Palliatives: Knocks trail distribution, beneficiaries decry inadequate foodstuffs, delay
Confusion is trailing the Federal Government’s palliatives package to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory stemming from distribution hitches, alleged underhand dealings and inadequacy of the materials to meet the needs of Nigerians.
While some of the states have taken custody of the funds and food items earmarked for distribution to residents as palliatives, others have yet to receive such amid agitation by the citizens.
The Federal Government, on Thursday, announced the release of a N180bn palliative package to states to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
Each state is expected to get N5bn and 180 trucks of rice as part of measures to assuage the pains of the subsidy removal.
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The removal of subsidy on petrol, which was announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday, May 29, 2023, has led to sharp and multiple increases in fuel pump prices, driven up the prices of goods and services, pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty and worsening the socio-economic situation in the country.
But announcing the release of the palliative at the end of the 135th National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice-President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed that the N5bn was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.
He added that considering the urgency in meeting the need to mitigate the skyrocketing food prices across the country, the Federal Government had last week released five trucks of rice to each state of the federation.
One Mallam Yinusa Magaji, who identified himself as a leader in the area, said all the residents of the Agunbelewo area were given six measures of rice to share.
He said, “We received six measures of rice out of one bag allocated to three areas of Agunbelewo, Gaa Odota and Adewole Housing Estate in the Adewole Ward.
“We want the government to challenge us if they gave us more than six measures contained in this bag.”
Before he ended his speech, the crowd that gathered in the place had reduced, as many were said to have left in anger.
Reacting to the footage, Ajakaye described it as the handwork of members of the opposition party in the state.
“The person addressing the people in the video is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Adewole Ward. It is sad that people are playing politics with the good intention of the Federal Government,” he stated.
Ajakaye, who said the government had good intentions and meant well for the people of the state, added that he had it on good authority that the government had directed that food items be distributed to the residents through their traditional rulers.
He explained, “I learnt that everyone should be given one paint bowl of rice, which is about 4kg, and no one should be given less.
“If a household is given a bag of rice and the leadership of the household devises a sharing formula, I don’t think that is the fault of the government.”
In a viral video, some residents of Osun State lamented that they had yet to receive the palliatives promised by the Federal Government.
However, the spokesman for the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the palliatives were yet to be distributed, urging the residents to hold on for the last batch of rice to be received.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, Rasheed said the government would issue the template for the distribution when the last truckload of rice with 600 bags arrives.
He said, “The government has so far received four truckloads making it a total of 2,400 bags of rice. Four truckloads were delivered last week. The last batch is expected any moment from now. The government is already presenting the template for the distribution across the states.
“The template will be released in the new week. Members of the public are informed that the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke will ensure equitable distribution to all sectors and sections of society.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade, who doubles as the Chairman of the state Palliative Distribution Committee, gave the breakdown of the distribution and noted that members of the committee met and agreed on the list of beneficiaries.
Boluwade said, “Each of the 177 wards of the state will get 10 bags of rice each. Parts of the criteria are that we must prioritise widows and women in the wards. What we are saying is that the rice going to the wards should be shared more with women and widows. We also specially allocated 100 bags for widows.
“All the artisans in the private sector shared 200 bags of rice, while the transport unions got 180 bags. All the market women in Ekiti State were allocated 100 bags. Persons with disabilities got 150 bags.
“The elderly, that is pensioners, got 100 bags. Civil servants comprising the junior staff members got 100 bags.”
Boluwade assured residents that the palliatives would get to everyone in subsequent tranches.
Ondo
The Ondo State Government said it was making efforts to ensure that the palliatives got to the vulnerable in the state, adding that the distribution of the Federal Government rice would soon commence.
The aide stated, “I can categorically tell you that we have not received any rice from Abuja in Sokoto State.
“I know if we receive it now, we will definitely find a way to get it to the citizens of the state in a good time,” the source added.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Kebbi State government were not successful as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
Gombe
The Director-General of Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, said the sharing of the palliatives would be determined after careful consideration of a previous register of beneficiaries.
Misilli disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Gombe, adding that the distribution of palliatives would be concluded after consultation with relevant stakeholders.
He said, “The distribution of the palliatives in Gombe State is a priority for Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
He explained that the 34 local government councils would purchase 36,100 bags of maize each, using their monthly allocations from the Federation Account.
Radda said the state government would also order extra consignments of rice, maize and fertiliser from the Federal Government for distribution to residents and farmers.
Borno
The Borno State Government expressed readiness to administer the N5bn fuel subsidy palliative allocated to the state for the optimum benefit of the people.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Isa Gusau, told Sunday PUNCH that the state government already had a template with which the distribution of the palliatives would follow.
He said, “The system, which came into being due to the unfortunate Boko Haram crisis, which affected close to two million people, is such that the beneficiaries are classified into three – internally displaced persons still living in IDP camps, resettled IDPs in communities and indigent citizens in metropolis and towns.”
On how soon the state government would purchase and distribute the palliatives, Gusau said Governor Zulum had in July launched a new phase of palliatives targeting 300,000 households, with each household having six persons.
Gombe
The Gombe State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Dawut Jidda, has pleaded with the state government to augment the food and water supply at the camp, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Jidda made this plea in his address during the swearing-in ceremony of 1622 Batch B stream II corps members at the Amada temporary orientation camp, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Delta
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has set up a committee that is already working on what will be given to the residents as palliatives.
This was contained in a signed statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon.
The statement read partly, “The committee, among other things, is looking at the distribution pattern and how to reach the people.
Kaura stated, “As I am speaking to you now, we have not received the palliatives and the N5bn.
“We are, however, expecting the items and the money anytime from now.”
He explained that the state government had proper arrangements on how the palliatives would be distributed to residents of the state.
He said, “The state government has already planned on how the palliatives should be distributed to the public.
“The government is waiting for both the money and the other items for onward distribution to the deserving people of the state.”
Kano
The Kano State Government, on Saturday, said it was still awaiting the arrival of the Federal Government’s promised palliatives.
“In each state, there must be a committee that should be constituted that will include labour unions, the Nigerian Bar Association, religious and community leaders, and civil society groups,” he noted.
Also speaking, the Chairman, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Chido Onumah, said an oversight body should also be set up at the federal level to receive reports from the state committees and be accountable to the public.
The organised labour had earlier knocked the Federal Government for releasing a N180bn palliative package to states to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress insisted that state governors could not be trusted, noting that politicians and not the poor would benefit from the N5bn given to each state government for disbursement to the citizens. Punch
