By Ahmad Umar
Great number of employment opportunities have been created under the Social Investment Programme in Gombe State, Northeast of the country contrary to claims in certain quarters that the programme is neithe making any impact in the state nor the country at large
The State Ambassador of N-Power, Mu’awuya Abdulhamid who was reacting to the claim at a news briefing in Gombe said those with such negative notion about the program including a serving Senator from the State were doing so out of ignorance.
“Gombe State currently is enjoying the services of over 2,900 beneficiaries of N-power providing services in the health, agro allied and Education sectors respectively.
“Our records also shows that a total of 548 were from Gombe central, that is the Senator Goje’s constituency, 594 Gombe South and 1,692 Gombe north and out of the 446 beneficiaries from Akko local government area 30 percent are from his electoral ward and over 7,000 Gombe indigenes were successful in the second batch and they were verified, awaiting placement and postings, added.
“I want to bring to the notice of the senator that 2,809 food vendors are providing nutritious meals to about 286,000 pupils in the state.
“In his senatorial zone, 162 food vendors have being verified to provide 14,342 pupils with meals daily, the senator’s local government inclusive which happens to have the highest number of vendors and pupils in the State”.
He said that Yamaltu/Deba Local Government, in the Senator’s constituency, happens to be amongst the three pilot LGAs for the conditional cash transfer programme.
Abdulhamid also said that more than 200 cooperative groups who applied for the Government Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Program (GEEP) and awaiting disbursements from Bank of Industry are from the Central senatorial district.
Abdulhamid who said he was speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries appealed to the National Assembly to support the programme by approving more funds for its sustenance so as to alleviate poverty and improve the socio-economic development of the country.
“We pray that the National Assembly will monitor the success of the programme and appropriate more funds in order to maintain the tempo of the programme and support President Muhammadu Buhari’s focus on poverty alleviation and socio-economic development”, he stated.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/03/29/news/nigeria-gombe-govt-calls-for-collaborative-efforts-in-tackling-youth-restiveness/