Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, has issued a warning against the misuse of federal aid meant to ease the blow of the fuel subsidy cut.
At the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Memorial Stadium in Bauchi over the weekend, a portion of 89,000 25kg bags of rice were distributed among Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), where Mohammed issued the warning.
The governor made it clear that nobody would be spared if they stood in the way of attempts to offer relief to the people.
Mohammed, who is also a member of the committee established by the National Economic Council, NEC, to draw the roadmap for the roll-out of Federal Government palliatives, stated that the interventions would include the distribution of N5 million to each state in the form of cash or grains and the distribution of five trailer loads of rice to each state.
He also noted that the palliatives are split between a 52% grant and a 48% loan, with repayment spread out over 20 months, to help states deliver more palliative care.
Additional grants from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are also expected, according to the governor, who said that the federal government has given N2 billion so far while plans are being made to access the remaining money.
The flag-off activity, as reported by SAGEFE, consists of distributing 89,000 bags of rice to the 20 LGAs in the state, giving each resident of the state N10,000, providing public transportation buses, and giving out student scholarships.
Payment of leave grants and outstanding gratuities to retired and active civil servants, as well as special payments to volunteer health workers, casual workers, and environmental sanitation agents, are also included.
Hajara Yakubu Wanka, the state commissioner for humanitarian affairs and disaster management, had stated that all required measures have been put in place to guarantee that all vulnerable groups receive palliative care.
