By Our Correspondent
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state has approved the suspension of some officials assigned for the implementation of N1.7 billion COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus program in the state for alleged fraud.
Hotpen reports that, the programme was introduced by the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank meant to alleviate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
The targetted beneficiaries of the programme, named NG-J-CARES in Jigawa, were peasant farmers, vulnerable households and small businesses.
It was during one of the unscheduled visits paid by Governor Namadi some of the targetted farmers complained to the governor that they were cheated by some officials in the process of the exercise.
The development has made the governor to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Chief of Staff, Senator Mustapha Makama Kiyawa to investigate the matter and reports back for necessary action.
It was reported that when the committee submitted it’s report, some officials of the state’s Fadama III office that coordinated the disbursement exercise have been indicted and found fully involve in the alleged fraud.
A confident source told this medium that, the officials allegedly involved in the scam gave each farmer N8,000 only, instead of the allocated N150,000 and farming inputs.
The state commissioner of information, Hon. Sagir Musa, said government suspended the State Co-ordinator of the Fadama III programme, Aminu Isah, and all the 27 desk officers.
Hon. Sagir further stated that, the decision was sequel to a resolution of the State Execution Council meeting presided over by the state governor, Mal. Umar Namadi.
“The State Executive Council deliberated on the Committee of Inquiry Report on NG-J-CARES Result Area 2: Fadama
presented before the Council and approved the immediate suspension of the
State Coordinator and all the 27 LGAs Desk Officers of the NG-JCARES Result Area 2: Fadama in the State.
The Council in session has equally directed the Committee of Inquiry reports to a White Paper committee under the chairmanship of the State Head of Service (HOS) to review the recommendations of the report for implementation modalities to refunds all money misuse and abuse of contracts under the Fadama project.
The programme also involves an empowerment programme which set aside N410 million for goat breeding and training for youth, targeted at over 5,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.
While in the agricultural sector, where the officials were indicted, over 3,000 farmers were to get farming inputs worth over N678 million under different phases of the programme.
The programme also earmarked N204 million for medium and small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.