By Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has so far spent over N1.7 billion on the Rumbun Sauki Programme, an initiative aimed at subsidising food items for civil servants across the state.
The Special Adviser on Rural Economy, Yakubu Nuhu Danja, disclosed this in an interview with journalists.
He said the programme was introduced as part of the government’s social intervention measures to cushion the effects of economic hardship and improve workers’ access to essential food commodities.
According to him, about 30,000 civil servants in both the state and the 34 local government areas have benefited from the programme.
Danja said the government also spent N170 million to provide a 10 per cent subsidy on food items sold to beneficiaries.
He explained that workers purchase food items either through outright payment or on credit at prices 10 per cent below the prevailing market rates.
According to him, each worker is entitled to purchase food commodities valued at not more than one-third of his or her monthly take-home pay.
However, Danja acknowledged that the programme faced operational challenges due to the bulk procurement of food commodities.
He noted that a subsequent decline in market prices reduced the scheme’s capital by more than N700 million.
He said the government had taken corrective measures to strengthen the operation of the programme and ensure its sustainability.
Danja assured that the Katsina State Government would continue to sustain and expand the programme to enable more workers across the state to benefit.
