Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, son of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has urged his father to fast-track the payment of outstanding gratuities owed retired civil servants and expand youth empowerment programmes to cushion the impact of the prevailing economic hardship in the state.
Shamsuddeen made the appeal in a Facebook post on Wednesday titled, “Bridging the Gap: A Call for a Human-Capital Focused Policy.”
He commended the administration’s achievements in infrastructure over the past seven years, saying the construction of roads, schools and hospitals had reshaped the state and would remain part of the governor’s legacy.
According to him, while the projects have transformed Bauchi’s physical landscape, many residents, especially young people, continue to grapple with harsh economic realities.
He noted that infrastructure development, though essential, had not addressed the immediate financial challenges confronting many households, particularly families still awaiting the payment of retirees’ gratuities.
“The infrastructure projects stand as a testament to your vision and legacy. However, there is a growing disconnect between these achievements and the day-to-day economic struggles of the people,” he said.
Shamsuddeen also warned of mounting frustration among youths, saying they were seeking meaningful economic opportunities rather than dependence on government handouts. He stressed that young people wanted to be active participants in the state’s prosperity.
To address the situation, he proposed a shift towards what he described as a human-capital-driven development strategy, recommending seed funding for youth-led businesses, grants for small-scale entrepreneurs and policies compelling contractors handling government projects to prioritise the employment of local youths.
He added that the state should adopt globally recognised models of productive inclusion, urging the government to complement infrastructure development with deliberate investments in citizens through sustainable economic empowerment initiatives.
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