Bauchi govt disburses N377 million grants to communities

Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi State has disbursed N377 million grants to vulnerable groups in 41communities under the state Community and Social Development Project (CSDP)

The World Bank assisted project, which attracts the counterpart of N100 million by the state government, provided about N10 million to each of the benefiting communities and the vulnerable groups and the fund will be used in provision of basic infrastructure.

Speaking after presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Bauchi the governor said that the goal of the project was to improve the well-being of people especially in the rural areas

Muhammed said already N100 million has been released as counterpart contribution for the implementation of the project and pledged the commitment of his administration towards implementing numerous programmes in line with the cardinal objectives of good governance.

The governor charged the state community and social development project to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation to prevent execution of substandard work, adding that he will maintain cordial relationship with donor agencies for socioeconomic development of the state.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa, pointed out that, the Community and Social Development Project is one of the areas of collaboration between the state government and the World Bank to reduce poverty through community participation in service delivery.

Gamawa said the presentation of the cheques to the communities in a tandem with the administration’s drive to reduce youth restiveness, unemployment, hunger and squalor by redirecting the scare resources for more productive economic gains.

Some leaders of the benefiting communities expressed gratitude for the initiative adding that the gesture is an indication of commitment to meeting their needs.