Yobe State To Introduce Jail Term For Sellers Of Empowerment Tools

Yobe State To Introduce Jail Term For Sellers Of Empowerment Tools

The Yobe State government has revealed plans to propose legislation imposing a six-month jail term on individuals found guilty of selling empowerment tools and items provided to them for skill development and job creation purposes…….READ ALSO Boko Haram Attack Army Base In Yobe State

Deputy Governor Hon. Idi Barde Gubana disclosed this initiative during the distribution of dry season farming inputs to 1,500 beneficiaries by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Damaturu, the state capital.

Gubana emphasized that various empowerment packages, including items and tools, had been distributed by the state government, senators, and lawmakers to expedite post-insurgency recovery efforts and promote economic stability and prosperity within the state.

However, the deputy governor expressed concern over reports of beneficiaries selling these items instead of utilizing them for their intended purposes.

He remarked, “Thousands of youths from both urban and rural communities have been empowered and provided with skill-acquisition materials such as Keke NAPEP, commercial pick-up tricycles (JEGA), irrigation farming tools, sewing machines, among others. Unfortunately, many beneficiaries engage in selling these items immediately after receiving them, defeating the objectives of the empowerment programs.”

To combat this challenge, Gubana announced that the state government is formulating a new policy requiring every beneficiary to submit a form bearing the signatures and endorsements of their ward head, village head, district head, and council chairman, alongside their own signature, pledging not to sell the items.

He warned that failure to comply with the policy would lead to a six-month jail sentence for the sellers, aiming to deter such practices and ensure the effective utilization of empowerment resources for the benefit of the recipients and the broader community.