The Yobe State Government has declared that it has cleared the backlog of gratuities owing to state and local government pensioners by paying N15.4 billion in total.

Baba Wali, the State Government Secretary, made the revelation on Wednesday at a news conference in Damaturu to mark Governor Mai Mala Buni's six years in office.

According to Mr. Wali, the state and local governments are no longer obligated to any retiree in that regard after the gratuities were paid.

According to him, the Yobe State Government has strengthened the operational capability of various security agencies around the state by providing 500 motorbikes and 250 operational vehicles since 2019.

He claims that in addition to the government rehabilitating more than 300 patrol and specialist operational vehicles, the state also made it possible for more than 2,000 vigilantes, hunters, and hybrid force operators to join official security operations.

According to Mr. Wali, the state government supported over 35 capacity-building training programs for over 6,395 civil officials and employed at least 6,449 people throughout the evaluation period.

He revealed that the state government had either finished or was already building 500 miles of highways. Geidam-Bukarti, Bayamari-Yunusari, Yunusari-Kanamma, Damagum-Gubana, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Nguru-Bulanguwa, and Fika-Maluri are among the road developments.

Additionally, Mr. Wali disclosed that the N22 billion project will be turned over in the first quarter of 2026 by Triacta Nig Ltd., the contractor in charge of building three three-level flyovers and underpasses in Damaturu.

Six new model schools, seven mega schools, nine new government girls' day senior secondary schools, eight new coeducational government day senior secondary schools, and one more for males were all built by the state government, according to him.

More than 4,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel were hired and sent to different elementary and secondary schools, according to Mr. Wali, while 26,000 teachers received training or retraining to enhance their professional abilities.

Speaking on electrification, Mr Wali said, “In the area of electrification, 25 villages were electrified, while electricity was extended to over 200 different locations. We have also rehabilitated and strengthened Damaturu – Potiskum, Potiskum – Gashua, Gashua – Yunusari, Damaturu – Babbangida – Bayamari, Bayamari – Geidam – Bukarti, Bayamari – Yunusari, Potiskum – Kukar Gadu, and Maiduwa-Gadaka with 33KVA lines.”

He further stated, “We have also ensured provision of a 24-hour power supply to all the General Hospitals in the State as well as provision of generator sets to some Government establishments.”

Mr Wali said the state government has completed the construction of modern markets in Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru, Machina and Ngalda.

He added, “Furthermore, the construction of Potiskum Truck Transit Park and Mega Shopping Mall in Damaturu is also. Being the state with the largest production of high-quality sesame seeds, we have completed construction of four sesame seed processing factories in Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, and Machina towns to further boost commercial activities.”

Additionally, Mr. Wali revealed that the state government's public finance reforms allowed it to obtain substantial funds. "The state government, through its Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms, accessed about $10 million, equivalent to N3.8 billion grant after the valuation exercise of 2021 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) 1-9 and additional grant of $10 million, equivalent to N3.8 billion for meeting COVID-19 additional financing," he stated.

"The Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank have commended us on SFTAS and the Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP)," he continued. In a similar vein, our improvements, which align with global best practices in procurement, the Annual Auditor General's Report, and other budgetary reforms, earned us a $5 million grant from the World Bank.