By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Gombe State Government has directed its Inspectorate, Monitoring and Evaluation Department to begin monthly inspections and reporting on the activities of the state’s 11 local government councils, replacing the quarterly reporting system to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Barr. Sani Ahmed Haruna, announced the directive during his maiden meeting with staff of the department.
He said the new arrangement would provide the ministry with regular updates on the performance of local government councils, enable early detection of challenges and ensure prompt government intervention where necessary.
Haruna also ordered the department to improve its documentation and record-keeping system to ensure that inspection findings are properly documented for planning, policy implementation and decision-making.
Describing the Inspectorate, Monitoring and Evaluation Department as the backbone of the ministry, the commissioner said nearly 70 per cent of the ministry’s responsibilities fall within its mandate, making its efficiency critical to effective local government administration.
He urged members of staff to discharge their duties with professionalism, diligence and integrity, stressing that regular monitoring and timely reporting are key to promoting transparency, accountability and good governance at the grassroots.
“Monthly reports will provide the ministry with current information on developments across the local government councils and enable us to respond swiftly to emerging issues,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the commissioner’s open-door leadership style would strengthen teamwork and improve communication within the ministry.
Also speaking, the Director of Local Government, Alhaji Musa Idi Batari, outlined the department’s responsibilities, which include inspecting local government councils, monitoring projects and programmes, evaluating performance and ensuring compliance with government policies and regulations.
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