The Bayelsa Government has threatened to withdraw beneficiaries of its ongoing agricultural training programme at the Songhai International Farms, Republic of Benin fomenting trouble or misrepresenting the state.
The State Government as part of its empowerment programme for unemployed youths in the state had approved the training of 500 youths in agriculture at the Songhai International Farms in Republic of Benin.
It expressed regrets that the beneficiaries, rather than reciprocating government’s gesture demanded N50,000 monthly allowances.
Dr Thomas Commander, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, described the protest as uncalled for.
Commander said that each beneficiary was paid N10,000 monthly, aside tuition, feeding and other payments.
The beneficiaries claimed that the money was not enough and they needed between N30,000 and N50,000 as a compulsory condition for government to bear.
“Our governor being a man that is out to restore and bring sanity to the system and ensure that things are put right, has said that he will not do that.
He wanted the committed ones to undergo the training while those who are not ready should come back home.
“We are now bent on implementing his position. Those that are causing the problem will be fished out and sanctioned and every effort will be put in place to ensure that the programme succeeds”.
The commissioner blamed some disgruntled politicians of attempting to scuttle the programmes of the present administration, noting that the recalcitrant beneficiaries were being sponsored for political reasons.
“We have every reason to believe that they are being sponsored because the way they are going about the matter is unusual.
“Initially, they are all very appreciative. The governor addressed them and they gave him the commitment that they will do well, when they get there.
“We, therefore, suspect that a foreign element has infiltrated them to discredit or create problem for the success of this government,’’ he said