Jalo-Waziri: The ‘silent’ grassroots developer, administrator in Inuwa’s cabinet 

ALHAJI MANSUR ARAMIDE

That traditional rulers are now better placed in Gombe State is no longer a news; that they are now envies of their counterparts in other states across the nation has been confirmed in many quarters; that the common narrative of living on borrowing by local governments in the state has been aggressively tackled with the situation now in sharp contrast to the usual practice.

The huge success has remained a mystery to all event watchers especially those yet to beam their searchlight on its secret hidden in Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s lieutenant, Alhaji Ibrahim DasukiJalo-Waziri who has at several fora been applauded for his doggedness in local government administration and chieftaincy affairs management.

The prevailing peace in the state especially in rural communities is ascribed to the state government’s unprecedented recognition and appreciation showered on the traditional institutions under the watch of the former two-year national president of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON.)

Jalo-Waziri had between 2004-2011 oversaw the affairs of the Gombe Local Government as chairman during which the experiences acquired was to later be deployed to his service as the commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy affairs.

Aside the many feathers won as the chairman and his political vibrancy that earned him many confidences at both state and federal levels, what is noticeable in Jalo’s CV is his constancy in government and governance in both elective and appointed positions; he has not left government circle as all successive governments including the incumbent have continued to recognise and admit his prowess, loyalty and dedication as well as his undaunted patriotism in the course of Gombe, no wonder this astute administrator is able to bag several traditional titles in all the state’s eleven local governments.

Before he came on board as commissioner, the 51-year-old former All Progressives Congress (APC) national youth leader has always expressed worry over the conditions of local governments in the state with almost all of them surviving on borrowing.

This inherited problem/menace was the major challenges he had had to present at the state council meeting with solutions on the way out of the shackles suggested and generally accepted by all.

Today, all the eleven councils now pay their salaries without stress.

As a matter of fact, under Jalo’s watch, Nafada, one time “distress” local government now has over N1 billion financial balance; what a feat!

“When I came in, of course like any other ministry, we saw some challenges that must be immediately addressed especially those that have to do with the finances of the Local Governments, those of the Emirs and Chiefs and their remuneration.

“First of all, we came in and decided that henceforth, no Local Government will borrow money to pay salaries because before our coming it was evident that local governments were surviving on borrowing,” he recounted.

The councils were suffocated by state might, not only in Gombe, but everywhere else.

In Gombe, the system was such that all the LGs were placed on “pool system” in which all councils draw their resources.” This situation, Jalo, an expert said was short-changing some LGs who suffered in the hands of others.

“For the first three months we came into office, we too borrowed to pay LG salaries but because of the prudent management of this government, we were able to stop that, believe me my brother, we have been able to ensure that every LG has been able to stand on its own and be able to pay salaries and other obligations,” he said, adding: “Since we started that, as I tell you now, virtually every LG has a good financial balance.”

According to him, “there is a particular LG that now has a balance of over N1 billion but before, it was never the case. All LGs were operating in a pool, they were putting their money in one purse but we realised that some LGs were short-changed under that arrangement but with the coming of this government, it has stopped, there has not been a day LGs run around to pay salary.”

The good thing about the arrangement and the person at the helms of affairs in the ministry is that the councils can now stand on their own even before the federal government comes in with its “bailout” monthly allocation.

“If money does not come from the federation account on time, we have enough money to pay our salaries now,” he boasted.

That the ministry and all its oversights are basking in excellence is not circumstantial, the achievements are planned and well-focused, it was deliberate, planned and at the end of the, applauded by all and sundry.

Before now, traditional institutions were reduced to almost common men with virtual loss of interest in the institution that was then regarded as position for loafers.

The situation however changed at the birth of this government that has judiciously appreciated the traditional “lieutenants”. Recently, they were upgraded with their remuneration increased to appreciable level.

It is obvious that the commissioner is a round peg in a round hole having served in various capacities at both local, national (serving) state levels.

Several goals amassed by this government at the third-tier level is well-concurred by this enigmatic grassroot politician who recalled with smiles: “I was Financial Secretary of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON); I was deputy national president Association of ALGON; I was once president ALGON.”

To some extent, LGs in Gombe State enjoy near-total autonomy as confirmed by Jalo: “to larger extent, our local governments enjoy financial autonomy, we strictly adhere to President Buhari’s executive order that LGs be given autonomy and because that, we were able to operate separate account between state and LGs. By this, everybody is directly autonomous, no single LG money will miss, not again. They have every right to utilise their resources as they wish and desire.”

