The Osun State Government has disclosed that it is still yet to receive the N5 billion palliative fund from the federal government to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
Recall that the Federal Government last week announced a N5bn palliative for each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday in Osogbo, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the state government had not gotten the N5 billion naira fund.
Alimi stated that once the state government receives the money, Governor Ademola Adeleke will be transparent about it and equally address the state on it.
The commissioner said the state had inaugurated a committee for the distribution of food palliatives that confirmed receiving 3,000 bags of 50kg of rice from the federal government.
Alimi said an additional 14,320 bags of rice and 3,000 metric tonnes of maize are still expected, adding that once the state receives the remaining bags of rice, it will start the distribution of the food items.
He said: “As of today, we have received 3000 bags of rice, and we are still expecting 14,320 bags. Members of the committee, in their wisdom, decided that it would be better for the remaining bags of rice to come and be distributed at once than to distribute the available 3,000 bags in one cup.
“We also heard that the Federal Government is giving N5 billion to each of the states. We have not received any kobo, but we are hoping that it will come. Once we receive the money, our governor is always transparent; he will equally address the state on it.
“As it is today in our account book, we have not received an alert or any money in relation to N5 billion for palliative; what we have received in concrete terms happens to be 3000 bags of rice.”
