Effective Distribution Of Palliatives To Citizens

Effective Distribution Of Palliatives To Citizen

By: Habiba Kudu Radio Nigeria Power FM

According to the online dictionary definition, Palliative is a measure put in place to alleviate the suffering following a disease or hardship being faced by an individual or group.

Although palliative is not meant to totally cure or remove the pain, it is to some extent expected to relieve the affected persons or group for significant period.

Before May 29th this year, Nigeria has had a share of economic turbulence following COVID 19 pandemic, global economic crisis coupled with the Russian- Ukrainian war. All these have had negative economic impact in most developing nations, Nigeria inclusive.

In the wake of this, the country witnessed a transition of government as former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over power to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid economic crisis.

In an effort to drag the country out of its economic shackles, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of petroleum subsidy in his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

To many, it was a mere statement, but to the surprise of all, it spread like a wild fire and engulfed almost every nook and cranny of the country.

The announcement took an uncontrolled dimension when the official pump price of petrol jumped from one hundred and ninety-five naira to five hundred and forty naira and subsequently six hundred and seventeen naira within two months of the administration.

The development triggered hike in the prices of goods and services to between two hundred and three hundred per cent with inflation rate at 22.79 per cent.

The situation has become unbearable to many Nigerian families who barely have three meals daily.

The federal government in an effort to cushion the effect of the hardship among the populace, announced palliative measures with five billion naira to each state of federation and the Federal Capital Territory to provide palliative for residents.

This is viewed as a commendable intervention.

Unfortunately, in most places, the palliative aimed at providing succor to the vulnerable has turned out to be a scam as some items have been hijacked by a few privileged persons, leaving the poor to their own fate.

For instance, it is obvious that a sachet of spaghetti, two cups of rice or beans cannot provide succor for a family even for a day.

It is therefore very important for government to take feedback from the people to improve on such well thought out intervention in the coming days.

Government should as a matter of urgency map out other strategies that would ameliorate the living standard of ordinary Nigerians.

It is necessary therefore for government to reconsider and channel the palliative funds to infrastructure like, roads, rehabilitation of refineries, transportation, education, agriculture, research and technological innovations.

This can go a long way in creating jobs for the teaming youths and addressing poverty.

Again, there is the need for government to reduce the cost of governance, bridge the wide economic gap between the rich and the poor to create a sense of belonging and reduce restiveness.

Such measures would enable the people to build more confidence in government and engender national cohesion.

Edited By Grace Namiji