Jalo, a compliant administrator in displaying to the world, the financial and administrative autonomous enjoyed by local governments under the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya recently showed the world the new move by the state to engage a consultant to computerise the financial data of each 11 LGs into one compendium for easier access and control.

The local government automated accounting system gulped N253 million and expected to place the state among its counterparts in the world as computerised financial compliant to secure accountability and transparency.

“We are in a virtual technology age so there is the need for us to ensure that financial activities are automated. It will give us efficiency and accountability,” he explained at a recent press conference in his office.

Jalo’s career mission is to lead and transform public and private sector organisation to reach their optimum potentials “based on my experience over the years of service in those sectors,” he stated.

An alumnus of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi where he bagged MBA Financial Management between 2002-2005 having gotten B.Ed in Business Education at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 2000 after his NCE in Business Education at Federal College of Education Technical (FCE-T) in 1993.

Between 2014-2018, a loyal and team player Jalo was elected national youth leader of APC; member National Working Committee, responsible for the day to day running of the party.

He tirelessly mobilised the youths on behalf of the party as well as organise program that would endear them to the party in conjunction with zonal and state youth leaders.

For a year (2014-2015) he was the Director Youth Mobilisation of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, mobilising the youths to vote for APC presidential candidate (Buhari) in 2015 general election.

During his tenure as the elected President Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in 2010 Jalo led the umbrella body of 774 Elected Local Government chairmen in Nigeria to fight for rights and privileges of members, to also interface with similar bodies like governors’ forum, Staff Employee Association and other sister organisations in Africa and across the globe.

Worthy of mention is his brief stint at the SIEC when appointed as secretary between 2003-2004. He performed to the applause of other appointed and career staff of the commission.

As the administrative head of the commission, he prepared and document records of meetings; prepared election budgets and for approval, and ensure proper safekeeping of materials as well as supervised distribution of materials during elections.

Much ado about his experience in political circle having served in various capacities, Jalo also has appreciable years of experience in the private sector that cut across banking and privately owned investments. It is on record that between 2008-2010, he was the Director Urban Development Bank where he oversaw the running of affairs of the bank by granting approvals on request emanating from various departments and source for capital investments and borrowing plans.

He was a Member Executive bureau United Cities and Local Government of Africa 2008-2010 (UCLGA) Rabat, Morocco; Member World Council United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) Barcelona Spain 2008-2010; Board member Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) 2008-2010 and Member presidential committee on health-related issues in 2005.

Appreciated for his numerous service and acumen, Jalo earned and won many medals from traditional institutions including: Gado Da Masun Gombe; SarkinDawakin Akko; MasunKaltungo and WakilinWajenDadiya.

Others are: SarkinGabas Din Yamaltu; FatikanDukku; SarkinTafarkinDukku, Nafada and Magajin Mallam Waja.

Aside the traditional recognition, Jalo has to his credit his nomination among the best performing Local Government chairmen by PDP National Grassroots Forum in 2009; he was also nominated among most accomplished and most performing local govt chairmen by senate committee on states and Local Government in 2008.

He was awarded the ambassador of youths by National youths Council of Nigeria in 2008; clinched the award of Excellence by Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (2008); award of Excellence by Arewa Youth Consultative Forum also in 2008 and got the award of best performing chairman by House Committee on States and LGs (2009.)

His official experience in various capacities must have informed his astuteness and vibrancy in all given assignments as the opportunities to serve his people have taken him far and wide the globe.

He attended Commonwealth and LG Chairmen conference in Scotland, (May 2005); attended United Cities and LG of Africa meeting in South Africa, (July 2005) and attended World Sister Cities Conference in Washington DC, USA (June 2006).

He led a Nigerian delegation to Commonwealth LG Forum conference in Nassau, Bahamas (2009); attended United Cities and LG (world body) conference in Istanbul, Turkey in December 2009.

He attended United Cities and LG of Africa conference in Rabat, Morocco, Morocco (November 2009;) attended World Press Conference for Africities Conference in Paris, France (2009); Co-chairman Reconciliatory Committee meeting United cites and LG of Africa in London, UK, (2010) and attended United Cities and LG General Assembly meeting in Guangzhou, China in 2010.

Jalo, who loves reading and travelling also attended Commonwealth LG Forum Board Meeting in Gaborone, in Botswana; and another Africities conference in Marrakech, Morocco 2009.

If it’s all about dedication and focus, patriotism, loyalty and service to uplift his people, Jalo, the embodiment of all the desires has always been found readily armed to the teeth.

.Alhaji Aramide is a journalist in Gombe

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