The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) yesterday gave the Federal Government a thumbs up on the N5billion palliative grant and other forms of assistance to the 36 states to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
They urged a fair deployment of the resources to the people.
But the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) differed.
Related Posts:
It said the N5billion was inadequate to solve the problem of hunger in many of the states.
The Kwara State government confirmed receipt of N2bn out of the N4bn relief funds released by the Federal Government for the purchase of rice for vulnerable members of the public.
It is now awaiting a balance of N2bn of the funds as well as N1bn worth of maize (40,000 bags) which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is selling to each state from the national strategic reserve.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, told The Nation that the Federal Government’s gesture was a right step in the right direction.
He advised the state governors who are saddled with the responsibility of sharing the palliatives to ensure they get to the people for whom they are intended.
“It is an indication that the Federal Government is not only aware that the people are going through a tough time currently but also that it (FG) is ready to do something about it,” he said.
He added: “It is proper that the government is coming up with steps to ameliorate the situation as typified by the N5 billion palliative to each state of the federation”.
Ajayi, however, said that throwing money at a problem will not necessarily solve the problem.
“Multiple approaches must be adopted to solve this particular problem. And the solutions must be both in the short and medium terms basis.
“To start with, the Federal Government must work hard to ensure that one or two petrol refineries begin operation before the end of this year. It should also get subsidized vehicles to stakeholders in all the 774 local government areas in the country.
“As for the states, they should earmark N1.5 billion of the N5 billion to each of the three senatorial districts in their respective areas.
“The sum must be targeted, without exception, at building industries that are agriculture based. ”For instance, in Oyo State, industries that will feed on cassava, cashew, yam, rice, mangoes etc as well as livestock must be the ones to which the palliative is committed.
Government should buy foodstuffs in large quantities and sell to people at highly subsidized prices.
“Special arrangements should be made for senior citizens from age 60 and children in the areas of transportation especially in the state capitals and major cities.
“Finally, rail and marine transportation must be expanded just as moratorium must be placed on hike in electricity tariff.”
Ohanaeze: N5bn better than N8,000
The Deputy President Ohanaeze (Southeast) Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the N5billion was a welcome development and better than the N8,000 initially proposed for vulnerable families.
He warned the state governors to monitor the sharing of the palliatives effectively so that they do not end in wrong places.
“The idea is commendable, at least, it’s better than the N8,000 idea, which might not get to its destination,” Okeke-Ogene said.
“It will be a very big relief to the masses that are feeling the heat of the situation.”
Palliatives data base should be re-configured,says PANDEF spokesman
Spokesman of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ken Robinson said that for the palliatives to have the desired impact, the Federal Government should re-evaluate the existing palliatives database with a view to capturing those who are actually in need.
“If the President Tinubu-led administration is serious about alleviating poverty and cushioning the effects of subsidy removal, then, there is need for the reconfiguration, recollection and re-evaluation of the existing data bases and the approach in identifying those who really need the palliatives,” he told The Nation.
“There are those in this country who currently cannot afford one good meal a day. Unfortunately, if the distribution of this ration is left in the hands of state government officials, then it is not going to meet the expected households.
“For this reason, I suggest that community leaders, socio-cultural organizations across the country, traditional rulers, youth and women groups should be involved in deciding what the money should be used for.”
It can’t end widespread hunger in Nigeria – NEF
For the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the N5billion grant per state is insufficient to deal with the current level of hunger across the country.
Its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said government must do more.
His words: “There is real and widespread hunger in the land. Millions of families cannot feed at all. Poverty is when you can only eat. We knew this under Buhari.
“Now people cannot even feed. This should not happen under Tinubu.
“Whatever is being contemplated or processed must be immediate and genuine. Governors and the Federal Government should not underrate the impact of hungry people.
“If someone believes N5b per state will reduce hunger in the land, they should tell people how they intend to do it, and do it in a manner that people see.”
