By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar

The Gombe State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning has declared open a five-day technical workshop aimed at developing the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Sector Strategies (MTSS).

The event, organized in collaboration with UNICEF, seeks to promote transparency, accountability, and the adoption of performance-based budgeting across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Commissioner, speaking at the opening ceremony in Gombe, expressed appreciation to Almighty Allah and acknowledged UNICEF Nigeria for providing technical and financial support for the workshop.

He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in approving the MTSS process, describing it as a key component in linking the Ten-Year Development Plan (DEVAGOM 2021–2030) with the state’s budgeting framework.

He noted that the state is adopting Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB) beginning in 2026.

According to him, the approach is aimed at enhancing service delivery by aligning budget allocations with measurable outcomes and performance indicators.

He urged participants to use the workshop to improve their knowledge on project selection, planning, and data-driven decision-making to ensure maximum value from public spending.

In a goodwill message, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Social Policy Specialist, Yusuf Auta, emphasized the importance of MTSS as a bridge between the state’s long-term development plan and annual budgets.

He explained that projects and interventions are clearly outlined in the MTSS to facilitate effective implementation and funding through annual budgets.

Auta noted that UNICEF has a strong interest in sectors such as education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, and social protection. He highlighted UNICEF’s continued support for Gombe State, including the development of its social protection policy and strategies across key sectors that impact the well-being of women and children.

He stated that UNICEF’s involvement goes beyond technical support, playing a strategic role in capacity building, policy formulation, and ensuring that the priorities of vulnerable groups particularly women and children are mainstreamed into the planning and budgeting process.

He encouraged participants to commit fully to the workshop to refine the strategy documents, ensuring sustainable implementation of government programs and initiatives over time.

By Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan

In a bid to strengthen youth engagement and promote grassroots development, Gombe Local Government Council has restated its unwavering commitment to supporting the Youth O’Clock Advancement Association Nigeria in advancing the welfare of young people across the local government, Gombe State, and the country at large.

The Executive Chairman of Gombe Local Government and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Gombe State Chapter, Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna, made the pledge while receiving a delegation from the youth-led organization during an advocacy visit, unveiling new initiatives aimed at peacebuilding, tree planting, and youth empowerment.

According to Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna, the youth population remains the backbone of any meaningful and sustainable societal development, stressing the need for consistent support to visionary youth-focused organizations like Youth O’Clock Nigeria.

While applauding Youth O’Clock Nigeria for its transformative initiatives geared toward youth empowerment, the Chairman encouraged the leadership of the movement to stay resolute, committed, and intensify efforts in implementing youth-centered development programmes to fully realize its mandate.

He further reaffirmed his administration’s support for any initiative that promotes genuine development within his local government area and Gombe State as a whole.

Earlier, the Gombe State Coordinator of Youth O’Clock Nigeria, Comrade Abdulazeez Sani Labaran, said the purpose of the visit was to formally present the mission and vision of the movement to the ALGON Chairman and highlight past projects executed by the association.

Labaran, who also serves as the Coordinator of the 36 State Coordinators of Youth O’Clock Nigeria, emphasized the group’s readiness to partner with government and other critical stakeholders in promoting peace and empowering the youth.

He said the movement is committed to driving lasting change through strategic interventions in peace and security, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and youth empowerment initiatives.

Mr. Labaran also unveiled the association’s 2025 flagship project to plant 4,500 trees across the three senatorial districts of Gombe State, beginning in May ending.

He also disclosed plans for a series of town hall meetings aimed at bolstering support for conflict resolution, particularly between farmers and herders and amplifying government peacebuilding efforts.

In a related development, the youth leader revealed that over 3,000 youths from across the state will converge at the Emir’s Palace on August 12, in commemoration of International Youth Day, to submit a charter of demands and later proceed to the Government House to commend Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for youth inclusiveness in governance and push for greater commitments.

Members of the delegation included the Deputy Coordinator Maryam Adamu, Assistant Secretary Zainab Abdu Jibir, Head of Advocacy Asma’u Umar Bayu, and Media and Publicity Committee members, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan and Mustapha Danyarwa.

By Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan

The Gombe State office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project has reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with Youth O’clock Advancement Association Nigeria in promoting peace and preventing conflicts within the livestock sector, to drive inclusive growth across the state and beyond.

State Project Coordinator, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar, made this known while receiving a delegation from the organization on an advocacy visit.

He stressed that resolving farmers-herders conflicts remains a core focus of L-PRES, alongside addressing other triggers such as encroachment on grazing reserves, blocked cattle routes, and acute water scarcity.

Professor Abubakar noted that L-PRES has so far re-mapped and re-demarcated eight gazetted grazing reserves and 37 cattle routes, earning accolades from development partners, including the World Bank.

He also revealed that over 100 solar-powered boreholes have been constructed, while key earth dams have been designed to ease water access along grazing corridors, which reduce migratory clashes and retained pastoralists within the state.

He welcomed Youth O’clock Nigeria’s interest in partnership and directed relevant officers to work with the Association on a framework for joint interventions.

He added that the collaboration aligns with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s vision for peace, sustainability, and inclusive governance.

Earlier, Gombe State Coordinator of Youth O’clock Nigeria, Comrade Abdulazeez Sani Labaran, said the visit aimed to present the group’s peacebuilding and climate action vision.

He announced the 2025 flagship initiative to plant 4,500 trees across the three senatorial zones, starting from May, and disclosed plans for town hall meetings that will rally support for conflict resolution and amplify the government’s Peacebuilding efforts.

The youth leader appealed for L-PRES’s support, highlighting the project’s technical expertise and shared commitment to community resilience and environmental sustainability.

In a related development, the group visited the Executive Secretary of Gombe State Environmental Sanitation and Protection Agency (GOSEPA), Dr. Auwal Baba Jada, where Comrade Labaran advocated for a review of existing environmental laws and urged the state government to boost the agency’s funding to strengthen its mandate of promoting environmental hygiene and ensuring public compliance with regulations.

He also sought GOSEPA’s collaboration on town hall meetings, environmental campaigns, and health-focused programs across the state.

In response, Dr. Jada commended the organization’s efforts and pledged GOSEPA’s support for initiatives that promote a cleaner, safer, and healthier Gombe.