The Jigawa state government says it spent N93 million to sponsor the wedding of 270 orphaned girls as part of its efforts to “support the poor and vulnerable”.
Mustapha Saleh, special adviser to Muhammad Badaru, the state governor, made this known on Saturday in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him, 10 orphaned girls were chosen from each of the 27 local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
He said the N93 million was used to fund the wedding ceremony and provide “housing furniture” for the beneficiaries who had undergone screening and had been cleared of having HIV/AIDS.
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All the 270 girls were said to have received beds, mattresses, wardrobes, cushioned chairs, pillows, bed sheets, curtains and rugs and other household items.
“Ten beneficiaries were selected from each of the 27 wards of the state by the committee shouldered with the responsibilities of selecting and screening eligible beneficiaries. And they selected based on merit, not political affiliation or any other thing,” Saleh is quoted to have said.
“We decided to conduct the medical test because it was the best way to engender trust in the minds of the couples.
“The screening conducted had been a success story, as none of the couples was found to be carrying diseases that will disqualify him from benefiting from this kind gesture.
“And this is because joining the couples in suspicious circumstances, will make them distrust each other which might end up destroying the relation.”
On Friday, the state house of assembly, passed the 2019 appropriation bill into law after Sule Musa Dutse, chairman of the house committee on appropriation, presented a report of his committee.
The committee had recommended a budget increase from N147.540 billion, proposed by the state executive, to N160.140 billion.
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According to Dutse, the budget titled ‘Budget for Sustainable Development”, properly captured the social and economic needs of the state.
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