Empowerment: Senator I.D. Gyang Reach Out To Over 500 Widows, 600 Students
By Daniel Agada, Jos
About five hundred and eleven (511) widows, six hundred and nine (609) students benefited from the empowerment programme of Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial district, Istifanus D.Gyang Esq.
The 511 widows petty trading beneficiaries and 609 students scholarship awardees cut across the six Local Government Areas of; Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos North, Jos South, Jos East and Riyom respectively that made up Northern zone of Plateau State.
The empowerment programme which held on Monday at Mees Palace, Rayfield in Jos saw each of widow beneficiary got N20,000 while students N10,000 each.
Speaking to Journalists on the rationale behind the kind gesture Senator I.D. Gyang opines that empowerment and assistance of constituents remain his top most priority.
According to the law maker, “we have empowered five hundred and eleven (511) widows, it was 500 but there are those that came we have to accommodate them. And then we have six hundred and nine (609) students, initially it was 600 but we have to accommodate emergency.
“We are giving the widows N20,000 each and the students N10, 000 each”.
On why the choice widows and students category, Senator Gyang made it known that “the assistance and empowerment of our constituents remains our major priority. This category is a special category. The widow is a special group knowing that what my mother’s face, were orphans following the demise of our father and the difficulties that I face and the challenges of the students is what has prompted this intervention.
“So, is not just the thing that come like that as a product of personal experience that this group deserve attention much more than what I am doing now. And greater capacity we will do more to this particular group.
“The widows worth this empowerment is petty trading. You recall the vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osinbajo went to market to give N10, 000 to women as trader money, and if I am given N20, 000 and the vice President N10,000, so at least it is for petty trading and for those who are already into it to enhance it and those who are not yet started to kick start it.
“And to the students, the state Government is giving them N5,000 as scholarship a year and by God grace my constituent is giving N10,000 per student, and we believed that I know what it can be to the student because I experienced what it means to be in school and have financial constraints.
” I believe with the economical impact of the widow and educational impact of the student, it will stabilize the students because sometimes they can get the book from it, have pen from it, have a lunch from it and the impact is better imagine”, he mentioned.
Concerning “direct primaries bill” that is before President Muhammadu Buhari and should in case the President refused to assent the bill what the National Assembly intend within its powers;
Senator Gyang stated that “the National Assembly has taken a position, and the President is being awaited to grant assent to that bill. As we are resuming plenary soon, the decision of the President is something that would be made public. We are waiting for the decision of the President.
“The amendment of electoral bill is very key because it is something that would guarantee credible elections in our their dear Nation.
“You recall that during the 8th Assembly he declined assent and as a result of that the setbacks that we have been witnessing in our Nation’s electoral process are still there.
“We have done the needful as a national Assembly in trying to upgrade our electoral processes to guarantee credible and transparent elections and we are hoping that the President will assent to that bill.
“Should he declined assent the National Assembly we would explore the powers that is within the Constitution which is already very cleared.
“But I do not want to say what the National Assembly will do because the position of the President is not convene to us yet. I think he is still consultin
