HARDSHIP PALLIATIVE: Abia Government Receives First Consignment From FG, Set To Distribute To Civil Servants
As part of plans to reduce the prevailing hardship on Abia workers, the Abia state government is set to Commence the distribution of palliatives to civil servants from grade 1 to 7.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture Prince Okey Kanu who stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said out of the sixty thousand bags of 25kg expected to be received by the Abia state government twenty four thousand bags are already in place, adding that about twelve thousand seventy one bags will be distributed to civil servants from grade level 1-7 in the first phase.
The Commissioner further disclosed that when the expected balance of thirty six thousand bags are Received they will be distributed to civil servants from grade level 8-10.
He emphasized that the move is part of the present administration’s efforts to cushion the hardship being experienced by Abians occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
The information Commissioner expressed hope that the state being awaited from federal government will soon arrive, said the state will deploy same formula to ensure the palliatives get to the target beneficiaries.
“Other palliatives awaited are not here but we know that the state is entitled to receive them”
“We have about six hundred and sixty three thousand metric tones of maize which translates to about thirteen thousand, two sixty bags of 25kg each”. there’s also 79.9 metric tones of garri which translates to about 3196 bags of 25kg each”
“When these palliatives arrive,we will use the same formula to ensure that they get to our civil servants”
“Before now,we have focused on vulnerable ones in the society. At every tour,we try to drill the palliatives down to those who need them” Prince Kanu stated.
He underscored efforts made by the state government to tackle perennial flooding in Aba, pointing out that the state government is currently disilting drainages to avoid flooding during this raining season.
According to him, the state government has disilted about 40 kilometers of roads in Aba to mitigate the perennial flooding being experienced each year in the commercial nerve center of the state.
Prince Kanu who recalled that the Governor recently received officers of the UN habitat team in charge of preparing the Aba master plan,noted that the master plan when completed will address the perennial flooding in Aba and called on Aba residents to ensure they dispose their refuse in designated places to complement government’s efforts.
Contributing the Special Adviser to the Governor on intervention Rev Fr. Christian Anokwuru said although,the state is yet to receive the palliatives from Dangote as promised,but that the state is hopeful to receive same as it has Received official mails to that effect from Dangote.
“The rice promised by Dangote is not here yet, although we have gotten official mail to that particular palliative, but for now we have not received it,we are hopeful that soonest it will come”
The earlier federal government palliative announced has not come yet.we are hoping that it will come, that is the 663 metric tones of about 13,260 bags of maize and 79.9 metric tones of 3169 bags of garri”.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on media and publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma was part of the briefing.