BAYELSA GOVT THREATENS TO WITHDRAW RECALCITRANT AGRIC TRAINEES FROM SONGHAI FARMS

BAYELSA GOVT THREATENS TO WITHDRAW RECALCITRANT AGRIC TRAINEES FROM SONGHAI FARMS

Bayelsa State Government has threatened to withdraw any of the beneficiaries of its ongoing agricultural training programme at the Songhai International Farms, Port Novo in the Benin Republic caught formenting trouble or misrepresenting the State.

The State government, as part of its empowerment programme for the teeming unemployed youths in the state had approved the training of 500 youths in Agriculture at the Songhai International Farms in Port Novo, Republic of Benin but the beneficiaries, according to security reports, rather than reciprocating the gesture of Government are demanding for N50,000 monthly allowances.

The beneficiaries, according to reports wanted to be treated as ex-militants in the Federal Government’s ongoing amnesty programme with a monthly take home pay of between N30,000 and N50,000 monthly.

Describing their planned protest as uncalled for, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Thomas Commander stated, ‘Bayelsa State Government is paying each beneficiary of the scheme N10,000 monthly, aside tuition, feeding and other payments but they are saying the money is not enough and they need between N30,000 and N50,000 as a compulsory condition for government to bear.

“Our Governor being a man that is out to restore and bring sanity to the system and ensure that things are put right, has said that he will not do that. He wants the committed ones to undergo the training while those who are not ready should come back home. We are now bent on implementing his position.

Those that are causing the problem will be fished out and sanctioned and every effort will be put in place to ensure that the programme succeeds”.

Blaming some disgruntled politicians of attempting to scuttle the developmental programmes of the present administration, the Commissioner disclosed that the recalcitrant ones among the beneficiaries are being sponsored for political reasons.

His words, “we have every reason to believe that they are being sponsored because the way they are going about the matter is unusual. Initially, they were all very appreciative. The Governor addressed them and they gave him the commitment that they will do well, when they get there.

“However, just within a twinkle of an eye, their attitude and everything about them is changing. We, therefore, suspect that a foreign element has infiltrated them to discredit or create problem for the success of this government.”

Daniel Iworiso-Markson