By Prince Bawa Joe
As the cases of coronavirus continue
to sour across the world, Bauchi state governor Bala Mohammed has announced the
closure of all public and private schools across the 20 LGAs of the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed said the closure of the schools takes
effect from Monday, March 23, 2020.
The governor made the announcement at the end of an emergency
stakeholders’ meeting that houses religious and traditional leaders as well as
heads of all security agencies in the state.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Governor Bala said “as you
can see, we have a new style of governance in Bauchi state, these are the
natural leaders in the state and we have convened a meeting to look at the
economic and medical implication of coronavirus and the implication of some of
the pronouncements globally, nationally and by our neighbors especially the
states of north west pertaining to public gatherings, prayer grounds, and so
on.
“And we agreed that an announcement will be made, that
restricted congregations should be observed by all religious bodies in consonance
with what is happening globally, so that not more than 50 will be gathered and
where necessary people from other localities, towns and LGAs should not go for
congregation so that we restrict movements.
Governor Bala said although the meeting resolves not to ban
congregational prayers in the state, but large turnout of people should be
highly restricted, urging people in the state to resort to prayers as solution
to the evolving cases of the virus.
“We believe that Allah is testing us because of what we are
doing, and we should continue to seek for Allah’s forgiveness and continue to
pray and inculcate the virtues of obedience to God.”
The governor also said the state government will review its
budget in tandem with the dwindling oil prices which he says will have economic
impact on the state.
“We are prepared as government to review our budget so that we
don’t deceive and delude people by coming up with programs and projects that
will not be achieved because the oil prices have fallen, what we are expecting
from the federation account will be very small.
The governor reiterates the readiness of the administration to
look inwards in generating revenue, which he hopes will fill the vacuum created
by shortfalls from the federation account.
The governor said already the state government had set up a
committee that will be headed by the Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela which
will intensify campaign and sensitization against all outbreaks including
coronavirus.
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