Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has called on the Federal Government to reassess its fiscal and monetary policies, claiming they are not adequately tackling issues of poverty and unemployment.
Addressing attendees at the World Bank Nigeria Development Update conference, themed “Staying the Course: Progress Amid Pressing Challenges,” in Abuja on Thursday, Mohammed highlighted the adverse effects of current policies on the growth of citizens.
The conference featured prominent figures, including World Bank Senior Vice President Indermit Gill, Nigeria’s Country Director Diame Diop, Finance Minister Wale Edun, and Central Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso.
“Please review your policies; they are not working,” Mohammed stated.
He emphasized that despite an increase in allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), inflation is diminishing citizens’ purchasing power, which could lead to significant unrest.
“We are living among these people, and I can assure you that frustration is growing,” he cautioned.
On the topic of minimum wage, Mohammed stated that Bauchi State is still paying the previous rate of N33,000 but has formed a committee to assess the implementation of the new wage.
He acknowledged that while state revenues have improved, there are still considerable gaps in essential services such as power and infrastructure.
Additionally, he highlighted his administration’s efforts to eliminate financial leakages since taking office, which have led to increased revenue intended to tackle local challenges.
