Sir: Very recently, while flagging off the distribution of empowerment materials to selected beneficiaries in the state under the Kaura Economic Empowerment Program, the Bauchi State government’s version of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP), Governor Bala Mohammed alleged that the program is not working in Bauchi State, although he acknowledged that economic empowerment of the federal government is massive and far-reaching. He asserted that the funds for the program are being diverted to private pockets.
Following his weighty allegations, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian and Disasters Management has since offered a very comprehensive rejoinder detailing various NSIP projects already implemented in Bauchi State.
Indeed, the ministry confirmed that in Bauchi State, there are 75,110 poor and vulnerable households in the National Social Registry, made up of 401,395 individuals, from which a total of 99,957 from the 20 LGAs are in the National Beneficiary Register (NBR) currently receiving monthly payments.
The ministry further explained that the NSIP is jointly implemented by state government-appointed officials and indigenes, including the head of the state NSIP implementation team or focal person directly appointed by the governor and that, all beneficiaries and participants are indigenes of the state and payments to them were effected through their individual accounts.
Read Also: Minister: Pilgrimage is neither jamboree nor tourism
Interestingly, the governor has since maintained deafening silence after the ministry’s clarification.
Just a couple of days ago, the governor was again quoted to have said that the Tax Reforms Bills were packaged to strengthen the interests and favour a particular section of the country at the detriment of the north and that the region would show President Bola Tinubu its true colour.
He threatened that the presidency and federal government must listen to the region otherwise, the federal government is calling for anarchy.
No doubt, the declaration is un-statesman-like, sectional, myopic and capable of inciting violence and anarchy particularly in the north.
I don’t have any iota of doubt in my mind that Governor Mohammed wasn’t speaking on behalf of the North.
It’s important to stress to the governor that the path to nation-building, cohesiveness and prosperity for all, lies in thoughtful and constructive engagement and mutual understanding and not in unnecessary confrontation.
No patriotic and genuine lover of Project Nigeria, who indeed has studiously and religiously dissected all the sections and subsections of the Tax Reform Bill would stand in the way of the bill coming into law, particularly for its fairness, equity and its objectives to ensure justice to all stakeholders.
His current antagonism of federal government policies and the president without justifiable basis would never cement his status as national figure and would continually question how he ascended to exalted office of governor and federal minister.