Nigerians Fume as State Governors Hoard Rice, N180bn Palliatives
Nigerians have expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of distribution of the palliatives by the state governors. The palliatives, which include N180 billion and 180 trucks of rice, were released by the Federal Government last week to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on the citizens.
However, many governors have kept the materials in warehouses while the workers and residents suffer from hunger and hardship. The subsidy removal had led to a sharp increase in fuel pump prices and inflation, worsening the poverty level in the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), National Union of Pensioners (NUP) and others in separate interviews with Newsflash Nigeria on Tuesday, lamented the hunger among their members and expressed misgivings about the way the palliatives package was being handled by the authorities.
The NLC said it was not involved in the sharing of the palliatives and accused the Federal Government of using the N5bn given to each state as a form of settlement to the governors. It also said it was worried about the delay by the Federal Government in providing its own palliatives for Nigerians as promised.
The ASUP said it was disappointed that the palliatives were not reaching the people who needed them most, especially the workers and students. It said it was unfortunate that some governors were politicizing the distribution of the palliatives and using them as campaign tools.
The NUT said it was unhappy that teachers were not considered as beneficiaries of the palliatives, despite their contributions to national development. It said teachers were among the worst hit by the subsidy removal and deserved some relief from the government.
The NUP said it was sad that pensioners were also left out of the palliatives, despite their plight and vulnerability. It said pensioners were facing difficulties in accessing their pensions and gratuities, and needed some support from the government.
The groups called on the Federal Government to monitor and ensure that the palliatives get to the intended beneficiaries across the country. They also urged the state governors to expedite action on the distribution of the palliatives and avoid any form of discrimination or bias.
The delay in the distribution of the palliatives has further worsened the suffering of the people, who are already struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. Many people are now going hungry, and there are fears that the situation could lead to social unrest.
The government must take urgent steps to address the delay in the distribution of the palliatives. The materials must be released immediately and distributed to the people in a timely and transparent manner. The government must also ensure that the palliatives are not diverted or sold to unscrupulous individuals.
The delay in the distribution of the palliatives is a clear indication of the government’s lack of concern for the welfare of the people. The government must do more to help the people who are struggling to make ends meet.
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