Palliative: Akwa Ibom Gov urges FG to release N3bn balance of support fund

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has urged President Bola Tinubu to release the remaining tranche of the N3billion palliative to state governments as promised, to enable them provide more succour to the people as a result of fuel subsidy removal.

Eno, who made the appeal on Wednesday while flagging off the distribution of palliatives at the Government Warehouse, Ikot Ekpene Udoh, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state, disclosed that Akwa Ibom Government has added N5 billion to the N2 billion and 100, 000 bags of rice received earlier from the federal government.

He, therefore, tasked the local government chairmen to ensure even distribution of the palliatives to reach everyone in need in all the villages.

“Please ensure that the palliatives get to the people in the villages. The state government has added N5 billion to the N2 billion donated by the federal government,” Eno said.

Eno said that as part of the palliatives, there will be reduction in price of daily tickets for market women, payment of bursaries to students and provision of buses to convey workers to and from work.

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Eno tasked the committee to ensure that the palliatives were given to the poorest of the poor across party lines and to residents of the state, especially those residing in rural communities.

Earlier, Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Palliatives Committee, Mr Enobong Uwah, said that 40 bags of rice would be shared to 2,272 gazetted villages in the state.

He said security would be provided throughout the distribution areas to ensure smooth distribution of the palliatives to all residents of the state.

He said that Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom and Etinan are the first batch of benefiting local government areas, while others will receive theirs thereafter at the designated places in various local government areas.

In his remarks, the Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Comrade Sunny James, warned against diversion of the palliatives as they are meant for the poor in the society.