THISDAY

Northern Govs Defend Profiling, Returning of Almajirai to Home States

- In Jos

Seriki Adinoyi

Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has lamented the policitisa­tion of the recent profiling and transfer of Almajirai to their home states, insisting that it was done in good faith.

The governors said the action was a unanimous decision of all member-governors of the NGF to protect the children who were abandoned and became at risk of contractin­g and spreading COVID-19.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong disclosed this yesterday when he received National Assembly caucus from the state who were at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos to present their donation to the governor to boost the fight against COVID-19.

Lalong said, “Although many are trying to politicise the matter, I can assure you that it is the best decision we have taken in the interest of these Almajirai who for years have been suffering and left at the mercy of the streets.

“You will recall that the President’s wife, Her Excellency

Aisha Buhari convened a summit at the Villa which was attended by the President, the Sultan, governors from the North and religious leaders. The decision was to stop the Almajirai system completely, and we believe that we have the best chance to do so in order to improve the lives of these children and give them proper education and care.”

Lalong therefore appealed to the legislator­s to continue to support the government in ensuring that the program succeeds despite the misinforma­tion and improper tagging of economic migrants to the other parts of the country as “Almajiris” which he described as most unfortunat­e and improper.

The lawmakers on the visit were led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representa­tives, Hon. Idris Maje, and they donated an undisclose­d sum of money to the Plateau State COVID-19 Trust Fund to assist government deal with the pandemic.

Maje said the donation was in appreciati­on of the measures taken by the state government so far in dealing with the pandemic through several measures.

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