From Abubakar Abdullahi, in Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at empowering youths and pensioners in the state.
Following a recent visit from the President, the state government acquired electric vehicles and tricycles to support entrepreneurship and job creation among youths.
In his speech at the ceremony for the distribution of the empowerment items, Governor Abdullahi Sule of state said his
government has acquired a Doja Electric Vehicle Model 3 and 50 units of electric tricycles, which will be distributed to youths, students, and women groups to support their businesses.
“The electric tricycles are equipped with air conditioning and will be charged at designated centers within the state secretariat and other major locations in Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi”
He said the beneficiaries include tertiary institutions like Nasarawa State University, Keffi, College of Education Akwanga and and institutions in Lafia the state capital.
Other beneficiaries according to Governor Sule are various Youth associations, cultural groups, Women Groups, Women Christian Association, FONWAN as well as disability commission in the state.
Governor Sule further reiterated his administration priority on retirees in the state noting government has prioritized pension payments by clearing a backlog of pension arrears and gratuity totaling N1 billion.
“Over 1,000 retirees are set to benefit from the N1 billion disbursement, covering both local and state government retirees from 1999 to 2010”
“The state government has also committed to paying 100% of pension arrears for civil servants who retired in 2012, amounting to N1.6 billion”
“Additionally, the state will contribute N600 million to support local government gratuity payments”
Governor Sule also re-echo commitment on education having bear the cost of this year’s National Examination Council of Nigeria for all the secondary school students in the state.
He explained that a committee set up to explore on how to further support the people has brought up several recommendations that would go a long way in assisting the public.
The committee has explore ways to water the ground” and support citizens, including subsidized Fertilizer by selling at 50% of the market price, subsidized Rice by selling at 50% of the market price among others.
