The Bayelsa State government disclosed on Wednesday that it would soon publish the comprehensive list of the beneficiaries of its monthly N200,000 Economic Empowerment Scheme for women and youths.

The deputy governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this at a meeting with the Douye/Law Continuity Mandate Initiative (DLCMI) in Government House, Yenagoa, saying the present administration had done a lot in the area of empowerment through different programmes.

He pointed out that the publication of the beneficiaries’ names became necessary to correct some misconceptions about the initiative.

He further explained that such a publication would promote accountability and transparency about the programmes, including the Diri Digital Entrepreneurial Empowerment Programme (D-DEEP), to support indigenous women and youths to grow their businesses.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo, who was specifically responding to a remark that women in the rural areas were not carried along in the scheme of things, said four of them and youths were selected from each of the 105 wards of the state for the economic stimulus scheme monthly.

He said, “This is a state where people even hide their appointments. That is why those who have benefited from this economic empowerment programme hide it because they don’t want people to know.

“They will even complain or cry more than those who have not benefited. So, we are going to publish the names of those who have benefited, local government by local government, for the world to know.”

Earlier, in his written address, the coordinator of the Douye/Law Continuity Mandate Initiative, Austin Okpeh, said the group was throwing its weight behind the second-term bid of the governor and his deputy because of their impressive performance.

(NAN)