By Godwin Ojoshimite
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has Monday, ordered the stoppage of the Youth Empowerment Programme initiated by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
The House took the decision after cross examining state government officials in charge of the programme.
Fielding questions from lawmakers, Godwin Mbastav, Commissioner for Ministry of Youths and Sports denied having any knowledge of such programme.
He stated that his ministry was not in the know of the programme and as such cannot offer any answer to the questions raised by the House.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Mutala Adogi responded differently as he admitted championing the programme which he said was under the office of the executive governor.
He also said that although he was designated to manage the programme, he was not categorical of the amount voted for the programme.
The House however, discharged the two government officials and moved a motion to stop the ongoing training of the youths in Keffi.
The motion which was supported by 16 out 18 members who were at the sitting described the state governors action as illegal and unconstitutional.
Speaker of the House, Ahmed Musa Mohammed declared that the House is not witch hunting the governor but checkmating him to work in line with the constitution.
He advised governor Almakura to set up a committee to look into the ingenuity of the Assembly’s decision.
It would be recalled that the governor on January 27 started a youth empowerment programme estimated to engage 1400 youths with a monthly stipend of 10,000 but the Assembly is of the opinion that due procedures were not followed in initiating the programme.