He advised government to consider improved investment in subsidized food production starting now to take advantage of dry season farming; massive deployment of relief with improved transparency in management; check insecurity which currently keeps farmers away from agricultural activities ;and long term substantial improvements in budgeting in agriculture and water resources.
KWSG sets up committee to handle distribution
Kwara State Government confirmed receipt of N2bn out of the N4bn relief funds released by the Federal Government to each of the states for purchase of rice for vulnerable members of the public.
It said it currently awaits the balance of N2bn of the funds as well as N1bn worth of maize (40,000 bags) which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is selling to each state from the national strategic reserve.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, told reporters in Ilorin yesterday that the state government has “consequently ordered immediate purchase of rice in the value of the amount.”
He said that “for transparency and fairness to all, distribution of the palliatives will be overseen exclusively by a committee headed by the Kwara State Police Commissioner, Ebun Oluwarotimi Adelesi.”
To assist the police boss are the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya, state chairman of Jama’átu Nasrul Islam and Christian Association Chairman (CAN) chairman (or their representatives), Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe and Mrs Grace Funke Bolaji (both representing CSOs); chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Dr (Mrs) Saudat Abdulbaqi, Mr. Steven Awoyale (youth), a representative of the DSS, a female representative each from the ‘disability’ community and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Permanent Secretary (General Service) in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Abdulrahman Ameen Babatunde (Secretary).
Ajakaye also confirmed the state government’s receipt “of the remaining three trucks of the bags of rice.”
“Distribution of the remaining three truckloads has commenced through various channels of reaching out to the public, including lawmakers who represent the 24 state constituencies and other stakeholders in the state,” he said and stressed that the rice will “be shared in the spirit of fairness to all, particularly to the most vulnerable persons, because it is simply impractical for everyone to get at the same time.”
Government appealed to the public to remain “patient and calm as multi-layered steps are being taken in phases, including huge interventions to support massive food production, local production of gas-powered vehicles, support for small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturing and other businesses, to boost the economy and ease the difficulties arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.”
PLSG: We’ll use fund for intended purpose
Plateau State Information and Communication Commissioner, Musa Ashom, said the state is already in the process of generating a social register in preparation for the sharing of the cash.
He said the money would be used strictly for the purpose it is intended.
He said: “As I speak to you, we have begun the process of generating a social register that will capture the poorest of the poor, so that the good intentions of Mr President will not go into wrong hands.’
He said the palliatives would be shared among the three senatorial districts through critical stakeholders who know the target population.
“It means we have strategies on ground to ensure this fund gets to the needy and not the greedy ones. This is a people-centric government; we put the people first in whatever we need to do.”
However, the state director, Civil Liberty Organisation said the allocation of N5 billion to each state of the federation cannot solve the current economic crisis in the country.
The fact is that I don’t even believe in the palliative cash, because that is not the demand of the masses of Nigeria. As long as the refineries are not working, as far as people do not have access to fuel when they need it, this five billion magic will not solve any problem,” he said.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) Comrade Eugene1 Manji said: “The Federal Government appears to be doing the right thing at the wrong time or could be doing the right thing the wrong way. I said so because there is a presidential committee on this subsidy, of which NLC is a member, but the approval of this N5 billion, is it the recommendation of the presidential committee or advice from individuals. I don’t think this N5b thing is the recommendation from the presidential committee, and the federal government has not disbanded this committee.
It’s timely intervention — Ondo Govt
Ondo State Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the N5billion palliative fund for states as a timely intervention.
“Although almost all the states have rolled out various measures to cushion the effect of these times for their people, this new support from the federal government will go a long way in expanding the scope and reach of the measures already set in motion,” he said in a statement.
He pledged that “this fund will be fully utilised for the purpose it is meant for,” and directed members of the state palliative committee to speed up work on the implementation of the measures already put in place by the state government.
“Our palliatives committee has been doing well so far,” he said.
