COVID-19: Bauchi govt sends team on economic recovery after pandemic

 

Bauchi State government has given its committee on COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (Bauchi NG-CARES) the go-ahead to begin work.

The steering committee was recently inaugurated by the Deputy Governor, Baba Tela, who informed that the team’s work will be supported by a World Bank intervention.

He said the committee will work to increase basic services and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable households, facilitating recovery of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through grants as well as increasing food security.

He said the project targets existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and micro and small enterprises affected by the COVID-19 induced economic crisis.

Tela explained that beneficiaries would be drawn from the state’s social register, farmers’ register and other state databases generated through a transparent and acceptable process in line with the key performance indicators.

“We are delighted to commence the Bauchi State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (Bauchi NG-CARES). This is an intervention by the World Bank, through the Federal Government to help stimulate sub-national economies and help their recovery from the economic damage caused by COVID-19 pandemic,” the deputy governor said.

The state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Modibbo Abdulkadir, who is also a member of the steering committee, said the Bauchi NG-CARES was designed to help restore livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups, maintain food security and facilitate the recovery of small and medium scale enterprises.

While saying that the implementation of the project will contribute positively to the economic development of the state, the commissioner assured that members of the steering committee will work towards achieving the desired objectives.

Khorgist reports that the steering committee has the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Aminu Hammayo as chairman, with Commissioners of Finance, Cooperatives and SMEs, Agriculture, Women Affairs and Social Development, Special Adviser on Social Investment, Chairman of BACYWORD, among others, as members.