The Action Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Umaru Suleiman Ajaja, says he will take the state to the next level of development if elected as governor in the forthcoming general election. In this encounter with The Point’s correspondent, Musa Dan-Lafia, Ajaja promises to revitalise all the sectors of the economy of the state through effective service delivery. Excerpts.
What prompted you into politics, considering the fact that you are a retired public servant, who served almost all your career life with the Nigerian Customs before retirement?
The desire to serve my people was what prompted me into politics and also my zeal to ensure good governance for the people of Nasarawa State, so that, together, we all can benefit from the abundant wealth bestowed on the state, naturally, by God almighty. At the same time, I was also inundated by calls from all quarters, considering my antecedents and my vast experience in the management of both human and public resources in the last decades when I was in government service.
Can you say more about those antecedents that you think made the people to rally round your ambition?
Selfless service and provision of community assistance to the people. My people were concerned that we could take over the leadership of the state so that, together, we would all benefit from the abundant wealth that was being deposited for us by the almighty creator. I want to draw the attention of the world to the reality that Nasarawa has enough mineral resources that, if carefully harnessed and utilised, would certainly feed the entire country and beyond. I also want to tell you that Nasarawa State will engage investors from around the world for business.
What are your plans for governance if eventually you are elected the next governor of the
state?
We have a six-point agenda that, if carefully adopted, Nasarawa State would certainly become one of the best progressive states in the country. First is security of lives and property to ensure peaceful co-existence among our people. We will declare a state of emergency in the health sector for all to benefit from our gesture. Also, a state of emergency will be declared in the state’s education system and vocational training will be guaranteed. Moreover, mining and agriculture will receive a boost and we will also concentrate on infrastructural development to give the state a befitting look. Creating conducive atmosphere for investment opportunities will be our priority to attract Foreign Direct Investment.
What is your assessment of the performance of the present administration in Nasarawa State?
Precisely, the governor has tried in the area of road construction across the state but a lot still needs to be done. Payment of workers’ salaries and that of pensioners, which was being paid in percentages is uncalled for. I have never seen, in my working life, where salaries are paid in percentages. This development has brought a lot of worries among the workers in the state; human capital development and other government incentives to the people are nil. In fact, the governor needs to address this phenomenon and the local government workers’ salaries, which have been in percentages for over two years now, need to be addressed properly and arrears should be paid to them
immediately.
What would your government do to curtail this of elected?
My government, if voted for, will be civil-servant friendly and we will not allow any crack between the government and the civil servants for effective service delivery. We will ensure total response to the health sector where our hospitals will be duly equipped with medical equipment, and let me tell you, we have designed a policy where pregnant women would be treated free of charge in our hospitals and, at the same time, our aged ones, who are 65 years old and above.