“We’ve had the free transport support for civil servants in the state already running and all arrangements have been concluded for that of the school pupils.
“The process for cash support for the vulnerable is ongoing too and disbursement will begin by the end of the month.”
Arewa Youth group forms committee to monitor disbursement of funds
Leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima said the group has formed committees across the northern states to monitor the disbursement of the funds.
We will watch with keen interest. We are on the ground and we have discussed with those communities,” he told The Nation by phone yesterday.
“Anyone we find wanting, we would raise the alarm against him. Now the centre (FG) has already played its role and is free from any accusation. The problem now lies with the states. Let us see how they will manage the funds. We will monitor the governors one after the other to see how they have been able to discharge their responsibility.
“The moment we heard about what they intend to do, we started forming committees in our various states in the northern part of the country to ensure that there is compliance. Even though they may not want us to play a major role, we have to let the people know where the money is used so that it won’t be business as usual. “
Include civil society in managing palliative funds, FNM tells governors
The Future Nigeria Movement (FNM) wants state governors to involve the civil society in the management of all palliatives accruing from the Federal Government to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
The FNM Convener, Livingstone Wechie, while acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s sensitivity to the plight of the people insisted that the civil society must be included in the management of the N5bn sent to the governors by the President to ensure accountability.
He said: “The five billion naira palliative by the Tinubu administration is a clear indication that the government realises that the removal of the fuel subsidy is impacting seriously on Nigerians. It is arguably a show of sensitivity knowing that everything in this country revolves around the energy sector.
“However, the federal government must give close monitoring to the disbursement processes by the governors. The Civil Society should be included in the management of these funds to ensure probity and accountability. The governors should prioritise transportation infrastructure in the utilisation of these funds particularly the movement of agro products.
“There should be an arrangement for the eased transportation of goods such as consumables and persons across states so that the critical and most impacted aspects of the society can benefit from these palliative by the federal government”.
Programme Director of Social Action, a civil Society Group(CSO), Isaac Green said state governments should meet with stakeholders in their states to “discuss critically on how best the money can actually benefit those it is targeted at.”
I hope it won’t go the way of Sure-P, COVID-19 relief – Ogun TUC chairman
The Ogun State Chairman, Trade Union Congress(TUC), Akeem Lasisi advised the Federal Government (FG) to engage all stakeholders, establish implementation and Monitoring Committees first before disbursing N5Billion to states.
Lasisi expressed reservations about the N5billion palliative, saying the previous interventions of the FG such as the Paris Club refund, Anchor borrower fund, SURE – P, COVID – 19 relief package, extra crude oil fund among others did not achieve the desired result because those the measures were meant to uplift did not get them .
The union leader recalled that the Paris Club refund, for example, was meant to be used to pay workers’ salaries but lamented that many states did not pay their workers even after collecting the refund.
Measure is shambolic, unscientific – ACF Spokesman
Spokesman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba said the N5billion grant is shambolic and unscientific.
Muhammad-Baba, a Professor of Sociology who expressed his personal opinion in an interview said there is no basis for giving the same amount to Lagos, Oyo, Kano and Bayelsa states, as their populations and statistics of people differ.
He said: “I am not happy about such blanket distribution of N5billion to each state. In the first place, there is no basis for the distribution. I mean, if you are looking for poor people, are you allocating the same amount to Bayelsa, Lagos, Oyo and Kano states and you expect it to make an impact?
“This shows that we are doing things like what grammar people call ‘hunter’s pack’. You don’t plan, you don’t strategize, you just came out blanketly and just made announcement on that. There is no basis for sharing money to states on an equal basis.
“We are talking of poor people and poor people is a question of proportion, we know there are over 140 million multinationally poor people in Nigeria. The number of people suffering from poverty in Lagos, Oyo and Kano will not be the same with those living in poverty in Bayelsa, Taraba or Jigawa. So, what is the basis? What impact is it going to make?
