Fuel subsidy palliative: FG approves N5bn as grant, 5 trucks of rice for each state
Oredola Adeola
EnergDay gathered that the FG directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to distribute food items to states sharing the border with Niger Republic over the recent political instability in the country.
Governor Zulum while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the 135th NEC meeting said the approval of N5 billion and trucks of rice and grains were part of measures to bring temporary solutions to the high cost of living caused by the subsidy removal, as the government continued to work with more enduring programmes.
He said the states are to purchase 100,000 bags of rice and beans among other items.
Zulum said that NEC mandated NEMA to distribute food items to states sharing borders with the Niger Republic.
EnergyDay gathered that the ongoing intervention is being supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Earlier, during the NEC meeting EnergyDay gathered that an Ad-hoc Committee was constituted to engage with the leadership of labour unions to find a way forward on the emerging issues in the interest of the nation.
The committee comprises the Nigerian Governors Forum Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Anambra State,Chukwuma Soludo; Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
Meanwhile, during the NEC meeting, the Council highlighted the inflationary impact, suggesting that fuel subsidy removal will continue to increase inflationary pressure, hence the need for the government to initiate robust social programmes.
NEC also suggested that investment in the downstream and midstream segments of the petroleum industry will reduce huge dependence on petrol imports and strike out the need to pay subsidy on fuel.
Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, in his comment about the palliative said that only N2 billion has so far been given to states instead of the N5 billion approved.
