Governor Umo Eno has launched a massive rice distribution of palliatives for the 2,272 gazetted communities in the ten Federal Constituencies of Akwa Ibom State. This initiative is a sustained move by the Governor to alleviate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on residents in the State.
The palliatives consist of 48,000 bags of rice, made up of 24,000 bags from the federal government and 24,000 bags from the state government.
At the commencement of the distribution process, Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, maintained that Governor Eno had doubled the initial 24,000 bags of rice received from the Federal Government to 48,000 bags, demonstrating his compassionate disposition.
Offor assured that the distribution process would be transparent, with local government chairmen making use of their village heads, village councils and stakeholders to ensure the palliatives reach everyone without hindrances.
The beneficiaries will include not only villagers but also persons living with disabilities and special groups, regardless of their status. The Commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Eno for his kind gestures noting that the distribution process would be completed within record time, as instructed by the Governor, and encouraged continued support for his administration.
It would be recalled that the Governor, had previously donated five billion naira to complement the Federal Government palliatives towards cushioning the economic challenges faced by the citizens, due to the removal of fuel subsidy last year.
The Governor also has instituted the Bulk Purchase Agency, where food items are given free to the neediest across the state. He also paid more than twenty billion naira gratuities to retired State civil servants and primary and local government workers.
He further introduced the 13th-month salary to workers at the end of last year before paying an additional 20,000 naira to each civil servant in the State, in line with his workers-friendly disposition.
The Governor is also building and donating 400 fully furnished 2- 2-bedroom homes built for the most vulnerable people across the 368 wards in the state.
This gesture has been celebrated throughout the state and the nation, thus affirming his inauguration speech where he said he would be the champion of the poor and the vulnerable, himself, having come from that stock.
