Subsidy: Adamawa Begins Distribution of Palliatives, Procures N1bn Buses

Daji Sani in Yola

The Adamawa State government has followed  the federal government’s  efforts to bring succour to residents of the state sequel to the subsidy removal on petrol, by  unveiling a comprehensive distribution of  palliatives across  the 21Local Government Areas yesterday.

The Secretary to State Government (SSG), who doubles as the chairman of the committee, Awwal D. Tukur, said the multi-prong approach would provide succour in multi dimensional areas including transport and subsidised food and non food items to all the 266 wards across the 21 LGAs of the state

He noted that so far the federal government has made available the sum of N2 billion palliatives in addition to five trucks of rice, noting that  the state government has procured 50 trucks to complement the federal government’s gesture.

He added that in order to ensure the sustainability of the programme, the state government will crash the cost of the items by 50 per cent, adding that a 25kg rice with market value of N20,000 will sell at N10,000 only.

Tukur said the under privilege and vulnerable and low income earners would be considered first before anybody.

The SSG also said that to subsidise the cost of transportation which has spiraled in the aftermath of the subsidy removal, the state government has procured 10 long buses at the cost of N1.06 billion, which  will ease the suffering of civil servants, students and other low income earners in the state capital.

He noted that the core goal of the exercise is to bring relief to the most vulnerable members of the society including orphans, widows, people living with disability, boarding schools, women and youth groups adding that eight groups will benefit from the program.

The SSG said in order to ensure an all encompassing program which carries everyone along, the distribution of the palliatives will be done in wards adding that local governments with high number of wards will receive higher packages.

He added that the distribution of the palliatives will be data driven as the committee has obtained substantial data after it’s inauguration adding that upon validating the data, the committee will swiftly swing into action expectedly from Tuesday.

Tukur said one of the most important component of the palliatives is the constitution of an independent monitoring and evaluation committee charged with the responsibility of providing feedback and guidance so as to improve on areas of strengths and strengthen identified weaknesses.

Tukur said the state government has earmarked N1.4bn to procure 50 trucks of rice which is equivalent to 1,500 metric tonnes of the commodity.

He assured the people that the process of the palliatives distribution will be 100 percent transparent calling on journalists to also monitor the process and ask relevant questions whenever they are in doubt.