Fuel Subsidy: Enugu Rolls Out Palliatives

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has rolled out palliatives to mitigate the harsh economic effects of the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on residents of the state.
The Governor, who disclosed this on Monday in Enugu while setting up the committee for the procurement, storage and distributions of the relief items to the citizens, stressed that his government feels the pains the people were passing through.
He, therefore, charged members of the committee to be chaired by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, to handle the palliatives with transparency, while ensuring the speedy distributions of the items to those in dire need of them.
Mbah acknowledged the harsh impact the fuel subsidy had occasioned on the people, but stated that the subsidy removal would immensely benefit Nigerians in the long run.
While noting that he shared in the pains Nigerians were going through at the moment, Mbah also expressed the hope that the palliatives would help alleviate their hardships.
He enjoined members of the committee to spare no time in ensuring that the palliatives were sent to “homes of those that need them the most in the state”.
According to him: “You recall that few months ago the Federal Government of Nigeria removed the fuel subsidy. And as you know, that came with pains, shared pains, even though we believe in the long run, it will be beneficial to the country.
“The question for us now as leaders is, how do we mitigate those shared pains that our people are going to be exposed to? It is part of what we are doing to see how we can begin to cushion the effects of some of these pains. So, what we are doing now is to see how to fix the pains people are going through.
“There are also plans for short and medium term solutions, and that we are going to do in due course. What I am asking you to do is to ensure that this gets to the people who deserve the palliatives.
“In terms of items that will be distributed, what is extremely important in situations like this, is speed. I also want you to, not only be transparent, but to be seen as transparent.
“We want to show and we want the people to also see that the distribution of the palliatives is done in a transparent way, in a reputable manner, and get to the people who truly deserve them”.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Deputy Governor expressed the committee’s readiness to deliver on the assignment and work with the template given to them in ways that would reflect transparency.
He appreciated the Governor for meeting the yearnings of the people, assuring that the committee would not disappoint in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Members of the committee are: the Chairman, Association of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State, and Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area, Hon. Okechukwu Sydney Edeh; ALGON Deputy Chairman, and Chairman of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie; Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Pedro Nwankwo; and his Enugu East counterpart, Hon. Livinus Anike.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu