NORTH EAST : ADAMAWA STATE ON BAILOUT FUNDS

NEWS TITBITS:

Gov. Mohammed Jibrilla

The Adamawa State government has been explaining what it has done with the recent bailout funds given to states by the Federal Government   saying it was not meant for the payment of salaries and allowances owed civil servants.

Chief of Staff to Governor Mohammed Jibrilla, Abdulrahaman Jimeta, who stated this in Yola said the state received N 3.8 billion as its share of what he called “Largesse” from the Fedral Government and after consultations decided to allocate the funds to areas the government considered more expedient.

The position of the state contradicts the reasons given by 36 states governors who after various meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari requested for the bailout saying without it, states could not offset the back log of salaries owed civil servants.

The official said the state used some of its funds to address its security challenges.

Adamawa is one of the three states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said the state spends N 45 to N50 million monthly on its security outfit, “operation Tsaro”, which is run by the military as well as N 200 million on clerics, traditional rulers and others, to pray for security.