As Nigeria Celebrates its 60th Anniversary, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed remains frustrated over what he called “prevalence of ghost workers in Government House, Emirate Councils and the State civil service’ who continue to milk the state in salaries and allowances.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir who held a town hall meeting with youth and women groups at Command Guest House Bauchi to celebrate Nigeria’s 60th anniversary said proxy workers over the years have pocketed the state’s resources which ordinarily would have been applied to employ and empower women and youths in the state.
“This is why we set up a Bank Verification Number Authentication committee to free siphoned resources that fraudulent ghost workers accumulated, so that we can channel it for employment and empowerment.”
The Governor said vibrant youths and graduates who ought to be the pivot for sustainable economic growth and development of Bauchi State were left “redundant because of the fraudulent activities of ghost workers in the state.”
“We have ghost workers in our houses, emirate councils, local governments, ministries and departments.
“We must free resources to employ youths across all cadres, ministries, departments and agencies for holistic development of human capital which will in turn drive the economy of the state forward for the betterment of generations unborn,” the governor said.
He argued that very soon, the State Government will open a portal for unemployment where youths would be requested to supply their data.
The governor insisted that by next year, Bauchi State Government will embark on massive employment, which he says will reduce the burden of joblessness in the State.
He said part of his administration’s crusade to better the life of women and youth, the State government has created ‘Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme, KEEP’, through which about 2000 youths and women
“As part of our activities geared towards youths and women empowerment, KEEP has procured 1000 tricycles to curb difficulties inflicted on people of the State following the ban placed on motorcycle riders and has so far distributed 360 tricycles to beneficiaries.
The governor said the remaining 640 contingents of the tricycles have been procured and will be shared to beneficiaries drawn from all parts of the state.
Alhaji Adamu Manu Soro, Commissioner for Youths and Sports while delivering a welcome address pledged that his Ministry will improve the socio-economic status of youths and women in Bauchi State.
The Commissioner prevailed on Bauchi youths and women to make best use of the interactive session to finetune ways to boost their welfare and explore their full potentials.
He urged the participants to avail themselves the opportunity to benefit from the Federal Government’s Nigerian Investment Fund to enable them contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the state and the nation at large.
