Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has issued a warning to states not to misuse aid from the federal government intended to ease the financial blow of the gasoline subsidy cut.
This warning came from Mohammed at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Memorial Stadium in Bauchi over the weekend, where 89,000 25kg bags of food were distributed to those with disabilities as part of the state’s palliatives program.
The governor made it clear that nobody would be spared if they got in the way of attempts to offer relief to the people.
Mohammed, who is also a member of the committee set up by the National Economic Council, NEC, to draw the roadmap for the roll-out of Federal Government palliatives, said that these interventions include the distribution of N5 million in cash or grains to each state, in addition to the distribution of five trailer loads of rice to each state.
To help states provide even more palliative care, he said, 52% of the total cost would be covered by a grant, while 48% would be in the form of a loan with 20 monthly payments.
The governor added that the Federal Government has provided N2 billion, and plans are in place to access the remaining money, as well as other funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The flag-off exercise, as reported by kuryaloaded, consists of providing mass transportation buses, paying student scholarships, and distributing 89,000 bags of rice to the 20 LGAs in the state’s most impoverished areas.
Payment of arrears in leave grants and gratuities to retired and active civil servants, as well as special payments to volunteer health workers, casual workers, and environmental sanitation agents, are also included.
Hajara Yakubu Wanka, State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, previously stated that all required measures have been put in place to guarantee that all vulnerable groups receive palliative care.