Stakeholders in Kogi State have called on the government to provide grants to vulnerable citizens, especially women, to alleviate their suffering at the community level.
They also stressed the need for the government to provide palliatives for small-scale businesses to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on their businesses
This was contained in a communiqué Issued at the end of a One-day stakeholders’ townhall meeting on Fuel Subsidy Removal and how to make Kogi State Palliatives Citizen-focused Organised By Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET), held on Thursday at New Age Hall, Lokoja.
It added that there is an urgent need for the Kogi State Government to set up an all-inclusive committee made up of representatives from all stakeholders in the State to fashion a road map for the implementation of a holistic Palliative administration.
The group noted that the announcement of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy removal by the Nigerian Government on May 29, 2023, has brought about a plethora of challenges, both economic and social.
The communiqué, which was signed by Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, Chairperson, KONGONET, and Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroot Advancement (INGRA), said the One-Day Meeting was held to develop a charter of demand for stakeholders to engage the State Government in the process of palliative distribution and to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.
The meeting had in attendance representatives from the organised private sector, religious bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Government representatives, Pensioners, the legislative arm of Government, Persons with Disabilities, Youth leaders, women’s groups, farmer Organisations, Organised labour, and the Media.
They called on the Ministry of Information and Communication to immediately set up a mechanism for periodic information sharing on government activities to create awareness.
While calling on the state government to scale up NG-CARES to more beneficiaries, It urged the State Government to, as a matter of urgency, ensure effective implementation of the Disability Law to provide a platform for inclusion in state palliative measures.
“A key strategy for palliative administration should involve the development of Rural infrastructure, especially roads, housing, and Primary Health Care (PHC).
“We call on the government to immediately set in motion mechanisms for improving Rural infrastructure.
“The State and Local governments must, as a matter of urgency, put in place a viable and accessible mass transportation system that includes marine, road, and rail options and alternatives while partnering with the private sector.
“Salary increases and other welfare packages for workers and Pensioners should be done with consideration for the attendant effect they have on the economy.
“There is a need for the government to check the incessant increase in the cost of food in the state through a functional Market Board.
It also called for the resuscitation of the Kogi State Consumers Shops to be considered, while the government should subsidise agricultural inputs for farmers to boost food production across the state.
“The Social Register of Vulnerable Persons should be updated to reflect the reality on the ground and should be adopted by the State in palliative administration.
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