FEC Says Federal, State, LGAs to Distribute Palliatives to Poor Nigerians

The National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians through a cash transfer programme that will be immediately implemented by the federal, state, and local governments toward ameliorating the suffering of the poorest of the poor in the country.

This is coming because of the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy. The decision was reached on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

NEC while considering integrity tests on national social registers noted that it will be reviewed at the state level to ensure cash transfers reach the most vulnerable in the society who do not have access to bank accounts. The council has also suggested a six-month cash award policy for public servants to ease their living and transportation expenses while urging Governors to reduce the cost of governance in their various states.

The Governor of Bauchi said food items including grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at a subsidized rate or no cost after it is received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Federal Government had said it will review the plan for a monthly N8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy following the backlash it generated among Nigerians.