President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate review of the proposed N8,000 cash transfer palliative to Nigerians to cushion the pains of the removal of payment of subsidy on petrol.
Tinubu’s special adviser on media Dele Alake said that the president also directed that the whole plans of the palliative package of the federal government be unveiled to Nigerians.
Alake said, “You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office,”
“The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.
“In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from petrol.
“The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.
“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the program by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision.
“Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy has been stopped, the government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.
“While it should be noted that the cash program is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and program, the President has directed as follows:-
“That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer program envisaged to bring succor to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately.
“This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.
That the whole gamut of a palliative package of government is unveiled to Nigerians.
“Immediate release of fertilizers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT.
“The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of the subsidy regime will be judiciously utilized.
“The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.”
Alake further said that President Tinubu has promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow.
