The Nasarawa State Government has rolled out new empowerment programmes for youths and pensioners, aimed at reducing transportation costs and supporting vulnerable groups across the state.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Lafia, Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the acquisition of a Doja Electric Vehicle Model 3 and 50 electric tricycles, which will be allocated to youths, students, and women groups to aid their businesses.
“The electric tricycles are equipped with air conditioning and will be charged at designated centres within the state secretariat and other major locations in Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi,” the governor said.
He listed the beneficiaries to include tertiary institutions such as Nasarawa State University, Keffi; College of Education, Akwanga; and institutions in Lafia, alongside youth associations, cultural groups, women groups, the Women Christian Association, FOMWAN, and the state disability commission.
On pensions, Governor Sule said his administration has approved N1 billion for the settlement of gratuities and arrears for over 1,000 retirees, covering both local and state government pensioners from 1999 to 2010.
“The state government has also committed to paying 100% of pension arrears for civil servants who retired in 2012, amounting to N1.6 billion. Additionally, the state will contribute N600 million to support local government gratuity payments,” he said.
Governor Sule also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to education, noting that the state has borne the full cost of the 2025 National Examination Council (NECO) fees for all secondary school students.
He said that a committee set up for citizen support had recommended additional reliefs, including subsidised fertiliser and rice at 50% of market prices, among other measures.
PIAK