numerous developmental strides in virtually all spheres of human endeavor in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of its citizens.
According to Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Japan, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu, lack of autonomy for Local Government Councils has however slowed down the much needed and rapid transformation in Bauchi state.
He opined that unless the Local Government Councils were made autonomous and get their monies directly from the Federation Account without undue interference, the envisaged rapid socio-economic development will continue to elude Bauchi state.
“My appeal to the state government is to release funds meant for local government to enable them run their basic administrations. The diversion of local government funds by the state is neither in their interests nor the people.
Aliyu who was speaking in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Bauchi state, explained that each of the three tiers of government must be allowed to work independently.
“There is no harm in having joint state and local government projects but there should be development plans allowing the local government to initiate and implement their capital development in areas of their jurisdiction”.
Also a onetime Secretary of the Military Government of Bauchi state, Ambassador Aliyu was of the view that Local Government Councils should pay their staff salaries and equally each LG council to support its own treasury.
These, he noted, are some of the major things that will facilitate rapid socio economic development and growth of the LGAs, and enhance the transformation of the state as second tier of government.
“I was one of the 1st Permanent Secretaries of Bauchi in 1976. We started work on 2nd of April of 1976 and that was the day offices of government were opened to the public. But before then, a lot of work had taken place, in terms of the idea of creating the state”.

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