“Our Economic Challenges Will Soon Become History” – Niger Speaker

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, and the Chairman of the Northern States Speakers Forum, Rt. Hon. Marafa Ahmad Guni has assured pensioners, other past political office holders and the good people of the state that the present administration will ensure the payment of their entitlements and completion of all ongoing projects, embarked in the state.

He made the disclosure, when he received members of the State Forum of Former Vice Chairmen, Secretaries, Supervisory Councilors, and Councilors who served in the state between 1999-2014 who paid a courtesy visit to the leadership and members of the House.

The Speaker informed the former local government officials that the present administration in the state has made adequate provisions in the 2017 Budget estimate and awaiting its consideration and passage into law, to make sure that their accumulated entitlements are paid in two trenches, so as to enable them make the best use of the funds for meaningful business instead of the piecemeal monthly payment, which was paid through the Ministry of Local Government.

The Speaker also used the opportunity to also disclose that the administration was very much concerned with the plight of pensioners in the state and assured that 50% of their accumulated entitlements will be paid this year after the budget consideration and passage as adequate provisions have also been made to take care of funds earmarked for such payment, while the balance will also be captured for 2018 Budgetary Provisions and appealed for more patience and understanding from the retirees in the state.

The Speaker further assured the people of the state that despite the ongoing financial challenges, which he expressed optimism will soon become a matter of history, will also ensure completion of all ongoing projects in the state, especially those that will ensure socioeconomic growth of the citizens in all parts of the state and appealed for support and cooperation of the state to achieve the set goals of the administration under the leadership of the governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello in the state.

In his earlier remark, the forum Chairman of Former Local Government Areas Vice Chairman, Secretaries, Supervisory Councilors and Councilors in the state, Alh. Yahya Shehu, informed the Speaker that they visited him to express their profound appreciation to the intervention of the legislature, which ensure monthly payments of their outstanding allowances which has been pending and assured of their continuous loyalty and support to the present administration and prayed for the leaders at all levels.

Signed:
Alh. Sabo Adamu
HOD, Information and Protocol
NGHA