Gov Yahaya Swears In 24 Elected Gombe LGA, LCDA Chairmen

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has sworn in the 24 newly elected chairmen of local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs) in Gombe State.

The ceremony followed last Saturday’s local government elections, in which candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were declared winners of all the chairmanship seats in the state’s 11 LGAs and 13 LCDAs.

The new chairpersons are Abubakar Usman Barambu (Akko LGA), Garba Yakubu Wali (Akko West LCDA), Bello Suleiman (Akko North LCDA), Ibrahim Salisu (Balanga LGA), Ali Philip Jisimah (Balanga South LCDA), Mrs. Egla Idris (Billiri LGA), Yila Maidawa (Billiri West LCDA), Abubakar Adamu (Dukku LGA), Damina Sardauna (Dukku North LCDA), Ibrahim Adamu Cheldu (Funakaye LGA), and Mijinyawa Mohammed Tilde for Funakaye South LCDA.

Others are Abdullahi Bappa Garkuwa (Gombe LGA), Auwal Jauro Bappi (Gombe South LCDA), Silas B. Pharis (Kaltungo LGA), Dr. Barnabas Malle (Kaltungo East LCDA), Ibrahim Buba Makama (Kwami LGA), Sa’ad Abdulmumin (Kwami West LCDA), Babangida Adamu (Nafada LGA), Kasimu Ahmed Abdullahi (Nafada South LCDA), Modi Shelpidi (Shongom LGA), Dr. Sani James Barka (Pero/Shonge LCDA), Yunusa Yakubu (Yamaltu Deba LGA), Musa Alhassan Jagali (Yamaltu East LCDA), and Mohammed Ahmed Kunji (Yamaltu West LCDA).

Addressing the chairmen after administering the oath of office, Governor Yahaya charged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering responsive governance and accelerating development at the grassroots.

He reminded the new council leaders that local governments remain the closest tier of government to the people, with responsibility for delivering essential services such as primary healthcare, basic education, rural infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, agriculture and community development, while also playing a critical role in promoting grassroots security and peace-building.

The governor said the creation of the 13 LCDAs was designed to bring government closer to the people, improve service delivery and accelerate development in underserved communities, stressing that the reform had moved from policy to reality with the construction of modern headquarters, staff harmonisation and completion of administrative processes.

Yahaya also highlighted what he described as the financial turnaround of local governments under his administration, noting that councils which previously struggled with unpaid salaries, gratuities and poor service delivery are now financially stable and able to execute projects and meet their obligations.

The governor urged the chairmen to lead with integrity, humility, transparency and accountability, warning against placing personal interests above those of the people.