‘Education fund, N50k minimum wage’ — Gombe PDP guber candidate unveils action plan

Muhammad Barde, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, says he will create a N50 billion education fund to improve primary and secondary schools in the state if elected.

In his action plan for Gombe state, Barde, a former managing director of SunTrust Bank, said he will build five technology hubs.

‘MICRO-CREDIT SCHEME, MONTHLY STIPENDS’

The PDP governorship candidate promised to establish a N50 billion micro-credit scheme to support women and youths engaging in small businesses in the state.

Barde also said he will ensure that at least 200,000 women benefit from the scheme annually.

In addition, he said he will restore the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to women, and expand the scope to cover the vulnerable and indigent.

He also promised to create 5,000 job opportunities through access to high-quality agriculture input such as machinery and high-yield livestock breeds.

On housing, the PDP governorship candidate said he will work with the private sector to provide 100,000 new low/medium-income housing units and facilitate the use of sources of energy such as solar to power 100,000 homes and 5,000 small businesses.

‘REVIEW OF MINIMUM WAGE’

On workers’ welfare, he promised to review the minimum wage of workers in the state to N50,000 — currently, at the federal level in Nigeria, the minimum wage benchmark for workers is N30,000, but not all states have implemented it.

Barde also promised to pay all outstanding pension, gratuity, and severance allowance in the first 100 days of office, adding that he will make the Gombe state civil service to be the “envy” of Nigeria as it relates to recruitment.

‘REHABILITATE DILAPIDATED HEALTHCARE FACILITIES’

On his plans for the health sector, the PDP governorship candidate said he will fix dilapidated healthcare facilities in the state.

He also promised to focus on provision of equipment, drugs, as well as improve staffing in healthcare facilities to reduce maternal and child mortality.

‘ESTABLISH SECURITY TRUST FUND’

The PDP candidate promised to establish security fund for sustainable funding of security agencies in the state.

He also said he will promote unity across ethnic and religious groups in the state through the ‘One Gombe’ philosophy. 

Other security plans he listed are: “Increase collaboration (including support with vehicles, equipment, etc.) with security agencies to safeguard lives and properties; deploy technology in crime detection and prevention as the cornerstone of fighting crime”.

Others include: “Assign clearly defined and measurable roles to our traditional institutions; ensure that the state traditional council and each emirate/district council are functioning and meet monthly”.