- Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya announced that Gombe State has not received its share of 20 trucks of rice from the federal government
- Yahaya urged citizens to embrace dialogue over protests, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing relief and addressing economic hardships
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has stated that the state has not yet received its allocated share of 20 trucks of rice from the federal government. This announcement came in light of the federal government’s plan to allocate 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to alleviate widespread hardship.
The governor disclosed this during a meeting with organized labor, civil society organizations, and other trade unions in the state to address the impending nationwide protest.
Governor Yahaya emphasized the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, highlighting previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in education, health, and agriculture. He assured workers of the state government’s commitment to regular salary payments and the clearance of outstanding gratuities and other entitlements.
He urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue and understanding as the best approach to addressing the nation’s challenges rather than resorting to protests. “It is dialogue and understanding that will bring peace and development, not protest and violence,” the governor emphasized, calling on leaders and followers alike to sacrifice for the nation’s survival.
The governor also appealed to business owners and traders to desist from hoarding commodities, warning of government intervention if the situation persists. He commended the organizations present for choosing dialogue over protest and assured them that their grievances would be addressed.
Representatives of organized labour, including the Chairman of the Gombe State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Yusuf Aisha Bello, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, Ibrahim Yusuf, and the representative of the traders association, emphasized their preference for dialogue and discussion to foster peaceful coexistence in the state and the nation.