Ike told our correspondent in Awka on Wednesday that, “In as much as the palliatives are being shared through political party structures, the initiative has crumbled on arrival. The governors will give to local government chairmen, who will then use party ward chairmen to distribute the palliatives. How do you think the project will succeed? Already, I have read that the palliatives are being warehoused. So don’t expect anything more.”
Author Osmond Eze said the Tinubu administration is simply scratching the surface of the ailments.
A lecturer, Adanma Ohale, made a case for the use of traditional rulers in sharing the palliatives. According to her, “The best medium to share the palliatives are the traditional rulers. They know households in their domains. Most of them are apolitical. But using LGA chairmen to distribute them is a pointer that the initiative is a failure. Traditional rulers are revered, and should have been the best channels to reach out to the populace. But I see no reason for the palliatives because our problem remains the continued importation of petroleum products.”
reports says that the federal government disbursed N5bn as palliatives to each of the thirty-six states of the federation, and the Federal Capital Territory. It is meant to be given to genuine needy in society in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal.