ABUJA RETREAT: COMMENDABLE OR CONDEMNABLE?

A RETREAT FOR KEBBI COMMISSIONERS IN ABUJA

MATTERS ARISING: Commendable Or Condemnable?

OFFICIAL OPINION OF KEBBI-TRUST ONLINE NEWSPAPER

The decision of Kebbi State Government to hold a retreat for its newly appointed Commissioners in Abuja, generated mixed reactions within and outside the state with some commending while others condemning, hence the decision of this medium to express it opinion on this development:

1- WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE RETREAT?

According to Kebbi State Commissioner of Information, Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, the objective of the retreat is to acquaint members of Kebbi State Executive Council with the roles and responsibilities of Commissioners in the progress and development of the state as well as their relationship with other arms of government, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and other staff in their respective Ministries.

    

Additionally, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala ( Tafidan Yauri) also thrown more light on the objective behind the retreat, he stated that the event was arranged to put members through the art of governance so that they can synergize and work for the betterment of the state.

With these Statements from two major stakeholders from Kebbi State Government, the objective, rational or wisdom behind the retreat is clearly defined and understandable.

2- WHY ABUJA, NOT SAFAR CONFERENCE HALL OR PRESIDENTIAL LODGE BIRNIN KEBBI?

This is the question from the oppositions and other critics of the Abuja retreat.

Kebbi-Trust as a private and independent medium is not official media of Kebbi State Government to defend the decision of scheduling such retreat to Abuja, notwithstanding we have a constitutional right to express our opinion on the matter as indigene of Kebbi State. 

OPINION OF KEBBI-TRUST ON THE ABUJA RETREAT

a- Any action of Government or it's official that doesn't contradict the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria constitute no offense and check by Kebbi-Trust found out that no section in the constitution of Nigeria prohibits a state Government from holding a retreat for its cabinet members anywhere in Nigeria, Abuja inclusive.

b. The choice of holding the retreat in Abuja is a deliberate decision aimed at ensuring that participants have full concentration and grasp of what are to be learned at the treat, thereby reducing the tendency of distractions from offices or other personal engagements.

c- Kebbi-Trust is also of the opinion that taking such retreat to Abuja is a signal to Commissioners that the Government of the day mean business, in other words it is clear sign of seriousness on the part of Kebbi State Government to reposition the state.

d- Such retreat can also make the Commissioners to get more exposure and think big in order to perform optimally.

A CASE STUDY AND BENEFITS OF OUT OF STATE RETREAT/ TRAINING

Also check by Kebbi-Trust reveals that this is not the first time Kebbi State Government sponsor similar activities outside the state. 

In 2011, former Governor Sa'idu Usman Nasamu Dakingari engaged about 30 young graduates into the state civil service via General Administration Department, he didn't trained them at SAFFAR Or PRESIDENTIAL LODGE as oppositions opined, he sponsor them to Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Lagos state for 2 weeks.

.....THE BENEFITS

Such trained Administrators are now the Directors Personnel (DPM) in all state Ministries and they are performing excellently, courtesy of the out of state retreat treatment they received. They are the ones competently helping in digesting and implementing government policies with ease due to knowledge they received at ASCON, Lagos state.

A CHALLENGE TO OUR STATE COMMISSIONERS

Kebbi State people are eager to see the impact of Abuja retreat the way they are seeing the impact of DPMs trained in Lagos.

Therefore, it is hope that each commissioner will hit the ground running immediately they resume duty after the retreat. Anything short of this will prove the critics of the retreat right; instead we hope they will prove their principal His Excellency Dr. Nasiru Idris (Kauran Gwandu) right for such an expensive decision by performing in line or even beyond Kebbians expectations.

Answering the question weather the Abuja retreat is commendable or Condemnable, in the opinion of Kebbi-Trust it is not only commendable but recommendable to the future administration in the State.

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Ahmad Umar

ahmadugamji@gmail.com

07038182929

Publisher

Kebbi-Trust Online Newspaper