Your Excellency,
I offer my warmest congratulations on your two-year milestone as the Executive Governor of Jigawa State. Steering the affairs of a diverse and dynamic state is no small feat, and under your leadership, we have indeed witnessed tangible progress.
May Almighty Allah continue to strengthen your resolve and guide your hands as you navigate public service responsibilities.
In these two years, your administration has recorded remarkable achievements across critical sectors—agriculture, education, infrastructure, security, and healthcare. There is much to commend, from the introduction of bold reforms to the implementation of people-centred policies.
Notably, your decision to approve a ₦70,000 minimum wage—nearly double the previous figure—has sent a powerful signal of your administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare. This singular act resonates deeply with civil servants across the state, who now have renewed hope in a more dignified standard of living.
Sir, these achievements have not gone unnoticed. Numerous awards and recognitions by reputable organisations are a testament to the strides your government has made.
Yet, as a concerned citizen and journalist, I feel compelled to highlight areas still yearning for attention, not to diminish your efforts, but to reinforce the voices of everyday Jigawans who earnestly seek your listening ear and urgent intervention.
Our healthcare system, for instance, still bears the scars of neglect, particularly in rural communities. Several hospitals lack basic medical facilities, suffer chronic shortages of essential drugs, and are grossly understaffed.
During my recent fieldwork, enrollees under the Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JCHMA) lamented being forced to purchase prescribed medications from private pharmacies due to stockouts in government hospitals.
Even more concerning is the plight of newly recruited nurses and midwives, many of whom are yet to be captured under the new salary structure. Their morale is low, which understandably affects service delivery quality.
Surely, if we must strengthen healthcare delivery, the welfare of frontline health workers must not be overlooked. In the agricultural sector, where Jigawa’s reputation shines, a widening gap exists between government efforts and grassroots impact.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Jigawa accounts for 75% of Nigeria’s agricultural exports, and nearly 90% of our people depend on farming for their livelihood. Yet, many smallholder farmers, particularly those in remote villages, say they have not received the much-publicised palliatives and support inputs.
Some have had to rely on exploitative loans from private lenders, only to repay in harvests, leaving them at the mercy of uncertain seasons and fluctuating prices.
I humbly suggest the establishment of community-based monitoring committees, drawn from trusted local stakeholders, to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of agricultural support. The rural populace, whose turnout during elections often determines the course of governance, must not be left behind when dividends are shared.
Your recruitment of over 3,000 teachers and 147 first-class graduates in education is indeed laudable. This has brought renewed energy to our classrooms. However, many more qualified youths remain unemployed, submitting CVs into what seems like an unresponsive system.
The discovery of 6,348 ghost workers and the savings of over ₦314 million monthly offer a golden opportunity to absorb some deserving graduates. The teacher shortage still looms large. The Nigeria Union of Teachers reported a deficit of 32,000 teachers in Jigawa.
This is not just a statistic—it is a call to action. If we must invest in our future, we must first empower those who educate the future. Your administration’s empowerment initiatives have also made notable impacts—programs like the mobile kitchen distribution scheme have provided many with a path to self-reliance.
But the landscape of youth enterprise is vast and diverse. Young people engaged in trades such as phone repairs, tailoring, and tricycle operations have felt excluded.
To build an inclusive economy, your empowerment programs must evolve to accommodate a broader range of trades and offer skills training as well as access to starter kits or seed capital.
Your Excellency, when hope meets genuine leadership, progress becomes inevitable. The people of Jigawa have shown faith, and now they ask for more inclusion, visibility, and compassion in policy execution. Their plea is not one of criticism, but of partnership.
They long to be part of the story you are writing for Jigawa—one of transformation, equity, and shared prosperity.
Sincerely yours,
Muhammad Abubakar Tahir,
A concerned Jigawa indigene.