The APC led government in Imo State has flagged off palliative which include rice and transport scheme aimed at cushioning the effects of Petroleum Subsidy removal in the state.
Recall that the removal of Petroleum Subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately after he was sworn – in caused astronomic hike on price of Motor Premium Spirit known as Petrol which adversely heightened cost of services, transportation, commodities, tuition fees, school fees, accommodation rate, among others.
This harsh policy by federal government militates against welfare, wellbeing and security of lessprivileged citizens who clamuor for positive change of politics, leadership and governance.
Flagging off the palliative on Wednesday in Owerri, Governor Hope Uzodimma said Imo State had received the tune of #2b from federal government with which 65,000 bags of rice was used to procure for the first phase, adding that #2b will later be released to the state by the federal government to continue the palliative, hinting that maize would be bought and distributed accordingly thereafter.
The Governor who noted that brand new vehicles will also be floated for transport scheme in the state to reduce cost of transportation, said the palliative will evenly be shared, hence a distribution committee was set up which will be headed by the Secretary to Imo State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu.
The Governor said the Committee Members for the Distribution of the Palliative include Commissioners, Head of Service, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Special Adviser on Labour Matters among other critical stakeholders in the state, saying the reason for setting up the committee is to ensure that food items get to every body.
Government also included security agencies into the committee to be in a position to arrest any body who wants to abuse the sharing process with both formal and informal sectors benefiting from the palliative.
According to the Governor, those to benefit from the palliative are: “Civil servants will receive their rice at the State Secretariat and have to pass through the nominal roll in their various ministries to sign for their rice, Secondary School Teachers will be coordinated through the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB). Every Secondary School teacher who is teaching will receive his or her own rice”.
He stressed that “Primary School Teachers will receive theirs from Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB). IMSUBEB with their nominal roll will ensure that every primary school teacher gets his or her owe rice. Traders in the markets will receive their rice through their associations and these associations and their leadership will ensure that all known traders in our markets receive their own.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of the State Chairman will receive their rice to ensure it gets to their churches, Traditional Rulers will receive their rice through their Council, chaired by the State Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The Town Unions will receive theirs through the President Generals and their secretaries, Government Liaison Officers (GLOs) will receive theirs through their Coordinators, Federal Government parastatals in Imo State namely – the News Agency of Nigeria, NTA, Radio Nigeria, INEC Office in Owerri and Nigerian Labour Congress through their leaders.
Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Imo State, through their leaders, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) through their leaders, Government House Press Crew, Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, Nigeria Union of Teachers, they will all receive theirs through their leaders. The personnel of the Army: Airforce, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, Correctional Services, FRSC, NDLEA, Immigration, DSS and Customs through their leaders.
Hausa community through their Sariki and leadership, Yoruba Community through their leadership, other groups and Special Citizens through their leadership.
Local Government Officers through their various local government areas, Sole Administrators and their aides, Development Centres, National Council of Women Society, Red Cross, Destitute Homes: Orphanages in Imo State, Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Education Development Centre.
Heartland Football Club, Imo State Sports Commission and the players – both men and women, Imo State Legislature through the Speaker’s office and principal officers. PASAN, Legislative staff workers. Appointees of the Government through the Secretary to the Government of Imo State.
The informal sector: Every polling unit will receive 10 bags of rice. (Sharing not based on any political party affiliation). Belongs to everybody registered in that polling unit. The government will take seriously any report of political partisanship.
Hospitals – Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Specialist Hospital, the Nursing Schools in Orlu, Aboh Mbaise, Amaigbo, Emekuku, Umulolo, Awommama. State Universities and Tertiary Institutions.
K.O Mbadiwe University, Imo State University, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Alvan Ikoku University College of Education, Federal College of Land Resources, Federal University Teaching Hospital.
Judiciary Worker’s, Appeal Court, Owerri. Federal High Court, Owerri, Industrial Court, Owerri, Imo State High Court, Customary Court of Appeal, Customary Court, Magistrate Court and judicial workers”.