Governorship Candidates on the platform of the African Democratic Congress have outlined a 10-point development agenda for the Northwest, promising to tackle insecurity, rising living costs, unemployment, poor healthcare and educational challenges across the region.
The proposed agenda includes a N110,000 minimum wage for workers in ADC-led states, targeted intervention to reduce petrol costs, the establishment of 21 specialist hospitals, a regional security network and measures to improve agricultural production.
On workers’ welfare, the proposed ADC governorship Candidates plan to pay a minimum wage of N110,000 across the Northwest states under their control.
“Pay workers across ADC-led Northwest states a minimum wage of N110,000,” the governors’ agenda states, explaining that the policy would put more money in workers’ pockets and help wages keep pace with the rising cost of living.
The candidates also plan to support a targeted fuel subsidy aimed at reducing petrol prices, with the expectation that lower fuel costs would translate into reduced transportation expenses and ease pressure on household budgets.
On security, the ADC administration plans to establish a joint, technology-enabled security and rapid-response network covering the region’s 21 senatorial districts.
The initiative is expected to strengthen intelligence sharing, early warning systems and coordinated responses to security threats, particularly those that cross state boundaries.
The proposed healthcare plan includes the establishment of one specialist hospital in each of the 21 senatorial districts in the Northwest.
According to the agenda, the hospitals would bring specialist medical services closer to millions of residents and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances in search of advanced healthcare.
The proposed administration also plans an education emergency programme aimed at enrolling more children in school, recruiting and training teachers, and integrating Almajiri and Tsangaya education into the broader education system.
The agenda states that the education intervention would help reduce the number of out-of-school children while improving access to quality education across the region.
In agriculture, the ADC governors plan to create safe farming corridors by securing farming communities and rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure.
The measure is expected to enable farmers to return safely to their farms, increase food production and contribute to lower food prices.
The governors also propose a Northwest Youth Fund to provide dedicated financing for young entrepreneurs and businesses.
The fund, according to the agenda, would give young people greater access to capital to establish and expand businesses, while supporting job creation across the region.
Another component of the agenda is the expansion of vocational training, digital hubs and other skills development programmes aimed at preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and opportunities in the digital economy.
The ADC governors further propose the creation of a “One Northwest Market” to deepen economic integration among the seven states through shared infrastructure, investment and easier movement of goods and services.
The initiative is expected to expand markets for businesses, reduce barriers to commerce and attract more investment to the region.
As part of its accountability plan, the proposed ADC administrations would publish quarterly performance reports to enable citizens to monitor government activities and assess progress on campaign promises.
“Publish performance reports every three months,” the agenda states, adding that the reports would allow citizens to track what was promised, what had been delivered and hold their governments accountable.
The 10-point agenda, therefore, places emphasis on economic relief, workers’ welfare, security, healthcare, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, digital skills, regional integration and transparency in governance.
