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Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has enrolled over 1,000 People With Disabilities (PWDs) and Political Thugs a.k.a ECOMOG on a monthly stipends of N15,000 each to cushion the economic hardship and eliminate streets begging within Maiduguri and Jere Metropolis.
The payment in batches is prompt in the last six months as it consists of 511 cripples, 264 Deaf and 137 Blind people, in addition to N684 million soft loans expended to traders to improve their businesses and means of livelihood.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Commissioner Ministry of Sport and Youths Development, Hon Saina Buba during a press briefing held at Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri.
He said, the purpose of the briefing is to intimate the general public on the efforts of the present administration of Governor Zulum towards uplifting the plight of vulnerable groups in the society and to debunk rumours that PWDs have been neglected.
His words: “Recalled that when this government came on board, precisely in May 2019, governor Zulum banned Political Thugs (ECOMOG) and streets begging amongst PWDs, thus, Government made approval immediately through this ministry, and we swung into action and enrollment of PWDs and other vulnerable groups into monthly stipends amounting to millions of naira.
“These payments of stipends which is always prompt are been done in batches, already 511 cripples, 264 Deaf and 137 Blind people are benefitting from this gesture.
“Initially, we were paying each of them N30,000 monthly, before it was reviewed to N15,000. As time goes on, we will increase the number of beneficiaries.
” This is in addition to N684 million soft loans expended to traders improve their businesses and means of livelihood
“It is disheartening therefore when I heard that some group of PWDs were agitating in some media houses that the ministry is not paying monthly stipends for PWDs”, the Commissioner said.
He also said, since the coming on board, the ministry has rejuvenated all sporting activities with repositioning of the Elkanemi Warriors football club and settlement of backlog payments owed hoteliers/accommodations arrears used by players within and outside the state.