By Maryam Gulma in Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in the middle.
The Governor of Kogi State,Ahmed Usman Ododo,has called on Nigerians to see the current challenges facing Nigeria as a clarion for them to extend “safety net” to the downtrodden in the society.
Palliatives for distribution to kogites.
He made the call on Tuesday at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja when he flagged off palliative sharing for the first quarter of 2024 in the state.
He emphasized that the Intervention meant for the people of the lower level of the society stressing the sharing of the palliatives should reach those who needed it most without political and religious consideration.
He vowed to track and identify those who hoard and divert the items from the Indigents, warning that he would not use kids gloves on them.
Ododo appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the palliatives approach in cushioning the economic effect on Nigerians.
The governor,who said that government officials were e exempted from the palliatives, appealed to the officials in charge of distribution the palliatives to serve sincerely and diligently with the fear of God, adding that he would be part of the committee for the distribution of the palliatives.
The governor,who noted that the palliatives were meant for the poor to breathe, the indigents should not be left abandoned in the sharing process of the content of the exercise.
He itemized those to benefit from the sharing process to include
21 Local Government Areas of the state, Royal fathers, Judiciary, NUJ, FSS, Police, Civil Defence, Navy , Road Safety, Fire Service, Army, Motherless Homes.
The pioneer Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation , Hajia Rabiatu Okute, described the concept of palliative in Nigeria as “a noble act of a reasonable response to the economic hardships suffered by Nigerians.’
She expressed optimism that the palliatives would reduce poverty to zero level in the country
The Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Umar Yusuf, charged the economic team of the Kogi State government to look beyond palliatives, adding that there should be a response to high cost of living in Lokoja.
He also called on the officials in charge of palliatives sharing not to further provoke the people by short charging them.
Our correspondent reports that traditional rulers,top government functionaries,labour leaders, politicians among other strata of the society attended the occasion.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
Maryam Abubakar Gulma
Federal Information Centre, Lokoja
