Governor Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa State

The Adamawa Government says it will soon distribute 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Ahmad Sajoh, said this on Wednesday in Demsa, while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.

Sajoh said that the procurement would be made via the Federal Government’s partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on fertiliser procurement.

He said that the fertiliser would get to the farmers before the next farming season, adding that the government was making efforts to boost agriculture in the state.

The commissioner also said that the fertiliser would be sold at the subsidised cost of N6,700; as against the N9,000 market price.

Besides, Alhaji Mustapha Barkindo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that local government councils were collaborating with the state government on the fertiliser procurement project.

He said that the councils, through their joint account, would contribute funds for the purchase of the fertiliser, which would be distributed to the 23 local governments councils in the state.

Also speaking, Alhaji Abduraham Jimeta, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, said that the state government had earmarked N1 billion for the payment of pensions.

Jimeta said that the money would be sourced from the Paris Club’s refunds to the state.

He said that the money was not be enough to clear the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears, adding that the gesture would, nonetheless, assuage the hardship facing pensioners.

He said that the committee set up on the disbursement of the Paris Club refunds would promptly pay the pensioners.

Jimeta also said that the State Executive Council had constituted a committee, chaired by Gov. Jibrilla Bindow, to overhaul skills acquisition centres across the state.

He said that the move was particularly aimed at empowering the youth via the acquisition of skills.

(NAN)