- Says it’s free money for the ‘boys’
- Bauchi marginalised on COVID-19 support
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has described the Social Investment Programme (SIP) being implemented by the Federal Government as a conduit for Nigeria’s privileged few to brazenly steal public funds.
According to him, the programme has unfortunately been primed to aid and abet corruption by providing access to free money for the ‘boys’ in the President Mohammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
Governor Bala, who made the allegations while raising alarm over the non-existence of the SIP in Bauchi State, claimed that nothing has ever come to the State in form of the so-called investment programme.
He also complained of the State’s inability to get the required treatment in the distribution of COVID-19 assistance, saying the Bauchi State government is really at a loss to understand the reason for the obvious marginalisation by the Federal Government
Speaking while flagging off the State government’s Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) in Dambam Local Government Area of the state, the governor said while President Buhari-led administration may have introduced the programme with good intention, some critical stakeholders in the implementation process are denying the state its privilege to benefit from the initiative.
He, therefore, urged the President to set up a high powered committee to independently investigate the matter, stressing that such people-oriented programmes are a public right that should not be politicized.
On the State empowerment programme, Governor Bala said each of the 20 local government areas would benefit with N75 million items in an effort to create job opportunities for people from the grassroots.
In his remarks, former Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi praised the Governor for his political will in service to the state, observing that fair treatment of citizens is the panacea for reducing security challenges in the country.
He challenged the programme’s beneficiaries to use the items provided in a manner that will make them self-reliant and empowered.
So far, 10 out of the 20 local government areas have benefited from the initiative as the program was also launched in Misau Local Government Area.
