Subsidy Removal: Shettima, Governors Decide On Palliative Measures For Nigerians

The National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians following the removal of the petrol subsidy and the recent hike in petrol price.

Naija News reports that the Council agreed to the palliative measures on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

At the meeting, the Council also considered integrity tests on state social registers, cash transfers would be done via state social registers Subject to State peculiarities.

The Council also advised government officials to reduce the cost of governance in their various spheres, stating that the Federal Government has initiated a six-month cash award policy for public servants.

The council also said food items grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at the rate acquired from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and states are urged to double down on energy transition plans in the transport sector.

The NEC meeting, which was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, had in attendance governors of the 36 states of the Federation, the Director General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, as well as stakeholders from the World Bank and other agencies of government.

This is the second meeting of the Council and it is expected to deliberate on the reviewed palliative package for Nigerians following the removal of petrol subsidy as well as the hike in fuel price.

President Bola Tinubu had unveiled his administration’s plan for a monthly ₦8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months, in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.

But days after the announcement, the Federal Government said it will review the move following the backlash it generated among Nigerians.