4
Inherited problems
2
Fixed
2
Partial progress
Fixed
Partial progress
Partial
The problem
Governor Inuwa Yahaya's transition committee claimed the state inherited a debt profile of N110 billion from the PDP administration of Ibrahim Dankwambo. Dankwambo denied this, and DMO/NBS records showed domestic debt at N63.3 billion and external debt at $37.4 million (approximately N11.5 billion), totalling roughly N74.8 billion as of December 2018.
What was done
The administration paid approximately N33 billion of the inherited debt within four years. By July 2023, the state had also attracted N26 billion through the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme. Gombe ranked fourth nationally in public financial management. Domestic debt stood at N70.8 billion by Q1 2024 per DMO records.
Fixed
The problem
Retired civil and public servants were owed gratuities dating back to 2014, with a four-year backlog causing severe hardship for elderly retirees. The state's monthly wage bill was also a significant fiscal burden.
What was done
The administration approved and commenced systematic payment of the backlog. By November 2025, cumulative gratuity payments reached N33.826 billion, covering retirees from 2014 through 2023. The governor introduced a phased schedule to clear all arrears by 2027, with no pensioner reportedly owed allowances as of late 2025.
Partial
The problem
Schools lacked adequate classrooms and learning materials, with many pupils learning in substandard conditions. Health facilities were poorly equipped, and the state had only 13 technical/vocational schools with limited capacity.
What was done
The administration constructed and renovated 600 classrooms, upgraded five legacy secondary schools, established a teacher training center, and installed digital learning labs in 200 public schools. In health, 50 new PHCs were built (84% complete) and all 114 wards received functional PHCs. However, the doctor-patient ratio and specialist tertiary capacity remained below targets.
Fixed
The problem
Gombe State historically ranked among the lowest IGR generators in Nigeria, with monthly collections below N600 million in 2019. The economy was heavily dependent on federal statutory allocations and subsistence agriculture.
What was done
The administration implemented tax harmonization, automated revenue collection, and expanded the tax base. IGR grew to N40.8 billion annually by 2025 (nearly 500% increase). The state became #1 in Nigeria for Ease of Doing Business and attracted over N220 billion in investments. However, FAAC still constituted a significant portion of total revenue.