Bauchi inaugurates COVID-19 NG-CARES steering committee to ameliorate negative effects of pandemic

Members of the Committee

Bauchi State Government has inaugurated the state's COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme steering committee tagged Bauchi NG-CARES.

State Deputy Governor, Sen Baba Tela while Inaugurating the committee in his office, said that the programme is aimed to increase basic services and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable households, facilitating recovery of SMEs through grants as well as to increase food security.

He also said that beneficiaries will be mined from the state's social register, farmers' register and other state databases generated through a transparent and acceptable process in line with the key performance indicators.

The deputy governor further said that the NG-CARES programme is an emergency operation designed to support budgeted plan on expenditures and interventions at the state targeting level-existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and value chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the economic crisis.
He said that, "We are delighted to commence the Bauchi State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (Bauchi NG-CARES). This is an intervention by the World Bank, through the Federal Government to help stimulate sub-national economies and help their recovery from the economic damage caused by COVID-19 pandemic."

Senator Baba Tela applauded Governor Bala Mohammed for exhibiting keen interest in the programme especially by providing all the necessary support to fast track the implementation of the project in the state.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Modibbo Abdulkadir who is a member of the steering committee, also said the Bauchi CARES programme is designed to help restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable groups, maintaining food security and facilitating the recovery of small and medium scale enterprises.

Modibbo Abdulkadir expressed confidence that the implementation of the project will contribute positively to the economic development of the state, and assured that members of the steering committee will work towards achieving the desired objectives.

The steering committee with the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Aminu Hammayo as Chairman has as members, Commissioners of Finance, Cooperatives and SMEs, Agriculture, Women Affairs and Social Development, Special Adviser on Social Investment, Chairman of BACYWORD among others.