Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has inaugurated the newly elected chairmen of the state’s 11 Local Government Areas and 13 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), charging them to lead with integrity, transparency and the fear of God.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Gombe, followed the June 27 local government elections conducted by the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), where the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in all 24 chairmanship seats and 240 councillorship positions across the state.
As part of measures to strengthen grassroots administration, Governor Inuwa Yahaya presented 13 brand-new Toyota Hilux operational vehicles to the newly inaugurated LCDA chairpersons to support their official duties and improve service delivery.
Addressing the new council leaders, the governor described the local government elections as peaceful, transparent and credible, saying the outcome reflected the confidence of Gombe residents in the APC-led administration.
He urged the chairmen to justify the trust placed in them by prioritising the welfare of citizens and ensuring that their leadership reflects accountability and commitment to development.
Governor Inuwa emphasised the importance of local governments as the closest tier of government to the people, noting their critical role in delivering healthcare, education, rural infrastructure, water supply, sanitation and agricultural support.
He also highlighted the growing importance of local councils in addressing security challenges through community participation, intelligence gathering and peace-building initiatives.
The governor said the creation of the LCDAs was part of his administration’s commitment to expanding access to governance and accelerating development at the grassroots.
“The LCDA reform is here to stay. It remains one of the most transformative governance initiatives in the history of Gombe State and will stand as a lasting legacy of our commitment to strengthening grassroots administration,” he said.
Governor Inuwa recalled that many local government councils were financially challenged when his administration assumed office in 2019, but said reforms based on fiscal discipline and transparency had restored stability.
He attributed the progress recorded at the local government level to initiatives such as the Joint Projects Development Agency (JPDA), which he described as a model of cooperation between the state and local governments in executing development projects.
The governor urged the newly elected chairmen to focus on addressing challenges affecting rural communities, including infrastructure gaps, unemployment, insecurity and economic hardship.
“Discharge your responsibilities with dedication, humility, integrity, transparency and, above all, the fear of God. Let every decision you make reflect the collective interest of the people rather than personal considerations,” he advised.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Governor Inuwa called on the council chairmen to deliver quality governance, stressing that visible achievements at the grassroots would remain the strongest support for the APC.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, described the inauguration as another milestone in the governor’s efforts to deepen democracy and bring government closer to the people.
In his remarks, Chairman of Gombe Local Government Area, Professor Abdullahi Bappah Garkuwa, thanked the governor for his leadership and pledged that the newly inaugurated chairmen would uphold the confidence entrusted to them by the government and residents of the state.
