Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has urged the media, civil society organisations, citizens and opposition parties to scrutinise government activities and hold public officials accountable.
Kefas made the call on Thursday in Jalingo while addressing journalists as part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of Taraba State.
The governor said the government should not be afraid of scrutiny, stressing that questioning those in authority was an essential part of democracy.
“Government should not fear scrutiny. The media must ask questions. Civil society must ask questions. Citizens must ask questions. The opposition has a constitutional responsibility to question government,” he said.
Kefas acknowledged that despite the progress recorded by the state since its creation, several challenges remained unresolved, adding that neither past nor present administrations could claim to have solved all the problems confronting the people.
He identified road infrastructure, access to potable water, electricity, education, healthcare, employment and security as some of the areas requiring continued government attention.
“There are roads requiring completion. There are communities still waiting for reliable water. There are places requiring electricity. Some schools and hospitals require further attention,” he said.
According to him, young people are still seeking employment, while families continue to face economic pressures and security remains an issue requiring constant vigilance.
The governor admitted that governments could make mistakes but said identified shortcomings must be promptly addressed by those entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
“Projects may encounter delays. Where that happens, we must identify the cause and push implementation,” he stated.
Kefas said his administration inherited significant challenges when it assumed office in 2023 but maintained that such challenges could not be used as an excuse for failure.
“Whatever we inherited cannot remain an excuse for failure. It is a challenge to give our people a better direction,” he said.
He explained that his administration had focused on strengthening systems and institutions and developing frameworks capable of supporting accelerated and measurable development across the state.
“We are building systems. We are building institutions. We are developing frameworks. And the next phase must be about accelerated and measurable execution,” he said.
The governor further encouraged citizens to scrutinise government spending and projects constructively, noting that public scrutiny would help officials remain accountable in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He, however, urged critics to base their assessments on facts and evidence rather than assumptions.
“But criticism is most useful when it is based on facts,” Kefas said.
He encouraged citizens to visit government project sites, interact with host communities and examine available evidence before reaching conclusions about the performance of his administration.
“Government also has a responsibility to provide information. So I encourage our people to visit the projects. Speak to communities. Examine the evidence,” he said.
The governor urged citizens to acknowledge areas where the government had succeeded, point out failures and offer suggestions where improvements were needed.
“Where we succeed, acknowledge it; where we fail, tell us. Where something can be improved, propose a better way.
“That is how democracy becomes useful to society,” Kefas said.
‘Where we fail, tell us’ – Kefas urges Taraba residents, media, civil society