Bauchi to Lay Strong Foundation for Economic Devt

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Mr. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, has assured the general public that the current administration in the state would lay a strong foundation for economic growth and development of the state. 

Jatau made this known yesterday at the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted State Council on Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reforms at the conference hall in his office.

He said that at the moment Bauchi State is one of the good performing states in sub national Ease of Doing Business ranking among the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

The deputy governor, who is the chairman of the council, pointed out that the state government has demonstrated strong commitment and willingness by participating in the World Bank first Performance-for-Result program known as the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).

According to him, other commendable efforts made by the state included the development of the state’s action on Business Reform Action Plan (BERAP) for 2023 through the active engagement of key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

Jatau, who noted that the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program was designed to have a gross value of $750m for country as is expected to be drawn by the states on performance basis with tenure of three years, explained that the proposed Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIS) covered five areas of land administration, improved business-enabling infrastructure, increased sustainable large-scale Investments, enabling firm operations and regulatory reforms, courts and skills.

He said the State Council on Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reforms would serve as the catalyst for change and ensure that the state government’s policies and regulations are aligned with its vision for economic development, adding that the present administration has since recognised the importance of providing a favorable ecosystem for businesses to flourish. 

“Today marks the inaugural meeting of this council, and it signifies a new era in our state’s governance. We are embarking on a journey towards transforming Bauchi into a hub of economic activity, attracting investors, stimulating entrepreneurship, and unlocking the full potential of our resources.

“On behalf of members of this council, I want to register our profound appreciation and gratitude to our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, for finding us worthy of this enormous task and to assure him of our unwavering dedication to the cause.

“Together, we will be focusing on implementing strategic reforms that streamline business opportunities, reduce bureaucratic impediments, and enhance the ease of doing business in Bauchi state.

“We shall also prioritise the removal of unnecessary regulations and simplify administrative procedures to create a business-friendly environment that nurtures growth,” he said. 

He added: “The State Council on Ease of Doing Business reforms is a critical step towards achieving our vision for economic development in Bauchi State. Our mandate as a Council is clear: we must ensure that our state is attractive to investors, and that businesses can operate efficiently and effectively without any unnecessary hitches. We must also ensure that we protect and create a level playing field for all businesses to compete fairly.

Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Aminu Hammadi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Idris Saleh, said that the inauguration of the State Council on Ease of Doing Business signified the unwavering commitment of the state government towards economic development.