As the consideration for the distribution of Oil Subsidy Palliative reach a near climax, the Federal Government has been urged to ensure that no Nigerian home is denied the “blessing.”
National Coordinator, Neighbourhood Coalition, and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Emmanuel Stephen Enang who made the call in an interview in Calabar, Wednesday said the programme must not end up an unsuccessful venture like similar programmes in the past.
Recalling the many social welfare programmes of previous administration’s which he said were only a still-birth, Enang remarked that the President Bola Tinubu administration must be different by ensuring that all Nigerians benefit from the welfare package embedded in the proposed palliative.
“Is it Operation Feed the Nation, or Sure-P or whatever name called? there all ended as still birth.
The Managers of those programmes could not account for the huge financial outlay on them and that’s how they ended up benefitting only a negligible few.
But here and now,we are saying that the Bola Tinubu administration should commit to effectively distributing the palliative, and not leaving any single household out of it.”.
According to Enang, “the Oil Subsidy Removal has had a painful effect on Nigerians” adding that “to assuage the plight of Nigerians in this regard is to ensure that all sheds of interests and opinions are covered in the distribution exercise.”.
The APC Chieftain also called for the speedy and strict monitoring of the distribution to ensure that no half measure is achieved.
“As the items are sent to the distribution authorities whether in the states or smaller units,there has to be a machinery to check abuse of power.
I say this because there may be thoughts of nepotism and favouritsm in the distribution process.”
Enang appreciated the President Bola Tinubu administration for the initiative and for the recent provision of ₦500 billion for Palliative.
“I must salute the initiative of the palliative by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
It is great to appreciate the fact that to a significant extent it would address the current hardship in the country.
The ₦500 billion provision to cater for the programme will also go a long way to ensuring perfect coverage of the distribution exercise across the country,” he said.
He prayed the National Assembly to ensure expeditious approval of the monetary provision for the programme.
