By Billiam willy
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya obviously had one of his hectic days in office as he engaged in a marathon meeting with several groups and associations after an extended State Security Council meeting in Government House.
The atmosphere in the State became charged following the planned August 1st nationwide protest against hardship and bad governance resulted in the Governor making stunning revelations.
Reacting to demands made by representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and market traders, Governor Inuwa said it will be extremely difficult for the State Government to pay the N70,000 minimum wage.
He revealed also that he is not in the best capacity to advise President Bola Tinubu to restore fuel subsidy regime adding that contrary to what people know, subsidy payment of higher amounts had been going on recently.
More so, he added, “I was not consulted before the subsidy was removed”. He stated also that Gombe is yet to receive Federal Government’s promise of 20 trucks of rice for the State
He then alleged that contrary to hyped perception of former President Buhari, the country’s economy was badly managed during his tenure, thus, plunging the country into the current mess.
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the CSO’s, Comrade Ibrahim Yusuf, called for the urgent and transparent distribution of stocked palliative/food and nonfood items to the vulnerable persons in the society following the excruciating hunger bedeviling majority of the households in the State.
They also called for the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 and improve welfare packages of workers as well as checkmating market monopoly and encourage open free market competition to curb continuous rise in prices of food stuff and other products and services.
They appealed to the State Government to collaborate with Federal Government to reverse the fuel subsidy and electricity tariff with immediate effect.
While promising that they are not part of any planned protest, they called on Governor Inuwa to reduce on-going capital projects to 50% and consider human capital empowerment such as helping farmers with new mechanized facilities, small scale business with capital, among many other demands.
Before the meeting with the CSO’s, NLC and market traders, the Governor had in the morning, held an enlarged State Security meeting with all heads of security agencies in the State as well as traditional and religious leaders including Chairmen of all the eleven Local Government Areas in the State.
The Governor then received Student from the Gombe State University and the coalition of Gombe State youth organisations who pledged not to participate in any protest.