A Kogi born public affairs analyst and Executive Director of Abuja based Africa Media Roundtable Initiative, Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi, took time to assess the performance of Bello in office within the short time.
In a down-to-earth submission, Omoluabi pointed out the glaring challenges and mis-steps by the young administration. Although he said a month is too short a period to access a government but it’s very important to appraise some of the policies.
According to him, the governor has violated section 162(7) of the constitution and UBE ACT 2004 following his confusing directive to push the responsibility of basic education teachers to Local government chairmen. He describes the action as illegal, unpopular and a deliberate attempt to destroy what is remaining of quality basic education. He also called on the Universal Basic Education Commission and the National Assembly Committees on Basic Education to call the the Governor to order, reminding them that Basic Education is a fundamental part of the defunct Millennium development goals now transformed into the sustainable development goals.
Omoluabi picked holes in the claims that the government under Yahaya Bello has paid October salaries to all civil servants. “I can tell you without fear of being misquoted that all of the ministries have not been paid October salaries. The governor promised paying 100% salaries to civil servants by 25th of the month but has failed to uphold this promise under 30 days!”, he said.
“Water scarcity has returned to the state capital, Lokoja. It is obvious, even to the blind, that the government appear directionless. The bizzare decisions taken so far, with the most recent destruction of monuments around Lokoja are clear signals of a government being run without direction”.
He thereafter advised the governor to take his time to make consultation and get necessary information before going ahead to pronounce directive and decisions because it is obvious that he has made too many policies that are not in agreement with the reality on ground which has seriously demonstrated his ill-preparedness and lack of required experience for the office he currently occupy, so at times like this, the young man needs a lot of professional consultations and synergy that will guide and aid his decision making and subsequent project and policy execution.
