Akwa Ibom State Government has announced that it has added a total of N5 billion to the N2 billion released by the Federal Government, to ameliorate the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people of the state.
Breaking down the amount, the state governor, Umo Eno, stated that, the state government has made available 100, 000 bags of rice, released N2 billion for payment of gratuities to retired civil servants, N1 billion for payment of bursary to verified students of tertiary institutions in the state.
Others include; cash transfer of N10,000 each to the 53, 000 civil servants in the state employed for three months, free tickets on Fridays, for market women and transporters in the state for the next three months.
The governor, who gave the breakdown, during the flag-off of the distribution of the palliative rice in his hometown, Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, called on the federal government to release the remaining N3 billion to complete the promised N5 billion so the palliative can go round the respective villages in the state.
Eno, however, explained that out of the N5 billion to be released by the federal government, 60 per cent is given as a loan, to be refunded in due course.
He warned the leaders of the 31 local government areas of the state, to ensure that the palliative go around the people it is meant for, urging those that have the way with all, to add more bags of rice to ensure that the poor people go home with more.
“Palliative money is like blood money, you don’t eat such money, let it go to those it is meant for, you don’t want to be like them. The Bible says; it is more blessed to give than to receive. If you have, you can add to them and receive blessings from God,” the governor said.
Eno, however, emphasised the fact that the palliative items given to the villages were not directed to any party but to every individual resident in the particular village.
He, however, pledged to work with the organized labour union in the state to save the people well.
The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Prince Enoobong Uwah, while speaking at the flag-off ceremony said the rice would be shared at a rate of 40 bags per 2,272 gazetted villages in the state.
Uwah mentioned that Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom and Etinan as the first batch of benefiting local government areas while others will receive theirs thereafter at the designated places in various local government areas.
He assured that the sharing of the palliatives would be peaceful to all the indigenes and residents of the state, and commended the Palliatives Distribution Committee for a job well done.
The SSG, who is also the chairman of the Palliatives Distribution Committee in the state, thanked Governor Umo Eno for the timely release of the palliatives and the over N5 billion state government’s support to the programme, describing him as a passionate governor, who has prioritised the citizens’ welfare in his programmes.
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