Bauchi LG commences palliative distribution for 10,764 households

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Weeks after Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state performed the grand flagg-off ceremony of the federal government palliative distribution initiative, Bauchi local government area has on Monday, kicked-off its own distribution for 10,764 beneficiaries selected out of its over 1 million citizens.

During the flag-off ceremony at the local government secretariat situated in the Bauchi metropolis, nearly 5000 beneficiaries smiled home with one bag of 25kg rice each.

The state Commissioner ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka said that the distribution commenced with beneficiaries drawn from five wards of the local government area.

“The distribution exercise started peacefully and I pray that it will end well so that the targeted beneficiaries will all go home with their rice”, the Commissioner said.

Hajiya Wanka further explained that the rice been distributed is the initiative of the federal government in partnership with state government to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

She stressed that as a result of the hardship occasioned by subsidy removal, the federal government and the state governors decided that palliative packages be given pending when economic normalcy is returned.

“His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed decided that rice should first be distributed across 20 local government areas of the state for the citizens to have something to eat pending when other interventions like conditional cash transfer will come. So far, names have been collected to that regard. Time is coming when beneficiaries would be given money, there will be palliative for civil servants, distribution of rice is the starting point of the federal government palliative”, she stated.

The Commissioner noted that a lot of complaints have been received by her office on the rumors making round that one bag of rice is meant to be shared for three people.

“To that regard, I want to reiterate that every beneficiary is entitled to one bag and is not expected to share with anybody, the rumors of sharing a bag with another person is not true, it’s just a rumor and it should be disregarded”, she concluded.

While delivering the welcoming address at the local government secretariat, the Caretaker Committee Chairperson, Zainab Babantakko, commended the federal government and Governor Bala Mohammed for the gesture.

According to her, out of the 10,764 people earmarked as beneficiaries, about 5000 were billed to collect their own during the flagg-off ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional leaders, the Galadiman Bauchi, Surveyor Sa’idu Ibrahim Jahun thanked the Governor for the developmental milestones been implemented across the state.

He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to the benefit of their family members and to avoid selling it.

Surveyor Sa’idu Ibrahim Jahun also commended the local government chairperson for the careful coordination of the distribution exercise.