“You are accompanying it with 30,000 bags of rice, how many people is that going to reach? Take a state like Sokoto for example, they have over seven million people by the latest National Population Commission estimate. So, how many people are 30,000 bags of rice going to feed?
“The Government is not working on a definite plan, definite specific. Am sorry to say, the government is implementing a shambolic policy. You need to come to the aid of the poor people, there is no doubt about it, that is scientific, but you need to do it in such a way that your intervention will not be a drop in the ocean.”
Cross River Labour wants stakeholders involved
Cross River State chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Gregory Olayi, said the state government should engage all critical stakeholders to know the immediate needs of the people and ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives to reach all citizens of the state
Mrs Ako Eyo Hogan, President Watt Market Women Association in Cross River State asked the state government to use part of the fund to give scholarships to indigent students whose families may not be able to pay school fees and other educational needs.
“Beyond this, part of the money should be used in procuring mass transit buses for government workers who have to pay transport fares to and from work every day without increase in their salaries, provide foodstuffs and distribute to the downtrodden masses, especially the widows who are the ones really affected financial strains,” she said.
The Muri Munene and Paramount Ruler of Efut Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Maurice Okon Eyo 1, said Governor Bassey Otu should use the money to “continue what his government has already started – provision of foodstuffs to households.
“Beyond this, as a civil service state, government should use part of the money to increase workers’ salaries, provide buses for workers and the masses to ease the problem of transportation instead of reducing working days and to expand the state-owned West Africa Construction and Fabrication Academy to train the teeming unemployed youths to provide them means of livelihood.”
N5b too insignificant to solve our problem, says Oyo NLC chair
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Kayode Martins, described the N5billion as too insignificant to address the level of hardship the people are facing.
He charged government at all levels to do meaningful things to address sufferings and hardship with the fund.
His Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi said: “I, as a person ‘am never a believer in sharing anything in this manner.
“Fix the refineries, give us electricity, build our roads and make food available through mechanised agriculture. That is how to improve people’s lives and not through sharing bags of rice and N8,000.”
Inuwa: Media should keep an eye on palliatives sharing
Like Professor Muhammad-Baba ,the Chairman of the NLC in Kano State, Kabiru Inuwa faulted the even allocation of N5 billion cash and five trucks of rice to each state, arguing that some states such as Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers and Oyo are more populous and therefore have more mouths to feed than other states.
“There is no wisdom in the equal distribution of funds and palliative items. The distribution should have had a formula. The most populous states, that witness influx of people on a daily basis, should have been given additional funds,” he said.
Governors have no record of prudence
The Convener of Centre for Responsive Governance (CRG), Comrade Ayo Ologun, does not believe most of the governors can do justice in their handling of the palliatives, going by their records.
“The governors have no record of prudence in spending and if care is not taken, apart from a large chunk that will be stolen, the money if shared will be to the benefit of their party members and not the people,” Ologun said in Osogbo.
“No nation grows by sharing money to her citizens but by providing infrastructure that all can benefit from. I expect each state to set up a team that cuts across the government and private sector and look at the priority needs of each state and invest in same for collective benefit,” he added.
Govs should set up committees to handle the FG palliative
Trade Union Congress (TUC) chairman in Imo State, Ibe Great Uchenna, advised the state government to avoid the pitfalls experienced during the Covid period.
He said: “it may not be right going to the streets sharing money to the people. There must be better policies where the money can be implemented or used that would benefit us more, people survived the war, they will equally survive this one even if all things are equal, people will still die. I won’t want anybody to say he died because the palliative didn’t get to him.
“But if everybody sees it that this government has done her best, they will really applaud the government. The governor will not come up to say that he knows how to share the money except that he has drawn up the master plan prepared before the money came, but I believe there are steps and the step will be to set up some committees who will now take whatever the governor has in his mind and then criticise it and come up with the best possible way of handling the matter.”
(Nation)
| Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of NEWS FLASH content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. |
