Yobe State government has announced plans to propose a six-month jail term as punishment for individuals who sell empowerment items and tools provided to them to practice skills and create employment opportunities.
The state’s deputy governor, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, made this known during the distribution of dry season farming inputs to 1,500 beneficiaries by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Damaturu, the state capital.
Gubana stated that various empowerment packages, items, and tools have been distributed by the state government, senators, and lawmakers to accelerate post-insurgency recovery and wealth creation for stability and prosperity in the state.
However, many beneficiaries have been selling those items instead of using them for their intended purpose.
“About thousands of youths from both urban and rural communities were empowered and supported with skill-acquisition materials such as Keke NAPEP, commercial pick-up tricycles, also known as JEGA, irrigation farming tools, sewing machines, among others.
‘‘Most of these beneficiaries when they leave the venue of the distribution, sell these items to the marketers, traders who are there waiting to buy; these habits have defeated the purpose of the programmes,” he said.
To address this issue, he said, the state government was developing a new policy where every beneficiary must submit a form containing the signatures and approvals of their ward head, village head, district head, and council chairman, along with their own signature, indicating that they will not sell the items.
He said failure to adhere to the policy will result in a six-month jail term for the sellers.