The Bauchi State Government has said that a larger percentage of the beneficiaries of the Federal Government subsidy removal palliative will be reached at their various polling units, while other sections of the beneficiaries will be reached through other channels.
Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Hajara Wanka stated this while briefing journalists on the sharing arrangement of the palliative. She said that N2 billion would be used to procure 88,889 25kg bags of rice for distribution to vulnerable groups in the state.
According to her, N800 million would be used to settle the gratuity of the state retirees.
Wanka said that only N2 billion out of the N5 billion approved by the Federal Government has been released.
“We suggested a model for sharing and we proposed for consideration of the numbers of polling units as communities because it is through polling units that you will get to the grassroots and reach the deserving population,” she said.
“To avoid anything political in the distribution process, it will be headed by traditional and religious leaders and monitored by the local government authorities.
“The sum of N2 billion has been earmarked for the purchase of 88,889 25kg bags of rice at the rate of N23,500 each. N500 million to be released to the State Pension Board and N300 million to the Local Government Pension Board for payment of gratuities.
“To those in active service, they have been owed for about 12 years, specifically leave grant. It has been agreed that the sum of N680 million be earmarked for the payment of leave grant of 2023.
“Health workers are not left out. We have health volunteers across the state and 1,000 of them will be given unconditional cash transfer for six months totalling N60 million. One of the most vulnerable targets which is the people living with disabilities, women social development workers and non-partisan women groups would also be considered. They will also be given unconditional cash transfer with the sum of N325 million.”
Wanka said that N76 million has been allocated for payment of unconditional cash transfer to the youths, adding that proactive measures had been evolved to ease transportation difficulties experienced by students.
She said that 10 new buses would be purchased and deployed in the Bauchi metropolis, Azare, Ningi and Misau.
