Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng
By Sammeni Kamsobbi
Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has called for smarter and innovative approaches to public spending in line with Nigeria’s current revenue realities.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa George Farauta, Governor Fintiri made the call while addressing participants at the 2025 Ministerial Performance Management Retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Performance Management for Fiscal Stability,” was held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Yola and drew management staff and stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Finance to deliberate on policy alignment, past achievements, and strategies for future fiscal resilience.
Governor Fintiri expressed appreciation for the choice of Yola as the venue. “On behalf of the government and people of Adamawa State, I warmly welcome you to Yola. We consider it a great honour to host this important national retreat. Your presence here goes beyond formality it is an opportunity to engage with governance from the sub national level and experience the hospitality that defines our state.”
Governor Fintiri emphasized the importance of consistent retreats as a hallmark of any serious organization noting that such gatherings offer a platform for reflection, stock taking, performance assessment, and forward looking strategy formulation.
He however expressed concern over the country’s current economic outlook, describing macroeconomic indicators as “bleak,” with developmental challenges becoming increasingly daunting.
“There’s a growing mismatch between our expanding expenditure demands and the reality of our revenue inflows,” he noted. “This calls for innovative financial reengineering. The burden lies squarely on your ministry as custodians of the public purse to continuously brainstorm and implement strategic solutions that will not only stabilize but strengthen our economic indicators.”
The governor urged participants to see the retreat as a critical opportunity to chart a more responsive and resilient fiscal path for the country, rooted in innovation and efficiency.
In his address, the Federal Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and building a results driven civil service.
He called for the adoption of innovative practices and the strengthening of institutional capacity, stressing that these are essential for long-term resilience and effective governance.
Commending Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his impressive developmental achievements, Edun applauded the governor’s dedication and urged him to continue championing impactful reforms at the state level.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, mni, described the theme of the retreat as both timely and significant.
She highlighted the growing pressures of limited resources, rising public expectations, and the urgent need for greater efficiency in governance factors that make such deliberations more critical than ever.
Jafiya also underscored the importance of performance management, noting its dual role in driving organizational success and supporting individual career growth within the civil service.
