Jimoh Balogun, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Government has begin distribution of 3000 bags of rice as palliative to cushion the effect of suffering brought about by the subsidy removal.
Briefing Journalists at the end of the weekly Executive meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun said the distribution commences on Wednesday.
Olatunbosun, said the move is part of the 6-point agenda of Governor Biodun Oyanbaji’s administration in ensuring that people of the State enjoy the best in his administration.
He explained that the distribution which would be done in batches, would not spare everybody in the State irrespective of their political parties.
He advised those who are yet to benefit from the first tranche of the distribution to exercise patient as the palliative would go round the State.
However the Commissioner Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade who is also the Chairman of the Palliative Distribution Committee, said the palliative which is in five trucks landed in the State on Monday last week.
“As at last week we received 3000 bags of rice from the Federal Government, this five trucks or 600 metric tons. During offloading we had issues with some of the bags. We had 18 bags that are defective, meaning that the good ones is 2,982 bags.
“We also specially allocated 100 bags for widows. All the artisans in the private sector, 200 bags of rice, while the transport union got 180 bags.
“All the market women in Ekiti State were allocated 100 bags. The special group got 150 bags, while the people with disability got 140. The elderly that is the pensioners got 100 bags. The civil servants comprising the junior staff got 100 bags.
He added the distribution which will begin on Wednesday, has no political colouration would spread across the 177 political wards across the sixteen local government of the State.
According to him “10 bags of rice each for 177 wards in the state. Parts of the criteria are that we must priotise widows and women within the wards.
” What we are saying is that the rice going to the wards, should be shared more to women and the widows. We also specially allocated 100 bags for widows. All the artisans in the private sector, 200 bags of rice, while the transport union got 180 bags.
“All the market women in Ekiti State were allocated 100 bags. The special group got 150 bags, while the people with disability got 140. The elderly that is the pensioners got 100 bags. The civil servants comprising the junior staff got 100 bags.
“We have asked all the LGS and LCDA to come to Ado to collect on behalf of the works. They must ensure that the rice reach the vulnerable who are the real beneficiary of the rice.
