In an unprecedented gesture of generosity, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has approved the distribution of N500m to Gombe traders as support grants to various business groups to help them rebuild their businesses.
The funds which are under the Go-Cares Gombe State intervention programme is also intended to help the traders overcome the effect of recession occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The governor in a similar gesture also supported the Gombe State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with 50 vehicles to enhance their operations.
This gesture, our correspondent reports, has moved the members of the NURTW, in the state to unanimously endorse the Governor for a second term owing to his achievements and sterling leadership.
Speaking at the flag- off ceremony for the Go Cares grants, the Governor said, his administration is fully committed to addressing socio-economic challenges affecting the people of the state which was the idea behind the domestication of the Nigerian Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, NG-CARES of the Federal Government in Gombe State.
He said more than 8.5 billion Naira was budgeted to support 288,700 households, farmers, small scale businesses across the nooks and crannies of the state to mitigate and cushion the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic which wreaked havoc on socio-economic life of communities world over.
He said, since the flag-off of the programme in July last year, GO-CARES spent about 3.4 billion Naira through various interventions and relief packages reaching thousands of vulnerable families and businesses.
“So far, 147,666 indigenes of Gombe State have benefitted from the GO-CARES and many more will come onboard as many packages are underway,” he noted.
The governor presented a cheque of 500 million Naira to the representatives of over 100 business communities, assuring that the distribution starts immediately.
“Ours is a grant, not a loan, and the allocation of this huge sum is a proof of how important we take businesses owing to the role they play in the growth and development of our dear state”.
For the NURTW who organized a town hall meeting in solidarity with the Governor’s second term bid at the union’s secretariat, Governor Inuwa Yahaya promised to procure additional 50 vehicles to enhance their operations in the state.
The Gombe State Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala, explained that the rally had representation from 43 branches of the union operating across the 11 LGAs of the state.
He assured the governor of their readiness to vote for him come Saturday, March 11 to ensure the continuity of the good legacies of his administration. He pointed out that, “We are not after anything but the development of our dear state”.
The Chairman used the occasion to applaud some of the policies, projects and programmes of the APC led administration in the state geared towards enhancing socio-economic activities of the citizenry.
He said, “the procurement of 80 new buses to Gombe State Transport Service by the Inuwa-led administration has helped our union to increase its capacity as one of the largest employers of labour in the state.
He also expressed appreciation to the governor for completing the hitherto abandoned multi-billion-naira Gombe Mega Motor Park which was meant for the members of the union to use.
He said, “Despite being abandoned by the previous administration, work is now almost 100%; the project is just awaiting commissioning. We are grateful to your excellency”.
Responding, Governor Inuwa expressed delight over the solidarity of the union, describing it as an attestation to the good relationship and mutual understanding between them and his government.
He immediately promised to procure 50 vehicles of different categories to support their operations in the state and beyond.
In his words, “We heard your pleas and have promised to procure additional 50 vehicles for you. We will work with you in determining the brand and quality of the vehicles to be procured to make sure that they suit your taste”.
The governor also announced that, “in addition to the 10 million Naira already allotted to the union, there is also 2.750 million Naira cash for the members to take care of logistics and other related expenses”.
