The Kebbi State government has said it got only N2bn from the federal government as against the expected N5bn given to states as palliative to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
The state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Garba Bena, while briefing journalists after the maiden edition of the state exco meeting at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, said the amount would not be able to cater to the needs of the suffering masses.
He said Governor Nasiru Idris had approved an additional N3.5bn to procure more grains and other items for distribution to people of the state.
He said, “Governor Idris admitted that nobody could deny the fact that people are hungry. As a member of the presidential committee which had already rolled out modalities on how to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, he decided to approve additional N3.5bn.”
Bena said the governor had mandated the commissioners, special advisers and local government chairmen to monitor the distribution of the palliative items and ensure it was evenly distributed.
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Also, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Hajiya Halima Muhammed Bande, during the briefing said the exco had revisited the retirement age of teachers in the state’s primary and secondary schools from 60 to 65 years.
She said this would boost the morale of teachers and boost the quality of education in the state.
She also said the governor had approved leave grants to all categories of workers including teachers under local government education authorities.