As a mark of cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal, Federal Government has given 3000 bags of rice as palliative to Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who inaugurated an 18-man Palliatives Committee on Wednesday stressed the need for equitable distribution of the 3,000 bags of rice sent in by the federal government to Akwa Ibom people.
The Committee has the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, as Chairman; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong as Secretary; Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James and 15 others drawn from Government, Organized Labour and Civil Society Organisations as members.
The committee’s terms of reference include providing in details, the measures of how the palliative items would be distributed to positively affect the target population of the poor across the State; creating awareness on measures taken by the State Government and ensuring success in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of palliative measures.
While charging the committee to uphold integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities, he tasked them to ensure that the palliatives get to people who really need them, and to evaluate and recommend to the state government other measures, to add to the federal government’s palliatives.
This, he stressed, should be done with reference to economic realities and availability of funds in the State, within a time frame of two weeks.
“Apart from the recommendations, we have to know how you want us to make it trigger down so that you will also be part of the implementation not just for civil servants but for Akwa Ibom people generally, particularly to the most vulnerable, those who really need these things.
“I am going to make sure I do whatever it takes to ensure that we cushion the effects of all of these but it has to be within what the capacity of the State Government,” he stated.
The Governor thanked the organized labour for the cooperation enjoyed by his administration since assumption of office especially in ensuring peaceful conduct during the August 2 protest, describing the action as lawful and in line with the tenets of democracy and particularly commended the labour leaders for not allowing the process to be hijacked by mischief makers.
Restating his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state, the governor said “We will continue to ensure that we energise our workforce because that is the engine room of government. We will handle every issue that has to do with gratuity and all of that.
“By the grace of God, there will hardly be any two months that we don’t do something about gratuity,” the Governor added.
Fielding questions from Government House correspondents, the NLC Chairman, Comrade Sunny James, commended the Governor for keeping to the promise of setting up a committee even before the expiration of his promised 10 days and gave the assurances of labour’s support, to ensure the palliatives get to those deserving it in the state.
The Labour leader stated that beyond food for the poorest of the poor, the current cost of transportation has jeopardised the economic fortune of workers.
He, therefore, called on government at the federal and state levels to consider palliative measures to also cushion such difficulties.
