Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state, north-central Nigeria has continued with the distribution of the federal government’s palliatives in Awe, Keana and Obi local government areas in the southern part of the state.
The palliatives distribution was part of steps taken by the government to cushion the hardship currently experienced by citizens due to the increase in prices of petroleum products in Nigeria, resulting from fuel subsidy removal.
When he was being sworn in as Nigeria’s President, on May 29, 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the immediate removal of subsidies on petroleum products, spiking prices of items in the country including food and transportation. This led the Nigerian government to introduce the distribution of food items and cash to vulnerable citizens – to reduce the suffering of people.
The distribution exercise in Nasarawa state started on August 22, with 100 beneficiaries drawn from each electoral ward in all the LGAs of the state.
In the three local government areas visited by the governor on Tuesday, each of the 1,000 beneficiaries received a 50kg bag of rice and the sum of N5,000.
Gov Sule also said in line with the measure, he had directed the immediate payment of N10,000 to all civil servants in the state including LGA workers, and N5,000 to pensioners.
Speaking, Commissioner for Special Duties, Humanitarian Affairs, and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Margret Elayo, said the gesture was to improve the welfare of the vulnerable in society.
She further said that the Nasarawa state government had put measures on the ground to ensure that the food items and the money got to the intended beneficiaries – the aged and people living with disabilities.
