Subsidy palliatives: FG approves N5bn grant for States, FCT

…States to get 40,000 bags of maize

…Orders States to purchase 100,000 bags of rice, beans for distribution

…Governors confirm receipt of N2bn payment

…The hardship of today will birth a better tomorrow  — Tinubu encourages Nigerians

As part of its palliative measures to cushion the  impacts of subsidy removal on premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, the Federal Government has announced a N5billion grant as palliatives for each State of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nigerians have continued to lament the impacts of the removal of subsidy on petrol, a development which many  cried have worsened situation to the existing suffering of the masses.

Earlier, palliative measures disclosed by the Government which include the payment of N8,000 monthly for six months to less privileged households were greeted with reactions over its irreconcilable insufficiency with realities.

The Organised Labour had in protest embarked on a nationwide strike but later suspended same after talks with President Bola Tinubu who promised to role out palliatives, having earlier directed a review of the measures earlier announced.

The decision of the Federal Government for the approval of N5 billion grant to be given to each of the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT followed Thursday’s meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).

According to the Council, the approved N5 billion grant is to be disbursed to each of the 36 States of the Federation for the procurement of grains.

In addition is the provision of five trucks of rice to each State as palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

The NEC also approved the distribution of 40,000 bags of maize to be distributed to states.

It also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to distribute food items to States sharing borders with Niger Republic over the recent political instability in the Country.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State said the approval of N5 billion and trucks of rice and grains were part of measures to bring temporary solutions to the high cost of living evoked by  subsidy removal.

He said the States are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items for distribution.

Zulum said that NEC mandated NEMA to distribute food items to States sharing borders with Niger Republic.

Speaking, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, said that the review of social register was in progress.

According to him, Nigeria was already having refugees from Niger Republic, which he said is affecting the distribution of palliatives.

However, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, said of the N5billion grant, only N2 billion has so far been given to States instead of the N5 billion approved.

NEC is made up of the governors of the 36 states, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other top government officials.

…The hardship of today will birth a better tomorrow —  Tinubu encourages Nigerians

However, while Nigerians groan over the impacts of subsidy removal, President Tinubu on Thursday reiterated that Nigerians would have to endure with the situation “for a moment,” stating that what they “are going through today is for a better tomorrow.”

Tinubu who spoke on Thursday  in  Abuja at the unveiling of the 688 page book ‘Brutally  Frank,’ an autobiography  of the former Federal  Commissioner  for  Information and South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, expressed optimism that the palliatives to Nigerians by the Federal Government would help to cushion the hardship and trauma.

Tinubu who likened the present situation  to  the pains of birth, which afterwards is trailed by merriment, said that the solution to Nigeria’s  problems “can never be as instant as coffee,” but assured that the problems will be surmounted.

Represented  by the Secretary  to the Government  of the Federation,  (SGF) Senator  George  Akume,  the President said,  “We are going through a difficult phase in the history of this country. But this pains, are pains of birth, birth of a new nation. And that if you want to celebrate a child, a baby, then the mother must go through some pains. But at the end of the day, there is joy. There is merriment when the baby arrives and we will certainly be there.

“Solutions to problems can never be as instant as coffee. But we must certainly be there.

“I know the removal of fuel subsidy has created some things and that is why palliatives are being put in place of 100 trucks, fertilizers have been sent to the States, 100 trucks of grains have been sent and more are coming and more buses are also coming.

“We can endure this for a moment. What we are going through today is for a better tomorrow. Nations are great because citizens have hope. They have hope that tomorrow will be better than today.”