Palliatives

Awka, Oct. 4, 2023: The Anambra State House of Assembly has appealed to the private sector in the state, to provide palliative measures to cushion the effect of economic hardship on their work force.

This was contained in a motion moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by the Majority leader, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme, representing Ekwusigo Constituency at plenary on Tuesday.

Ofodeme said that the continuous rise in the cost of living in Nigeria had reduced the purchasing power of an average worker in the state.

He said that the recent removal of fuel subsidy which increased the cost of petrol with consequential increase in price of commodities, had further worsened the condition of an average worker.

According to him, It is sad that most workers in the private sector of Anambra can hardly meet their basic needs.

“It is worrisome that the salaries of most private sector workers in the state cannot meet up with their basic needs in the face of all these economic challenges.

“The situation has made many workers in the state to resort to various ethical and unethical means to survive while giving room to corporate begging at work place.

“Providing palliative measures will enable private sector workers in Anambra to adjust to the prevailing economic situation, thereby improving productivity,” he said.

Supporting the motion, Mr Ejike Okechukwu, representing Anaocha Constituency ll, urged the captains of industries in the state to emulate Gov. Chukwuma Soludo in the provision of palliative measures.

“The fuel subsidy removal is affecting everybody. Just as the Governor is rolling out palliatives for public workers, the private sector should do same for their workers, ” he said.

Contributing, Mr Kingsley Udemezue, representing Idemili North, appealed to the private sector to support the state government in the provision of palliatives for households in the state.

“The private sector should see this gesture as a corporate social responsibility. It is giving back to the society where they operate their businesses,” he said.

Mr Nonso Atuchukwu, representing Nnwei South Constituency l, urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of prudence to manage their expenses and finances generally.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, read the resolution.

“The state assembly calls on captain of industries and private establishments in the state to emulate the palliative measures of Mr Governor and effect same in the private sector to cushion the effect of economic hardship on the work force.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have flayed the release of N180 billion palliatives to state by the federal government.

The release of the money to the 36 states and FCT was announced on Thursday as a design to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

The Federal Government has released 180 trucks of rice as part of measures to assuage the pains of the subsidy removal.

The unions said the governors could not be trusted and noted that politicians and not the poor would benefit from the N5bn largess given to each state government for disbursement to the citizens.

But announcing the release of the palliative at the end of the 135th National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, disclosed that the N5bn was to enable the state governments to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers to cushion the effect of food shortage across the country.

He added that considering the urgency in meeting the need to mitigate the skyrocketing food prices across the country, the Federal Government had last week released five trucks of rice to each state of the federation.

 “NEC met today and expressed serious concerns as regards increasing cost of food items, increasing cost of transportation amongst others as a result of subsidy removal. In order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, the federal government released five trucks of rice to each state last week.

“Furthermore, in order to cushion the effect of food shortages across the country, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N5bn to be given to each state for the procurement of 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers.

 “This funding has to be shared with a formula as follows: 52 percent of this money is given to states as grants, while 48 per cent of the N5bn is to be paid back on an installment basis within a period of 20 months to the CBN by the states and the local government areas in Nigeria.

“The council commended the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu as well as the CBN. We have also commended the efforts of NEMA in cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal.

“Council has taken bold decisions in order to ensure speedy release of grains and other items in order to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the less privileged in the society,’’ Shettima said.

He noted that the council took bold decisions in order to ensure the speedy release of grains and other items for immediate distribution to the less privileged in society.

Shettima added, “The council has also taken note of the $800m loan and insists that it be strictly used for the intended purpose and based on an accurate and acceptable register. The $800m announced by the president will go to Nigerians in accordance with an accurate social register.

“Furthermore, the council has also noted the package that was announced by the President in order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, amounting to about N500bn.

“This fund has to be distributed to the following sectors: MSMEs, industrial sector; about N125 billion will go for cash transfers, agricultural sector as well as gas expansion for buses.

“And because of the increasing cost of fossil fuel, the federal government intends to establish more gas stations in Nigeria and procure more gas-powered buses, CNG buses as well as electric buses.”

He said the council commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the CBN in addressing the current situation in the country.

