GOVERNOR of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, lamented that his administration inherited the sum of N27bn naira in pension arrears from his predecessors.
Governor Mohammed, made this assertion in his welcome address to the members of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), who paid him a courtesy visit last Friday to mark the 2021 Christmas celebration.
He explained that despite all the challenges, pensioners were now getting their entitlements ‘as and when due’ stressing that, “Unless we can free resources, we won’t be able to employ people. We have a prevalence of ghost workers and we are working very hard to make sure we free resources in our personnel emolument within the nominal rolls that have been bastardized.
He added that “even though we got Paris club funds, we got bailout money; we were not able to settle all that.
The Governor also, told the members that, his administration had realized the sum of N500 million naira as a result of the ongoing blocking of leakages and sanitization of government payrolls of ghost workers in the state.
He also revealed that no more than 2000 youth had been slated for selection with ‘equity and justice’ to be trained in agriculture adding that “right now we are doing a program where we are selecting about 2000 youths to go for agricultural training and they are selected across the 20 local governments with equity and Justice.
He maintained that the second batch has finished a course in Abuja and they will be going in succession, we intend to spend a lot of money and to make them look inward to explore their potentials,” he said. Speaking earlier. Rev. Joshua Maina, Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State Chapter, appreciated the governor for his efforts in handling the Covid -19 pandemic in the state.
“People said he set the pace and others have been following. Our ability to record low mortality is borne out of nothing but sheer sincerity and commitment in handling this pandemic.
I want to assure you that the work you have done, you have not done it for humanity, you have done it for God and he is going to reward you in due course.” He said.
Gamawa Council Chairman debunks media report
EXECUTIVE Chairman of Gamawa Local Government Council in Bauchi State, Hon. Babayo Ahmed Gamawa has debunked a report published in a media recently indicating an upsurge of insecurity in northern part of the state, and Gamawa in particular.
He described the report published by a vernacular newspaper as baseless that has no any iota of truth whatsoever, stressing that there was nothing like influx of Fulani herdsmen from Niger Republic or any other neighboring country as it made people to believe.
“Such a rare but normal misunderstanding between home based farmers and Fulani cattle readers should not be misconstrued to be reported in the media to attract state or national discourse, whereas even the Gamawa Local Government Council was not officially aware of the happening”’ Ahmed said.
Ahmed also wondered how a former chairman of Gamawa Local Government Council and a one-time legislator in the state could grant an interview to a media without necessarily informing the local authorities about such happening which is normal but rare. Hon. Babayo Ahmed in a chat with newsmen in Bauchi recently stated that, who sought the person that granted the interview may have hidden agenda to satisfy his whims and caprices, should as a traditional title holder in Gamawa be able to address the issue amicably in interest of peace, rather than throwing it to the public gallery to gain popularity.
Ahmed, who hinged security of lives and properties as his greatest achievement during the past 13 months of stewardship of Gamawa Local Government Council, said, “If His Royal Highness the Emir of Katagum could ask other local authorities to emulate Gamawa in maintenance of security, who else can he/she claim insecurity in the area?
He appealed to the people, especially stakeholders in Gamawa Local Government Area to be cautious of their utterances, particularly when talking to the press, stressing that those who built glass houses should not engage in game of throwing stones the chairman commended the support his council is receiving from people of Gamawa, and urged the state government not to relent in the provision of social amenities to the rural communities so as to curtail rural urban drift ignited by abject poverty.
