Nigeria News Today: Nasir Idris Delivers Miraculous Harvest of Democracy Dividends in Kebbi
By Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi, for The Bureau News
The Bureau News reports that Kebbi State Governor Comrade Nasir Idris, popularly known as the Kauran Gwandu, has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most people-focused leaders, driving inclusive governance and widespread empowerment programmes across the state.
Since assuming office under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, Governor Idris — a renowned labour leader and educationist — has executed far-reaching socio-economic reforms aligned with his “Continuity and Urban Renewal Policy.” His tenure reflects the dividends of democracy promised to Kebbi citizens through transparency, infrastructure renewal, and grassroots empowerment.
Political observers told The Bureau News that the governor’s trajectory has restored faith in participatory democracy. Having lived and worked among the people for decades, Idris understands their daily struggles and aspirations, making his leadership approach both empathetic and practical.
Reviving Hope Through Economic and Social Empowerment
In one of his earliest interventions, Governor Idris cleared a backlog of ₦2.2 billion in unpaid severance gratuities owed to local councillors across 225 wards who served between 2007 and 2023. He also ordered the verification and payment of over ₦3 billion owed to small and medium-scale contractors dating back to 2014–2015, emphasizing that political affiliation should not hinder access to legitimate entitlements.
“The contractors should feel free to come forward for their payments regardless of party affiliation — it is your right,” Idris said during a press briefing covered by Reuters Africa.
Under his agricultural empowerment plan, the state distributed free fertilizers, herbicides, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and power tillers to farming communities. The programme has boosted productivity and created new income streams for thousands of rural farmers.
Women and Youth Empowerment Initiatives
Governor Idris’ social-investment strategy reached unprecedented scale in 2024 when his administration disbursed more than ₦6 billion to over 600,000 women and youths across Kebbi State. Beneficiaries used the grants to start or expand small businesses, reinforcing local commerce and household sustainability.
Education remains central to the governor’s reform blueprint. His government established four mega boarding secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Yauri, and Zuru, combining formal education with entrepreneurship training. He also declared free education for Kebbi indigenes from primary to university level — a policy lauded by parents and education advocates alike.
Humanitarian Policies and Infrastructure Renewal
Beyond infrastructure rehabilitation across key sectors, Idris has focused on uplifting lives through compassion-driven policies. Former councillors described his debt-payment gesture as “a clear demonstration of respect for human dignity,” while small contractors called it “a lifesaving decision.”
As the 2027 general elections approach, political stakeholders within the APC say his record of transparent governance, financial prudence, and inclusive development positions him strongly for reelection. Observers note that it would take “an irrational challenger, driven by desperation and money politics,” to derail his growing popularity in Kebbi State.
Nigeria News Today: The Nasir Idris Example in Democratic Governance
The Bureau News notes that Governor Idris’ administration embodies the principle that democracy must yield tangible benefits for citizens. His “home-grown governance” model — anchored on compassion, accountability, and service — continues to reshape Kebbi’s socio-economic landscape and stands as a model for sub-national governance in Nigeria.
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