Rice, cash shared as palliative meant only for beneficiaries, says Engineer Sule

…as Governor announces disbursement of Kudin A. A. Sule

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has said that the fifty kilogram bag of rice and five thousand naira shared to beneficiaries as palliative, are meant only for the beneficiaries.

Engineer Sule made this known while distributing 1000 bags of 50kg rice and five thousand naira each to 1000 beneficiaries drawn across the four electoral wards making up Keana Local Government Area, in Keana, on Tuesday.

The Governor said it has become necessary to clear the air since his administration did not direct beneficiaries to share either the rice or money with anyone.

“What we are sharing to beneficiaries today is meant for the beneficiaries only. If they, on their own, decided to go and share with somebody else, that is their choice. It is not our own directive that you can share with any body,” he stated.

Engineer Sule therefore appealed to the people of the state to remain calm, as more palliatives would be distributed in subsequent programmes.

“When we receive the balance of the N4bn, again we would do a similar thing. For those who did not get today, they may get a day after. That is why I am pleading with everybody to be patient,” he added.

This is just as the Governor announced that the disbursement of the monthly stipend to vulnerable persons under the social investment programme, popularly known as Kudin A. A. Sule, has commenced with the team already in Doma to start the exercise.

He disclosed that, consequent upon the hardship brought as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy, his administration has seen it necessary to not only increase the number of beneficiaries but also increase the amount of money given to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Engineer Sule explained that, the idea behind increasing both the number of beneficiaries and amount given was to futher cushion the hardship created by the removal of fuel subsidy.

He further disclosed that the disbursement team for the Kudin A. A. Sule would cover Awe, Keana, Obi and Lafia, before moving to cover the remaining senatorial zones of the state.

“For us in the state, we are actually giving the palliative in many forms. Just yesterday, we have given the approval for all the states civil servants both at the state and local government would start receiving their ten thousand naira by today. In addition to that, we have said all our pensioners both at the state and local government levels would also begin to receive their five thousand as palliative.

“But in addition to that, we have an ongoing programme, under the social investment, popularly referred to as Kudin A. A Sule, which we are sharing every month to identified beneficiaries. We are resuming the disbursement today, starting with Doma. The team is in Doma today to start the disbursement. In the next few days, they would be here in Keana, as well as in Obi, Awe and Lafia before moving to the Northern Senatorial and Western senatorial zones,” he stated.

The Governor, conducted similar distribution in Awe, where he shared 1,100 bags of 50kg rice, and Obi, where he distributed 1000 bags of 50kg rice, with each beneficiary taking home five thousand naira.

In Awe, Engineer Sule said he was there to personally ensure that each beneficiary gets his or her own share of the palliative.

At all the three separate events, the Governor took time to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the programme aimed at cushioning the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

“This is an initiative of our dear President Bola Tinubu, who as the result of the removal of fuel subsidy, decided that we have to have some kind of palliative to cushion the hardship. We have increased the number of beneficiaries and we are also increasing the amount, all aimed at cushioning the effects of the hardship brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.

He equally used the opportunity of the event to thank the organizers of the event in Keana, which he said, was one of the best.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Hon. Margaret Elayo, Commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and Humanitarian Services, appealed to the people of the area to be patient, as according to her more largess would be coming their way in the form of palliative.

Hon. Elayo appreciated Engineer Sule for time out of his busy schedule to be at the event, while also showing appreciation to the Governor for his steadfastness, commitment, and dedication to the people of the state.

“This is just the beginning of the distribution of so many palliative. If you are not listed now as beneficiaries, you would be subsequently,” she stated.

In Awe, Keana and Obi, all the traditional rulers were on ground to assist the Governor in sharing the palliatives, taking turn each to appreciate Engineer Sule for his magnanimity.