Bauchi governor warns against diversion of palliatives

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.

At the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Memorial Stadium in Bauchi over the weekend, a portion of 89,000 25kg bags of rice were distributed among Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), where Mohammed issued the warning.

The governor made it clear that they would spare no one who stood in the way of their efforts to offer relief to the people.

Part of the interventions, according to 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, is the provision of five trailer loads of rice and N5 million to each state in either cash or grains.

He also mentioned that the palliatives are split between a 52% grant and a 48% loan that states can pay back over a period of 20 months.

According to the governor, the federal government has provided N2 billion, and plans are in motion to make available the entire sum, as well as other funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

According to Infostride News, the kickoff event would involve the delivery of 89,000 bags of rice across the state’s 20 LGAs, the distribution of N10,000 to the state’s most impoverished residents, the provision of public transportation buses, and the distribution of student scholarships.

It also covers the payment of special allowances to volunteer health workers, casual workers, and environmental sanitation agents, as well as the payment of outstanding gratuities and leave grants to retired and active federal officers.

The State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka, has already promised that all the required measures have been put in place to guarantee that all the vulnerable groups receive palliative care.