Controversies have trailed the federal government’s release of N5 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
At the end of Thursday’s National Economic Council meeting, the Governor of Borno State, Babgan Zulum, announced the palliatives while speaking to Journalists.
“To cushion the effect of subsidy removal, the federal government released five trucks of rice to each State last week.
“Furthermore, to cushion the effect of food shortages across the country, the federal government approved the sum of N5 billion to be given to each State to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize and fertilizers,” Zulum said.
However, controversies have trailed the announcement, as some Nigerians believe that 99 per cent of the funds will not get to the poor massive.
A former Senator of Nigeria, Shehu Sani, expressed uncertainty that palliatives would go to the masses.
In a statement on his X, formerly Twitter, Sani wrote:
“N5 Billion as palliatives to the states; There are people who voted for the Governors. There are people who voted for other candidates. Equity demands that the latter be treated equally”.
Social media user, A Salam also said the bulk of the masses in the states would not get palliative.
“The FG is overwhelmingly appreciated for the approval of 5bn to each State, but some serious challenges might arise; the uncertainty of disbursing these palliatives to the masses is 99%. BAT should set up a committee to Assist him in completing this task.
Similarly, the Osun state All Progressives Party and the Governor of the State, Ademola Adeleke, traded words over the quantity of grain received from the federal government.