New Nigerian Newspapers Online Edition

JIGAWA State Government has directed all the 27 Local Government Councils to provide free meals for the less priveleged members in their respective domains through out the Ramadhan fasting period.

Governor Sule Lamido of the state gave the directive yesterday at a special meeting with the council chairmen, their secretaries and Speakers of the council, explained that the decision was informed by the desire to assist the needy who cannot afford the meals.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the state commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Nasuru Umar, said the governor however did not peg the amount to be spent on the free meals project, but charged the council chairmen to be fair and reasonable on what they will spend.

“Ladies and gentlemen, His Excellency Governor Sule Lamido has met with the council chairmen, their secretaries and Speakers where he directed them to go and initiate a free meal for the less privelege members in their respective areas”, said the commissioner.

According to him, the state Government had last year made a similar gesture, even as it put a specific amount for each council to spend on the project, but this time around, the Governor said the councils should use their discretion to decide how much to spend.

Alhaji Umar, warned however, that the open cheque given to them should not be abuse as the council chairmen must be prudent and responsible in their undertakings as Government will not condone any act of abuse of power.

The Governor, equally warned the chairmen to initiate project and programmes that have direct bearing on the ordinary man, saying they were elected to serve the people not to pursue their personal aggrandisement.

Lamido, said he went round the local Government to ascertain the level of service delivery at the grassroots level and that he was impressed in some areas while some others have to work harder to justify the mandate given to them by the electorates.

According to the Governor, rural areas are the place where Governments would be judged and that if the leaders at the Local Government levels failed it may affects the state and the central Governments as well.

In particular, Lamido said project such as water, electrification, rural roads and agriculture must be given top priority among others, saying it is the desire of his administration to provide portable water for all knooks and cranies of the state within a reasonable time frame.