LEADERSHIP Governor of the Year 2026: Comrade Nasir Idris

For demonstrating visionary and people-oriented leadership and transforming Kebbi State through infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, civil service reforms, women’s empowerment and urban renewal since assuming office in 2023, Nasir Idris is the Governor of the Year 2026.

Over the past three years, the administration of Comrade Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has pursued an ambitious development programme to improve people’s welfare and transform Kebbi State across critical sectors. Across infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, workers’ welfare, urban renewal and social development, the administration has implemented measures to strengthen public institutions, stimulate economic activity and improve citizens’ quality of life.

One of the most visible aspects of the administration’s development drive is its investment in infrastructure and urban renewal. Major road construction and rehabilitation projects, drainage systems, the installation of solar-powered streetlights, and the beautification of public spaces have transformed the physical appearance of Birnin Kebbi and several other towns. The completion of the ultra-modern Bola Ahmed Tinubu Secretariat Complex at Gwadangaji, together with the revival of the Kebbi State Transport Authority with 50 new buses, reflects the administration’s efforts to improve public service delivery and transport. The construction of a modern Central Motor Park in Birnin Kebbi has also enhanced commercial and transport activities.

In the healthcare sector, Governor Idris has emphasised improving access to quality, affordable medical services. General hospitals, primary healthcare centres and dispensaries have been revitalised and upgraded, and thousands of vulnerable citizens have benefited from enrolment in the state health insurance scheme and other interventions supported by development partnerships. To address workforce gaps, the administration has recruited more than 2,000 health workers, including doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. Investments in medical equipment, healthcare facilities and ambulances have also been made to strengthen service delivery and restore public confidence in government-owned health institutions.

Workers’ welfare and civil service reforms have remained equally central to the administration’s governance agenda. The government has maintained regular salary payments and addressed outstanding liabilities for pensions, gratuities, death benefits and other entitlements inherited from previous administrations. The implementation of the ₦75,000 minimum wage, together with capacity-building programmes and other welfare initiatives, has demonstrated the administration’s recognition of the importance of a motivated and efficient workforce. The recruitment of more than 2,000 teachers, the provision of subsidised housing for workers and the elimination of casualisation in the civil service are further measures to promote dignity, job security and improved productivity.

As a former classroom teacher, Governor Idris has also placed a strong focus on education. Measures such as extending teachers’ retirement age and years of service, recruiting qualified teachers on merit, renovating schools, and providing furniture have contributed to efforts to improve the learning environment. The administration has also continued to pay major examination fees, including WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS, while increasing feeding allocations for boarding schools. Mega schools with academic and vocational components are also being developed in major emirates as part of a broader effort to expand access to quality education and equip young people with relevant skills.

Agriculture, a major pillar of Kebbi State’s economy, has attracted significant attention through programmes that support farmers and strengthen food security. Under the Kauran Gwandu Agricultural Development Agenda, fertilisers, improved seeds and agricultural chemicals have been distributed to farmers. The administration has also promoted mechanisation and irrigation through initiatives such as converting petrol-powered water pumps to LPG-powered systems and distributing solar-powered irrigation pumps. Rural road construction has sought to connect farming communities with markets and reduce post-harvest losses. At the same time, the Residual Moisture Crop Production initiative has turned flood-affected areas into productive agricultural zones.

Security has remained a critical priority, particularly in communities affected by banditry and other forms of criminal activity. The administration strengthened collaboration with security agencies, traditional institutions, vigilante groups and local hunters by providing operational vehicles, motorcycles, logistics and other support. More than 100 patrol Hilux vehicles were deployed to support joint security operations, while thousands of vigilantes received training, empowerment and operational support. These interventions have improved surveillance and security in affected areas, enabling many farmers to gradually return to their farmlands and allowing communities to experience greater stability.

The administration has also pursued programmes targeting women, young people, children and vulnerable groups through skills acquisition, vocational training, business support and other social welfare interventions. Support for orphans and vulnerable children, the renovation of welfare institutions and the continuation of the annual mass wedding programme underscore the government’s emphasis on social inclusion and assistance for disadvantaged citizens.

Within three years, the Nasir Idris administration has built a record across several sectors of governance. While challenges and development needs remain, the interventions highlighted in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, workers’ welfare and social development reflect a sustained commitment to people-oriented governance and to the transformation of Kebbi State. The administration’s broader activities in youth development, sports, commerce, water resources, rural development, culture and other sectors further demonstrate the scope of its development agenda.

Indeed, under the leadership of Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, Kebbi State, has continued on a path of renewal, driven by infrastructure development, institutional reforms and programmes designed to improve the welfare and prosperity of its people.