By Yemi Monday, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir on Friday publicly accepted the failure of bureaucracy in his administration for deliberate refusal to carry out a directive he gave one year ago.
The Governor therefore expressed embarrassment that bureaucratic bottlenecks made it impossible for his Office to provide a befitting administrative accommodation to the State chapter of the Nigerian Legion one year after he gave the directive for such.
Bala Mohammed also apologized to the members of Nigerian Legion across the State for the embarrassing situation assuring that the directive must be carried out forthwith.
The Governor was speaking during the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) Emblem Appeal Fund, 2023 as part of activities commemorating this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at the Government House, Bauchi.
Bala Mohammed who sounded bitter over the development, said that he was embarrassed and also blamed it on what he described as bureaucratic bottlenecks inherent in running Government affairs.
The Governor said that no one brought his attention to the fact that the pledge he made last year to the State Legionnaires regarding the provision of office accommodation had not been redeemed saying, “I felt embarrassed , it is a failure on our side and the I do apologize.”
According to him, “God willing , in the next one week, an office accommodation will be made available to the State Legionnaires.”
The Governor then thanked the Legionnaires for their sacrifices in keeping Nigeria as One Entity and also called on well meaning Corporate bodies and individuals to always lend a helping hand to the legionnaires.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security Agencies for their vigilance in steaming the tide of crime and criminality in Bauchi State.
Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of the Legionnaires, Danjuma Idris Ningi thanked the State Government for the untiring support that is being extended to Legionnaires.
He then appealed for more support from all and sundry to cater for the immediate needs of Legionnaires widows and families.
Danjuma Idris also expressed the readiness of the State chapter of the Legion to partner with Government and other security Agencies in complementing their efforts towards crime prevention.
Our correspondent reports that N10.3 Million was realized at the end of the emblem appeal launch, with prospects of more donations from other office holders.
High point of the occasion was the official decoration of the Governor with the Emblem and sharing of same to all attendees present.