Subsidy removal: FG grants N5bn palliatives to each state, FCT

An initial lump sum of N5 billion palliative had been approved by the Federal Government for each state of the federation to cushion the effects and hardship of the removal of the payment of subsidy on fuel.

Borno State governor Babagana Zulum disclosed this on Thursday during an interactive session with State House correspondents in Abuja.

Zulum spoke after the statutory meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

He also said that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja will also receive N5bn as palliative.

Specifically, the NEC comprises of the governors of the 36 states of the federation, also has ministers in charge of FCT and Finance, as well as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and some others as members.

NEC at Thursday’s meeting considered varying issues, including the Federation’s financial status, general issues, especially the deployment of palliatives aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Among governors who attended the meeting were Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Inuwa Yahya (Gombe) Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

Others were Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Senator Uba Sani(Kaduna), Sheriff Obrevwori (Delta), Prof. Charles Soludo (Anambra), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Umaru Namadi (Jigawa),

Also at the meeting were Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Prince Bassey Otu (Cross River), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo State acting governor), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ahmad Aliu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Process Babagana Zulum (Borno).

Deputy governors of Katsina, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa, Kano, Kebbi also participated in the meeting.