From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government said all is now set to begin the distribution of the first tranche of subsidy removal palliative to poor and vulnerable households across the 23 local government areas of the State.
The distribution which is expected to kickstart on Monday, September 18, is to be household-based, and following the set criteria by the palliative committee (not social register), the identified households will benefit 50kg bag of rice each.
The State Governor, Uba Sani has a few weeks ago said that the State has received N2 billion out of the N5 billion subsidy palliative due to it from the Federal Government.
A credible source in the State had told The Sun Newspapers that the delay in the distribution of the palliative in the State was due to high demand for rice by the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and inability of the rice merchants to meet such demand within days.
The source further hinted that the State may boycott the use of the much talked about Social Register and rather leverage on physical assessment of the poor and vulnerable residents – the aged, orphans, widows, persons with disability among others.
“The State Government has only received the sum of N2 billion from the FG – upon which 43,600 bags of rice have been purchased as part of the first palliative measures”, the source revealed.
However, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sani, Muhammed Lawal Shehu confirmed to The Sun Newspapers that the quantity of the 50kg bags of rice as was agreed by the palliative committee headed by the Deputy Governor is now available in store ahead of the commencement of the distribution on Monday, September 18.
Even though the LGAs did not provide the full list of the beneficiaries as agreed based on set criteria, they promised to make it available by close of business on Saturday, September 16, 2023, he said.
He added that “adequate arrangements that will ensure the security of the commodities at the distribution points and during transportation to the various LGAs were agreed upon, including the cost of the transportation and loading and offloading.
“Monitoring teams for the LGAs have been constituted with membership drawn from members of the House of Assembly, Political appointees, and the Palliative Team members.
“So, distribution/pick of the commodities will commence by next Monday morning and all team members are expected to be at the distribution center to ensure quantities agreed on match quantities provided to each LGA”, he maintained.