NEC’s committee

In a bid to create a forum for dialogue towards resolving issues surrounding the petrol subsidy removal across the states, the NEC which is made up of governors of the 36 states, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other government officials, constituted an ad hoc committee to engage with the leadership of labour unions.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Vice-President, the committee comprised the Nigerian Governors Forum Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo; Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

The VP said the committee would liaise with the leadership of labour unions in the country to find a way forward on the emerging issues in the interest of the nation.

The council also received progress reports on the ongoing nationwide distribution of rice, grains, fertilizer, and other items to states and N5bn financial support, provided by the Federal Government and commended the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Emergency Management Agency for their interventions.

It also noted the various interventions by state governments and urged them to upscale the distribution of palliatives towards alleviating the suffering of citizens, especially vulnerable groups.

The statement read, ‘’During the meeting, details from some accounts of government were revealed such as Excess Crude Account from 19th July to 14th August 2023, $473,754.57; Stabilisation Account from 18th July to 14th August, N30,346,557,405.12 and Natural Resources Account from 18th July to 14th August 2023, N115,175,616,159.65.”

 Similarly, the NEC assessed the state of the economy, particularly investment, and the forex crisis, among others.

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It stated, “Investment inflows have dwindled since 2019, likewise the country’s investment/GDP ratio; Crude Oil exports and refined petroleum products imports dominate Nigeria’s trade structure; Nigeria’s Naira position against major trading currencies deteriorated; Weak FX supply and heightened demand for imports remains core drivers of exchange rate instability; market volatility persists despite recent FX alignment, driven by pressure on FX demand that widens the gap between official and parallel market rates due to inadequate supply and speculative tendencies; external reserves remain under pressure as external reserves fell by 8.3 percent from 37.1bn in January 2023 to 33.9 billion in July 2023.”

 But reacting to the government’s interventions, the Assistant National Secretary-General of the NLC, Mr Chris Onyeka, wondered why the FG was releasing money to governors, many of whom he said had refused to pay the minimum wage.

He dismissed the palliative fund as paltry, noting that it would not get to the intended beneficiaries.

“The money will not get to the people, let them share the money as they want but what the NLC agreed with them were certain milestones. The NLC will close its eyes to what the Federal Government is trying to give to the governors.

 “To us as far as we are concerned, NLC will still stick to the milestones that we have agreed on, we will insist that those things are discussed and implemented to the letter.’’

“When the Federal Government wants to subvert the instrument of dialogue, it intentionally creates problems. The Federal Government had already started engaging using this instrument when they engaged the NLC; for them now to go and sit down at the level of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and to go and pretend to give them money is a subversion of social dialogue, subversion of peace, and a subversion of democracy because it is not democratic.”

The TUC Deputy National President, Tommy Etim stressed that governors could not be trusted with the implementation of the palliative funds.

“It is one thing to make pronouncements, implementation is another thing. I am sure you remember what happened to the COVID-19 palliatives in 2020 when foodstuffs were stored in warehouses and kept from hungry citizens. Same thing with the issue of the Paris Club relief fund that some governors went to hide in the bank so that they could get some from it while citizens were starving.

“We need a body that will follow up on the implementation because left to the state governors, the palliatives may not get to places where it should get. We need a body that will make them accountable. We need the citizens to be aware. The body should let everyone know when each state gets its own relief (package). Everyone should know the details that are received by each state, how the packages were distributed,’’ he suggested.

Also,  the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Federal Government was about sharing N2,000 and a cup of rice to poor people across the country.

He also stated that the governors could not be trusted, as most of them were not paying minimum wage, adding that no committee was established to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.

 Ajaero said, “N5bn multiplied by 36 states is going to give you N180bn. So if you divide that with the official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, which says that 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, and calculate it, you will get about N2,000 each for those who are poor.

“That is the official statistics of the government, but you and I know that the actual figure is more than that. So is that what to celebrate? And then, five trucks or there about, of rice to a state. The poor people of these states cannot get one cup of rice. It will not go round.

“Even if you pick them from the poverty bracket, it will be difficult for them to get one cup of rice. Is that the best we can do?  Is that the best approach to governance? So do we look at our people as people we should give one cup of rice and N2,000? Is that palliative?”

Enugu, Aug. 3, 2023: Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State says that palliatives will not solve current problems posed by the removal of the fuel subsidy in the country.

