Gov. approves N20,000 each to widows as business grant

chika ebuzor

December 7, 2015 7:14 AM

The governor said that the insurgency, which had ravaged the commercial viable zones of the state, had negatively affected the ability of the state to raise its internal revenue profile.

Gov. Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa has approved the disbursement of N20,000 each to widows in the state, to enable them start small businesses.

The governor disclosed this at a forum with some editors in Yola.

He said that the grant would be disbursed to the widows through the office of the wife of the governor.

‘’This is part of our concern for the plight of the vulnerable persons in the state.

‘’The insurgency, which affected some parts of the state, made some of the women to become widows.

‘’These categories of women must be assisted; must be protected; and must be cared for by the government.

’’We have identified some 46 widows in each of the local governments to benefit from the gesture,’’ he said.

Bindow also disclosed that the state government had set aside N500 million from its share of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividend for disbursement as loans to boost the growth of small businesses in the state.

He said that the loans would also be a resolving one and would not be allowed to be diverted for other purposes.

‘’We have also set aside another N300 million for disbursement as loans to boost small scale agric businesses in the state.

‘’The agric loan scheme will take off by January next year.

‘’I have also approved the engagement of 100 unemployed youths as sanitary officers in Yola, the state capital.

‘’Each of these youths will receive a monthly stipend of N10,000,’’ the governor said.

On the welfare of civil servants, the governor said that his administration had spent N7 billion to settle the outstanding arrears of salary and allowances owed the state’s civil servants by previous administrations.

He pledged not to joke with the welfare of the civil servants, adding that ensuring prompt payment of salaries and allowances of the civil servants was his top priority.

‘’You must appreciate that Adamawa is a civil service state; if you take care of the civil servants, you are automatically empowering the rest of the people, including traders in the state,’’ Bindow said.

Bindow, however, expressed concern over the reported cases of ghost workers in the various local government councils and promised to flush them out of the local government system.

‘’I have directed a census of the local government workers in the state because that is where the ghost workers thrive.

"I am expecting a report on the exercise very soon.’’