Abia govt begins distribution of palliative, to share 14 bags of rice per ward

The Abia State Government has kicked off the distribution of 3,000 50kg bags of rice received from the Federal Government as palliative for the state.

Speaking with the press at the warehouse in the Government House on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Intervention cum State Chairman for the Sharing of Federal Government Palliative, Reverend Father Christian Anokwuru, said they target the poor and vulnerable across the state, adding that the number is far beyond their expectation.

On the modalities for the distribution, Father Anokwuru said each of the 184 wards in the state would receive 14 bags, adding that instructions have been given to the people in charge, on the categories of people that would benefit from the palliative.

According to him, members of the committee comprise representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), pensioners, political appointees, and elected members.

While expressing optimism that more would come to the state, he assured Abians of transparency in the sharing formula.

NLC representative, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, however, expressed disappointment with the number of rice received from the Federal Government, disclosing that the state government is still expecting 14,000 more bags.

He said that the NLC has told the government that grade level 1 to 6 civil servants would be considered when received.

A representative of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Elder Umar Kalu, said the distribution is progressive and added that there is nothing shady about the process.

Speaking further on the palliative, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Chinedu Ekeke, informed that the state government also received N2 billion from the Federal Government, out of the N5 billion that was expected.

But he noted that part of the money is coming as a loan while part of it is a grant. He said they hope to receive the remaining money at a later date.