Mbah made the disclosure while addressing workers on peaceful protest to the Government House, Enugu on Wednesday

According to him, palliatives don’t solve problems but we are going to look at the remote cause of these challenges with medium to long term plan in solving the problems.

Mbah represented by his deputy, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, commended labour for leading a peaceful protest and their contributions for the growth and development of Enugu State.

The governor explained that removal of fuel subsidy was currently affecting all Nigerians as they all lived in same economy and shop from same market.

He added that before the final removal of the subsidy, he had sustained by private effort, delivery of petrol to Enugu citizens at reduced prices through Pinnacle oil and Gas he owned.

“Just on Tuesday, I set up a committee to provide palliatives to Enugu citizens to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy and in the days ahead, people will begin to receive value from the committee,” he said.

Earlier, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, told Gov. Mbah that prices of goods and services had skyrocketed while civil servants’ salaries remained stagnant.

Nwigbo said that the situation had subjected Nigerians, both rich and poor to untold hardships.

 “We are here today to inform the Enugu State Government on some of the policies introduced by the present Federal Government on May 29 that put the entire nation into suffering.

“Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, the country had known no peace. In 2019, civil servants were given minimum wage of N30, 000 while the prices of fuel has increased to between N617 and N700 per litre.

“Citizens of this country are suffering, many dying in their numbers while the insecurity is being driven by hunger hardship.

“So we want his Excellency, to take our message to the Federal Government that those policies are affecting the masses.

Nwigbo commended the state government for paying minimum wage, noting that some civil servants in primary schools, Local Governments and parastatals were still receiving some percentage of that minimum wage in the state.

He also appealed to Mbah to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel removal in the state.

“From N30,000, we pay rent, hospital bills, school fees and buy fuel. So we appeal to you to do something urgently about it.

Also Speaking, Comrade Ben Asogwa, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Chapter, said they were on rescue mission for poor Nigerians.

He said that Nigerian workers were not trouble makers but fighting for the well-being of Nigerians as cost of living had increased, explaining that workers that own cars, their salaries cannot fuel it monthly.

“This is the first time labour is visiting Government House since Mbah came in,” Asogwa said.

Ilorin, July 24, 2023: The Kwara Government has approved a slew of multibillion Naira palliatives to neutralise the effects of recent removal of fuel subsidy, cutting across different sectors and demographies of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the state, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the development in Ilorin.

Ajakaye said that on top of the palliatives is a cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker in the state, which begins by July ending and last until a new minimum wage is introduced.

“This will enable workers cope with the economic shocks created by the subsidy removal.

“In deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their own independent responses to the development.

“The Governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule, not exceeding three days a week to reduce transportation expenses for workers.

“Kwara had earlier introduced a three-day work schedule for its civil servants, but suspended it in deference to an earlier advisory of the NEC for states to await a more holistic response to the development.

“The staggered work plan will not cover ‘essential workers’,” the governor’s spokesman however clarified.

According to him, the governor has similarly approved the payment, effective from this July, of new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100 per cent CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under the government’s payroll.

He also approved a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government.

He explained that the whole essence is to check attrition rate in the health sector, and attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare services for the people of the state.

Ajakaye added that the governor has also endorsed immediate cash-backing of 2019 and 2020 promotion for Teaching Service Commission workers.

“The administration had earlier cash-backed arrears of promotion for TESCOM for years 2015-2018.

“In the same vein, he has approved cash-backing for 2021 promotion exercise of teaching and non-teaching staff of SUBEB and restoration of steps to all of them.

“This is a policy response to the yearnings of SUBEB workers since 2016 when SUBEB workers no longer had steps.

“The Governor also approved the extension of free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions in the state, while modalities for occasional distribution of food to poor and most vulnerable households are to be activated in the next few days,” he stated.

The spokesman explained that: “This shall be nonpartisan, and would be coordinated by a government team to be supported by respected stakeholders who would get inputs from traditional rulers, religious bodies, market leaders, trade unionists and community based organisations to generate the lists of beneficiaries and disburse accordingly.

“The whole idea of these interventions, which will gulp billions of naira of public funds, is to show empathy and deploy as much resources as the state can afford to support the people at this special time.

“The Governor has also approved for the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to activate a N500 million worth of conditional support for petty traders and MSMEs in the state.

“The state government will receive fertilisers and grains from the Federal Government and pay for same. It is not free.”

