Transparent distribution of Federal Government palliatives – A hallmark of the New Abia

Transparent distribution of Federal Government palliatives – A hallmark of the New Abia

The distribution of palliatives given to all states of the federation including Abia is aimed at alleviating the harsh economic effects following the removal of Petrol subsidy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Admitted to be a positive move by the government at the centre owing to collosal fraud associated with the subsidy regime, many welcomed the action though it’s fallout remains a subject of discourse across the country.

To date four batches of palliatives ranging from food items such as rice, maize, garri and fertilizers have been received by the Abia state government most of which have also been evenly distributed across various strata in the state.

Recently the special adviser to Abia state governor or policy and interventions Rev. Ftr. Christian Anokwuru in conjunction with the state ministry of Agriculture and office of the Special Adviser on Media and publicity rendered account on how these palliative items were shared to the most vulnerable in Abia society.

Before now, such action was strange under the old guard owing to a lack of transparency. It is worthy of note to mention that at heat of the COVID -19 lockdowns, substantial quantities of palliatives were received from varied sources but its distribution was marred in so much controversy. This created much doubt as to who got those palliatives; because it is not uncommon for such palliatives to be converted to political party campaign materials, leaving out the weak and downtrodden for whom it was originally meant.

The “endsers” protest which spread like wild fire through Nigeria right after the ‘COVID-19 lockdowns’ were relaxed revealed in clear terms “man’s inhumanity to his fellow man”. At the peak of the protests across the country, protesters broke into warehouses stocked to the brim with COVID-19 palliative food items and other relieve materials, kept from the reach of hard pressed Nigerians who needed it.

The question prominent on the mind of observers and many others back then was ‘when were these relief materials gathered from those who freely offered them and why haven’t they been distributed to hungry Nigerians who suffered so much during the very dark moments of the COVID 19 pandemic?”.

It was heartbreaking back then to watch hungry Nigerians scrambling for a piece of what belonged to them but kept away by greedy officials not the least bothered by the cries of hunger emanating from babies, children and mothers rendered helpless by the circumstance of life; in this case COVID 19.

And hear we are again living with the fallout of petrol subsidy removal leading to the granting of Palliatives by the Federal government to states within the Federation.

Highlighting how the ‘palliatives’ received from the Federal Government were distributed, the government of Abia state through the office of the Special Adviser on Policy and Interventions noted that so far four tranches of various food items and fertilizers have been received by his office on behalf of the state government.

It is worthy of note to state that from the get go, Governor Alex Otti expressly instructed that the palliatives must be channelled to the most vulnerable in the state.

Bearing this directive in mind, the office responsible for taking deliveries and the distribution of the paliatives knew it had to demonstrate a high level of transparency in handling this assignment.

In the first tranch, Abia State government received a total of 16,800 bags of 50kg rice and 13,260 bags of 50kg maize. The maize was sold and proceeds used to purchase an additional 4,800 bags of 50kg rice bringing the total number to 21,600 bags of rice. These were distributed to the vulnerable across the state as instructed by the state chief executive.

The state took delivery of 24,000 bags of 25kg rice in the second batch allocating 19,524 bags to Abia civil servants from salary grade levels 01 to 08 while 4,476 bags were distributed to persons with disabilities, Abia Correctional Center, Amaudo Itumbauzo Center for the mentally ill and Orphanages. The Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Office of the Wife of the Governor also received allocations of rice in the second batch for onward distribution to widows.

The State Government in the third batch of palliatives received 13,260 bags of 50kg Maize and 3,196 bags of 25kg Garri. It distributed 601 bags of maize and 144 bags of Garri to each of the 17 LGAs in Abia. 156 bags of Maize and 38 bags of Garri were distributed to faith based organizations while boarding schools got 23 bags of Maize and 6 bags of Garri.

In the fourth batch which was received in June 2024, Rev, Fr. Anokwuru explained that the state received 8,900 bags of Urea and NPK fertilizers wherein it has mapped out a comprehensive plan to distribute same across the 15 LGAs excluding Aba North, Aba South LGAs, a few wards in Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs located in urban areas with minimal farming.

These distributions have been verified with beneficiaries acknowledging receipt in what could be described as one of the most transparent sharing of palliatives to mitigate the effects of hunger and general hardship. Abia has set the pace for others to follow and it is in consonance with the push to evolve new and better ways of getting things done for the benefit of all – political party member or not.

Repeatedly, Gov. Alex Otti has promised that his administration will be most transparent in all its dealingsI no because it came as a steward to serve Abians with the resources of the state. He insists that Abians hired him as Governor to work for them and thus he is well aware of the responsibility to discharge his duties conscientiously.

The equitable distribution of Palliatives by Abia state government is proof positive that Gov. Ottis’ vision of a New Abia is coming to fruition and the wind of change can be felt across Ministries, Departments and Agencies charged with ensuring Abians feel a breath of fresh air in government administration and service delivery.

Though it is early days in the life of the administration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, however we all can already perceive a change from the old order of favouritism and nepotism which sadly emphasised that which divides us rather than that which should unite all Abians.

Today we celebrate transparency in governance a reality under the transformative governance of Dr. Alex Otti and we have the strong belief without a shadow of doubt that better days are ahead for all in the New Abia.

By Chukwuma Elvis, a public affairs commentator.