COVID-19: Bauchi Seeks Alternate Revenue Sources for Post-Lockdown
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Due to the negative toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on world economy, the Bauchi State government has concluded plans to source for alternative revenue to ensure sustainability and continuity of act of governance and services delivery.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who stated this while receiving report of the State COVID-19 Economic Recovery Committee at the Government House Bauchi on Thursday, said that his administration cannot afford to fail the citizens of the state in an effort to make a difference.
Mohammed said that looking for alternative revenue is key in assisting him to continue with the execution of the developmental projects geared towards ensuring the advancement of the state.
While reviewing the report submitted to him by the Committee, the governor pledged to come up with the implementation framework to achieve the set objectives.
He further said; “We thank members of this committee for a very good report presented to me, we thanked Allah for the initiative. Already in Bauchi, we are deepening contact tracing, surveillance, sensitisation and we are not denying anything on COVID-19.
“As a leader, transparency will be my guiding principle. We must be open in all we do, we cannot afford to fail our people, we must pay salaries and other entitlements of both workers and retirees. Bauchi state is a civil service state. In my administration, I want the labour to have its integrity considering the total collapse of industries in our state.”
Mohammed, who said that the state cannot continue to depend on the federation account or assistance from multilateral organisations to exist, said he would delegate responsibility to members of his cabinet.
Mohammed further said; “I am ready to delegate any responsibility to members of my cabinet because of their pedigree in management. Yes, we need assistance from critical stakeholders but we must look inward to source for our revenue. My good people of Bauchi State, I assure you that you will have a sound sleep. We will make sure we satisfy you so that we can fulfill our campaign promises.”
While submitting the report, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa, who is the Chairman of the Committee, pledged the readiness of the committee to assist in ensuring the full implementation of the recommendations.
Gamawa said that the committee worked diligently in accordance with its terms of reference through the use of different methodologies including, stakeholder engagement, dialogue, and review of measures taken by other states.
He however regretted that, the negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic did not only affect the Health sector, but affected the economy of the world.
