NEWS

EXCLUSION OF NASARAWA, TOTO, AND NASARAWA-EGGON LGAs FROM SUPA: STAKEHOLDERS CALL ON AUTHORITIES TO RECTIFY OVERSIGHT

A wave of concern has swept through parts of Nasarawa State following the exclusion of three local government areas—Nasarawa, Toto, and Nasarawa-Eggon—from the list of beneficiaries of the federal government’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) program.

The SUPA initiative, jointly implemented by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is aimed at building capacity, promoting job creation, and empowering artisans across Nigeria. However, a detailed review of the published beneficiary list revealed a glaring omission of these three LGAs in the state, sparking reactions from community stakeholders and development advocates.

In a formal statement released over the weekend, concerned stakeholders highlighted the issue, describing it as an unfortunate oversight that may deny eligible artisans and entrepreneurs in the affected areas access to critical support.

“Upon reviewing the list of beneficiaries across various sectors of the economy, it has come to our notice that three local government areas in Nasarawa State have been inadvertently skipped. These include Nasarawa, Toto, and Nasarawa Eggon LGAs.”

“This omission, if not corrected, may hinder the socio-economic development of the excluded areas and deepen inequalities across the state,” the statement read.

The SUPA program is designed to train and equip artisans across different trades, thereby improving productivity and livelihoods. Stakeholders argue that the lack of representation from the three LGAs runs contrary to the program’s stated objective of inclusive national empowerment.

They are now calling on the ITF and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to take urgent steps to investigate and address the issue.

“We respectfully request that your ministry investigates this matter and considers including beneficiaries from these local government areas in the program,” the statement urged.

The call for inclusion is seen as part of a broader effort to ensure equitable distribution of federal interventions and prevent any region from being sidelined in national development programs.

As of press time, no official response has been issued by the ITF or the Ministry concerning the exclusion.

The people of Nasarawa, Toto, and Nasarawa-Eggon LGAs now look to the authorities to do the needful and correct what many have described as a clear imbalance in the SUPA program’s rollout.

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