“Modalities for the handling of these will be made available later. This is to boost farming outputs and food security in the state.

“The government, meanwhile, will be setting up a committee to interface with marketers on the need to curb extortionist tendencies as seen in arbitrary fixing of prices of foodstuffs.

“This practice imposes hardship on everyone. The government will be willing to collaborate with the patriotic market leaders on how to tackle this challenge.

“Finally, the Governor identifies with the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong commitments to sustainable economic reforms and well-being of the Nigerian people, believing that the current discomforts are just like the pains that precede the joyful birth of a child,” Ajakaye said.

Abuja, July 19, 2023: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has directed the immediate review of the palliative to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy.

In a statement issued by Mr Dele Alake on Tuesday in Abuja, Tinubu directed the immediate review of the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme meant to bring succour to most vulnerable households.

He said that this was in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.

The president also called for the unveiling of the whole palliative package to Nigerians.

Similarly, Tinubu ordered the immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively, in all the 36 states and the FCT.

“The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised.

“The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

“The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.

“In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from petrol.

“The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal,” the statement read in part.

He said that the administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision.

“Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.

“It should be noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.

The president further assured Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime would be judiciously utilised.

He added that the beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation

“President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritise the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow.

“A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.

“You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience.

“This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending the implementation dates of others,” he said.

The President had also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that would engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.

He stressed that: “President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry.

“The President believes government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated this so clearly.”

“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision.

“Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.

Alake noted that noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Tinubu, but as a listening leader, he has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Wednesday in Abuja assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out, assuring that the decision was in the best interest of the country, especially in guaranteeing future prosperity.

President Tinubu, who received 18 governors who served with him, Class of 1999, at the Presidential Villa, appealed for more patience from Nigerians, while the government will increase effort, speed up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.

“I understand that our people are suffering yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the relief that comes after the pain. Nigeria is reborn already with fuel subsidy removal.

It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number over a few smugglers.

“Please tell the people to be a little patient.

The palliative is coming. I don’t want cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country,’’ he told the governors, who were led by former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.

“We served as governors and sat in this Council Chamber. All I wanted was democracy and the salvation of the country. I never thought I was going to be here as President, but God Almighty has brought me,’’ President Tinubu stated.

The President assured the governors and Nigerians that he will work towards “unity, equity, stability, and prosperity of the country’’. 

“My commitment to that democratic value is unwavering. I am overwhelmed and honoured by the numbers of you here,’’ he said, “I have an open door policy. You are my advisers. We went into the pond and wrestled with a pig. We got dirty, and cleaned up. That is why I am here today.’’

President Tinubu noted that the country will not make meaningful progress without fixing electricity, assuring that his administration will harness gas resources, and explore every opportunity to ensure stable power generation and supply.

On Security, the President who had earlier met with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to review situation in the North East, appealed to Nigerians, especially Plateau State, to sheath their swords and use dialogue in resolving conflicts, adding that issues of borders were man-made, not created by God.

“We will do everything possible to stabilize the country,’’ he added.

The former governors urged the President to pursue his vision for a greater Nigeria with vigour, steadfastness, and resilience, trusting their support for development policies, and promising to provide the necessary social structure for actualization.

“We are here with you. We are your foot soldiers, and you can tap into our experience. You are a person who believes in Nigeria. With your good leadership, Nigeria will take its place,’’ Igbinedion, Chairman, Class of 1999, said.

He affirmed that they were 19 at the meeting, including President Tinubu, who was former Governor of Lagos State and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, former Governor of Benue State, while ten of their mates had passed on.

Other governors at the meeting with President Tinubu were Niyi Adebayo, Ekiti State, Sen. Orji Uzo Kalu, Abia State, Sen. Sam Egwu, Ebonyi State, Adamu Muazu, Bauchi State, Donald Duke, Cross River State, James Ibori, Delta State, Obong Victor Attah, Akwa Ibom State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu State, Saminu Turaki, Jigawa State, Sen. Aleiro Adamu, Olusegun Osoba, Ogun State, Adebisi Akande, Osun State, Sen. Joshua  Dariye, Plateau State, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sokoto State, Ahmad Sani Yarima, Zamfara State and Rev. Jolly Nyame, Taraba State.