A civil society group, Exceptional Leadership and Integrity Promotion Initiative (ELIP-I), has called on the Jigawa State Government to adopt a smarter and more strategic approach to spending public funds—especially the ₦3 billion proposed for economic development.

In a statement signed by ELIP-I Executive Director, Isah Mustapha, the group expressed concern over Jigawa’s continued reliance on federal allocations and limited internal revenue from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE). They described this model as unsustainable for long-term growth.

“To truly break free from dependency, the government must invest in sectors that can generate lasting income and jobs for the people,” Mustapha said.

ELIP-I suggested that the ₦3 billion should be channeled into revenue-generating sectors such as:

Agro-processing and industrial hubs

Mechanized commercial farming

Livestock market upgrades

Transport parks and terminals in busy areas

Tourism development

Property tax reform

ICT and innovation centres

The group stressed that investing in these areas would not only boost the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) but also reduce poverty and create employment for thousands of residents.

ELIP-I also raised concerns over the recent approval of ₦500 million for "extra lessons" for foreign students, questioning the logic behind such spending at a time when public schools in Jigawa lack basic infrastructure and qualified teachers.

“This raises serious questions about priorities. How can we justify this when many schools at home are in poor condition?” the group asked.

The organization urged the State Executive Council to pause and evaluate spending decisions critically to ensure public funds are used in ways that truly benefit the people and build a stronger economy for future generations.