Jigawa Commits N30 Billion To Fight Poverty

…As Speaker Launches N45 Million Empowerment Programne

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

As part of its efforts to fight poverty and enhance small scale businesses, the Jigawa state government has made available over N30 billion for the state assembly members as their constituency projects.

Under the new initiative, each of the 30- member assembly would be allocated certain amount of money to be shared to their constituencies as a means of boosting their local businesses. At least, 38, 250 individuals are expected to benefit from the latest empowerment initiative.

Governor Umar Namadi, who revealed this while launching the first phase of the initiative spearheaded by the Speaker of the assembly, Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin in Miga, gave the assurance that similar exercise would be replicated in the reaming 29 constituencies spread across the state.

During the occasion, over 2, 118 people received various sums of money as indicated below

About 1000 people received N 100,000 each; 150 people received the sum of N 50, 000 each; 150 people got N 30, 000 each; 250 people were given the sum of N 20,000 while 1368 people were given the sum of N 10,000 each.

Underscoring the significance of the initiative, the governor, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion said it was an indication that the lawmakers were closer to the constituencies and understood their problems.

He pledged the state government’ s commitment to continue to support them, noting that both legislature and executive were towards achieving the same goals of alleviating the suffering of the people especially at the grassroots.
.
According to him, “This initiative is a clear indication that the legislature under the speaker is closet to your people and therefore understand their problems and that is why you’re coming out with this kind of initiative because if your far from your people you will not be able to know their problems and therefore cannot come out with such solutions.

“Therefore, it is hoped and expectations that this is replicated in the remaining 29 constituencies spread across the state. The coming of this programne is timely considering the fact that we are expecting the Holy month of Ramadan which is very important in the Islamic calendar. Therefore it is my desire to see that the beneficiaries make adequate use of the resources.”

Dangyatin in his remark said the idea of offering the people of their constituencies was borne out of the realization that small scale businesses play pivotal role in sustaining the rural people’s business.

He said though the lawmakers have been carrying out constituency projects, the latest one was unique since it touches the very raw nerves of their day- to- day business, unlike the the other projects.

He thanked the state governor for acceding to their request to embark on the monetary empowerment as a means of touching their constituents lives directly.

According to him, “We’ve been doing constituency projects but this one under my leadership is unique. I led by members to you to plead with you to give us the opportunity to embark on this empowerment and because of the respect and cordial working relationship that we have you gave us the permission to do so.

“You did this because you know that were the direct representatives elected by the people to voice and represent their interest, so whatever we do we’ll come back to them.

” We are grateful for this show if respect and solidarity as demonstrated by your administration so far and be rest assured that we’ll continue to extend the same level of cooperation with your administration to move our dear state forward.”