July 17th, 2007
By Godwin Egbara

Reporter, Bauchi

Beside, the state is among the three expected to enjoy an investment of $18.1 million meant to ensure good governance and capacity building in public service. World Bank task team, George Larbi, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on the state governor, Isa Yuguda, at the Government House, Bauchi.

Larbi disclosed that the financial institution was presenting $2.5 billion towards implementing 22 programmes in Nigeria. He said the project was designed to support capacity building in the public sector to improve governance, ensure transparency and accountability as well as due process in the running of government affairs.

The team leader said when implemented, the project would restructure and redefine the civil service and ensure that public administrative duties are done accordingly.

He added that the project would be redefined to suit the needs of each of the participating states of Kaduna, Cross River and Bauchi.

According to him, the World Bank would support the project with fund and guidance, requesting the state government to set up committees to work along with his team in implementation of the report.

Responding, Yuguda described the intervention of the World Bank as timely, especially now that the state government was trying to carry out reform programmes in its civil service.

He added that the issue of good governance and capacity building are welcome development and that his administration would be willing to implement to the letter, the financial regulations in order to improve the accounting system and give the people value for their money.

Meanwhile, following an invitation by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form a government of unity in Bauchi State, former political aides of Adamu Muazu have given conditions for their participation.

According to them, they are willing to support any move geared towards bringing development to reduce the hardship and suffering of the masses. Though skeptical about the sincerity of the call, they, however, pledged their support to any move that would bring development to the state.

The former governor’s political aides who signed a press statement to this effect include, Adamu Hussaini, Chindo Abdu and Danlami Baban Takko.

Conditions given by them include settlement of their gratuity; a revisit of the current ANPP administration plan to review contracts awarded by the former administration, which they consider "ill-motivated"; discontinuation of the campaign of calumny and blackmail aimed at witch- hunting and discrediting the administration of the former governor; that the ANPP government should refrain from baseless criticism and attacks on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, among others.