We’ve constructed mosques, churches – Bauchi ministry of LG and Chieftaincy Affairs

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Bauchi state Ministry for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs on Tuesday disclosed that it constructed mosques and churches across 20 local government areas of the state as part of government assistance to religious bodies.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Saratu Musa Jibrin who stated this while making presentation at a Ministerial Press briefing, said part of the achievements of the ministry since assumption of office Governor Bala Mohammed from 2019 to date, is the “construction of mosques and churches spread across all the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

The permanent secretary who could not specify the exact number of mosques and the churches constructed or the amount spent, further explained that the palaces of Ningi, Jama’are and Dass Emirs were constructed and upgraded.

According to Saratu Jibrin, palaces of District Heads across the state were also constructed and upgraded while Lexus Jeeps were purchased for JNI and CAN Bauchi State.

The permanent secretary added that 45 units of tractors and 135 units of other farming implements were procured to boost farming activities in the state, in addition to provision of 60,000 units of grain measure (Mudun Awu) for
use in markets throughout the State to save buyers from being shortchanged.

While stating that the use of the measure will soon be launched in the state, the permanent secretary noted that relevant
government agencies will ensure full compliance with the
usage of the newly introduced measure in all the markets in the state.

Other successes recorded by the ministry, the permanent secretary said are, the fencing of graveyard in various Local Government Areas, purchase of motorcycle for supervisors of Local Education Authorities, supply of Drugs and other medical consumables to health facilities in various Local Governments, among others.

The permanent secretary however said, despites the numerous achievements, the
ministry like other sister MDAs has areas of concern that require urgent attention in the best interest of the service and the state.

She mentioned them to include, lack of enough professional manpower to fill the gap created by retirement, death, transfer of service etc in the Ministry, lack of required periodic training to improve staff capacity and performance.

She said, in line with the aggressive drive by Governor Bala Mohammed to provide dividend of
democracy, the Ministry is coordinating the
implementation of other developmental projects base on areas of need in each of the 20 Local Government Areas.

“It is worthy of note that in order to complement the effort of the government, the ministry is through available meagre resources at its disposal rendering various assistance to members of the
community, particularly on health and other challenges of life.

The staff of the Ministry are equally not left behind through periodic sponsorship to attend capacity building training and provision of enabling working environment and basic working materials in order
to discharge their official responsibilities diligently and effectively.

Saratu Commended the Governor for all the support to the ministry and his zero tolerance for indolence which she noted has no doubt add to the Strength of the ministry and increase its productivity, accountability and
adherence to due process in the discharge of our official responsibilities.