States Await FG’s N570bn, Unveil Own Palliatives

Many state governments across the country say they are still awaiting the N570 billion announced by President Bola Tinubu to cushion the effect of the prevailing hardship in the country.

President Tinubu had while addressing the nation recently over the #EndbadGovernance# protests, said his administration gave N570 billion to the 36 states as a palliative measure.

But some confusion has trailed the announcement, with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde clarifying that the funds were actually from the World Bank’s COVID-19 recovery programme which predates the Tinubu administration and not directly from the federal government.

Besides, our correspondents say findings from across the states indicate that many have not received any such fresh funds from the current administration, and while awaiting it, they have resorted to own palliative measures to alleviate suffering among the masses.

For instance, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently said his administration’s

efforts in public transportation, investments in agriculture – including training of 20 youths per local government on modern agribusiness, improvements in the health and education sectors, among others were all targeted at laying the foundation for poverty alleviation and reducing hardship.

In Katsina, our correspondent reports that the state government has also taken measures to ameliorate the hardship,  including the sale of grains worth over N10.6 billion at subsidised rates, providing  fertiliser to farmers at subsidised rates as well as engaging extension workers and providing chemicals for farmers to encourage return to farms.

In addition, the government has also distributed 31,000 bags of rice and stipends to the elderly and vulnerable through the KT-CARE and  SEMA empowerment schemes.

Though the Imo State government has not received its share of the N570 billion,  the commissioner for information and orientation, Hon. Declan Emelumba,  said the state government in collaboration with the federal government would begin a round of palliatives distribution among residents.

According to him, about 17,000 bags of rice are expected to be shared among residents in the 305 electoral wards in the state.

He said the consignment was ready for distribution, adding that the move was only meant to temporarily cushion the effect of hunger and mitigate the rising cost of food items.

The Akwa Ibom State government has launched a mass rice distribution programme targeting 2,272 villages across the 10 federal constituencies, LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered yesterday in Uyo.

At the commencement of the distribution process, the commissioner for agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, disclosed that the governor had doubled the initial 24,000 bags of rice received from the federal government to 48,000 bags for more people to be captured.

Osun State government spokesman  Olawale Rasheed said although the state had not received the announced 20 trucks of rice, in order to tackle hunger, rice and other food items were distributed to the people through a committee.