By Sam Zanunga
Since the creation of Taraba State from the old Gongola on 27th August 1991 and christened "nature's gift to the nation" due to the abundant food and natural resources as well as wildlife in the state, a lot cannot be said about employment nor the improved standard living and quality of life that citizens enjoy under the rescue administration.
The creation brought about the need to have more numbers in the state civil service. Gradually it became into a new haven for employment as job seekers trooped in their numbers into Jalingo in search of employment while indigenous staff based in Yola transfered their services back home.
Leaders come and go but of course every individual has his own calling, methods and style. In retrospect the state has had its own share of good and God fearing leaders to have governed and currently governing the state. JSD(Jolly, Suntai and Darius)
Every one of them gave and still doing their best to keep the state safe and secure.
I sometimes wonder why there's so much agitation in the state during the second term of all the former duly elected leaders that have occupied and still occupying the office of the executive Governor of the Taraba State.
It beats my imagination when I discovered that the agitations most often comes from stereotypes and beliefs which have left the state at the mercy of these mindsets that have no positive impact on society.
They care less about what governance is not to say the least about those that perceive it as an avenue to plunder state resources, exercise power, influence and worst case to oppress and intimidate above all to go after perceived 'enemies'.
Today Taraba is blessed with a detribalized citizen whose primary objective is to improve the quality of life and improve the standard of living of citizens.
Here is a leader who exudes humility in spite of his personal accomplishments through a penchant for excellence, dedication and hardwork.
He met a civil service that was in shambles. Like a caring father that he is he took a personal responsibility to see that sanity and standards are injected into the spine of the state and ensure the precedence being set is sustainable.
No sooner had he been sworn into office than marching orders were issued to reinvigorate the system due to the carnage and rot.
The war against ghost workers uncovered the wicked and malicious practices of citizens who occupied certain offices and brazenly siphoned millions of naira in the name of none existent workers in their hundreds. He fought doggedly and conquered the demonic style of the past.
The over bloated number of casual staff in ministries, agencies and parastatals of government was an embarrassment to the government of Darius Ishaku.
To stem the tide of age and document falsification in order to remain in service by old hands at the detriment of casual staff was pain too much for some to bear. Many died in the long wait for this rescue captain to emerge and he did it in grand style.
After the much expected gestation period for sanitizing the system was over came the good news that casual staff in all parastatals of government will be absorbed into civil service a very melodious tune for folks that have been hanging in for decades. The process was meticulously handled by the man DDI himself.
Today and for the very first time, Taraba can boast that under the leadership of Mr Governor, citizens have been employed through best practices and appointment letters issued to the deserving. This was not the norm previously.
To maze through the rescue mission matra from inception, I recall that Governor Ishaku went about and painstakingly revived the education sector through the employment of teachers and with quality training provided for those still in the classroom in a bid to bosst the learning and teaching standards a rare feat that has catapulted the state from the position of an education backward state to the enviable height of the number one in the entire northeast and northern Nigeria in WAEC examinations.
He single handedly gave a lease of life to companies that were already comatose and opened the doors for employment.
The kakara Hydro plant as well as the highland tea in the mambilla Plateau received a boost as more hands were added to the employment roaster.
The rehabilitation of hospitals across the state and employment of qualified and experienced medical professionals is an indication of man with a large heart.
Water supply and electricity in the state has improved significantly and in all of these sectors citizens have been gainfully employed every now and then thereby decreasing the unemployment figure.
The oil mill in Baissa is another clear example of the employment benefits he has made possible for tarabans.
Training and employment for young tarabans in the water sector can attest to the premium version Taraba is almost metamorphing into.
These are very bold steps the Governor has taken as today more. breadwinners have been added to the growing numbers in the state.
To say the least, Taraba is in for exciting times under this administration.
Sometimes, the legacies leaders leave behind may not be physical infrastructures but the quality of life and standard of living they have built and is improved upon will surely outlive them.
It now behooves on citizens regardless of tribe, religion and political party affiliation to rally round and support a man who means well for all and sundry . Without a doubt the title of "Employment Therapist" is befitting on DDI.
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