By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State Government has signed an engagement bond with medical students at the clinical stage in various health tertiary institutions within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
The initiative, which was at the instance of the Office of the Head of Service of Niger State, was aimed at catching them young to fill the health personnel deficit in the state.
Speaking at the event that took place on Monday at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, urged the beneficiaries of the programme to aspire to be good in both academics and character.
The governor, who said he was adequately informed that the students chosen have in their clinical years exhibited a plausible willingness to embrace the offer, added that the initiative was part of the state government's effort at supporting their studies on the one hand and providing them the opportunity to join the civil service before completing their medical course.
"On behalf of Mr. Governor, Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, Members of the State Executive Council, and the Government of Niger State, I therefore have the honour of officially placing 60 medical students of Niger State into the civil service on GL.10 under the bond agreement period stipulated in the documents," he declared.
He also disclosed that the present administration under his leadership has made arrangements with universities in India to train medical, engineering, and ICT students, adding that training of medical students has commenced at IBB University Lapai and that the conversion of Shiroro Hotel to a teaching hospital has reached an advanced stage, which he said will also provide opportunities for postgraduate training.
In his remarks, the Head of Service of Niger State, Abubakar Y. Salisu, said they had received approval for the programme since October last year, but because they wanted to make adequate arrangements and background checks for the beneficiaries, the launch of the programme was delayed until now.
He said the present administration under Farmer Governor Umaru Bago has a dream for the state and that the dream has started to become reality through the enhancement of critical infrastructure, which needs those to utilise them.
Abubakar Salisu disclosed that they were targeting 120 students by the end of the first tenure of the governor, where 30 students will be added to the pool every year, adding that among the first 60 students were 43 male and 17 female.
He added that it was important to catch them young as most of the old hands were gradually exiting the service, leaving a vacuum to be filled, revealing that they were expected to serve the state twice the years they were engaged, and advised the beneficiaries that it was better to serve their people and receive blessings than to go where no one would recognise and appreciate them.
Niger State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Tukur Mohammed, admitted that there were deficits of human resources in the health sector, adding that the state governor had earlier approved the recruitment of 1,000 health workers, which the Civil Service Commission had completed recently, and also an entry point for CONHESS 3 step 3, which is in accordance with the federal government.
He explained that the bond signing means that the state government will be paying the students monthly salaries to ensure they excel in their studies, adding that the engagement programme was a step in the right direction as the government was leaving no stone unturned to improve health facilities in the state, and he observed that without personnel to utilise them, it amounts to nothing.
The highlight of the occasion was the symbolic signing of the engagement bond and the presentation of the letter of engagement to the beneficiaries.  

By Suleiman Yakubu

Since the creation of Niger State 48 years ago, precisely February 13,1976, the state has never witnessed a phenomenon of exciting magnitude as we're witnessing today. Within one year on the saddle as Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago has redefined the concept of governance and has etched his name in the annals of the state. His interventions in infrastructure and agriculture, two areas that formed the fulcrum and center piece of his administration's policy and developmental drive will remain epically historic long after this generation has gone.
This means that the governor is creating the future he has predicted for the state. And this is the finest attribute of leadership Nigerians yearned for, which Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago is currently unleashing in Niger State.
In an unprecedented feat and in a manner not yet seen, the governor within one year in office, is laying a strong foundation for the future. Addressing journalists at Government House to commemorate one year of the administration, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim noted that the governor's one year in office, was full of unprecedented government activities with remarkable evidence of impact in all the sectors of the economy.
"The ongoing infrastructural development across the state under his Urban Renewal policy, the green economy initiative, and the current agricultural revolution, among others, are tips of the iceberg compared to what his administration intends to achieve at the end of its first tenure", the CPS said.
On the issue of banditry, he said the governor assured that efforts are being redoubled to tame the tide, maintaining the state of emergency on thuggery in the state, especially in Minna and its environs.
"He reiterated his unwavering willingness and determination for the total transformation of the State".
The governor, while acknowledging the support of all citizens for his administration, enjoined them to sustain the tempo and continue to show understanding as the task is herculean and collective.
Governor Bago has within a year awarded the construction of 556 km of roads in all 25 local governments, the beginning of 1000 km of roads intended in the next four years. This, the governor said, will cost the state 1 trillion naira. In fulfilling his desire to revolutionise the transportation sector, the governor commissioned the newly procured 200 CNG buses and other assorted vehicles.
The governor during a public lecture in his honour, said the state is marching to the billionaire state. He said the government will build a water channels drawing water from Shiroro dam that will irrigate the vast fertile lands traversing Shiroro and Munya local governments where all year round farming is expected to generate billions in crop production. Governor Bago hopes in the next one, the state will be able to generate N100 billion in internally generated revenue.
The announcement that the biggest rice mill factory will be built by Dangote Group is heartwarming. The governor said he had extracted commitment from the president of the Dangote Group, and when completed, the plant is capable of milling 500,000 metric tonnes of rice, a feat yet recorded in any African country.
In demonstrating his desire to restore confidence in public service, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago approved N25 billion for the settlement of the backlog of pensioners gratuities. This is unprecedented. In the same vein, he approved the promotion of any civil servant who had stagnated for years. This is in addition to the massive renovation of the state government secretariat to improve the working environment of workers and increase productivity.