COVID-19: Stakeholders call for budget review to reflect economic reality in Bauchi

Stakeholders in Bauchi have called for the review of the state’s 2020 budget to reflect the new economic realities occasioned by the National and Global impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This development was contained in a communique issued at the end of a stakeholders engagement and update meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed on Lassa and COVID-19 outbreak held on Sunday at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House Bauchi. The communique which was jointly signed by the Chief of staff, Government House, Dr Ladan Salihu, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Gamawa and Commissioner of Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde also suggested that a committee be set up to advise the state the government on issues of street begging and Okada riders.
“The committee should be set up to advise the government on the way forward address the issues of street begging and Okada riders resulting from the inflow of people into the state due to the ban on their operations in neighbouring states”, said the Communique.

The communique further called on religious leaders to preach to their members to ensure the maintenance of environmental cleanliness and hygiene while stakeholders should carry out sensitization campaigns across the state on the challenges and threat of COVID-19 and Lassa fever.

“The meeting agreed that there should be restricted congregations in designated areas of worship accommodating people largely from the immediate vicinity or place of worships in order to avoid the risk of spread of the diseases”. The Communique said.

The meeting while commending Governor Bala Mohammed for setting up of outbreak response committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela agreed that the committee should co-opt all relevant religious leaders and professionals to enable it executes its mandates.

“Those who attended the stakeholders meeting include; the Speaker of the state assembly, Rt. Honourable Abubakar Suleiman, other leaders of the house and the Chief Judge of the state”, the communique stated.