Fuel Subsidy Removal Palliative: Get Residence Card, Edo Govt Tells “Potential Recipients”

The Edo State Government has resolved to use the proposed ‘Residence Cards” as a condition to access the N500million, monthly cash disbursement to Edo State people.

According to a release by the Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, the state has the data of all the potential recipients and it will be the instrument through which they are credited and they withdraw their stipends.

“In line with the assurance Governor Obaseki gave to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) during its warning strikes the previous week, the state government announced the sum of N500 million to be given to the vulnerable citizens of the state at N20,000 per household, beginning from September, as palliative to cushion the biting effects of the removal of fuel subsidy and the rise in the cost of living.

“The N500 million would be taken from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We have a reliable database of 314,000 households and over a million citizens which we compiled between 2019 and 2021 in conjunction with the world bank.

“Exco resolved that we should revalidate and review the data. We have an effective and efficient database that will enable us to identify the very vulnerable in the state.

“During the period of revalidation and review, officers of Edo state residency cards office will in the company of the officials of NIN capture and issue cards and identification numbers to these categories of persons.

“The state residence cards will have the data of all the potential recipients and it will be the instrument through which they are credited and they withdraw their stipends.”

Midwest Herald had earlier reported that the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC had disagreed with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his rejection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s palliative measures.

Col Dr David Imuse, chairman of Edo State APC, in a release, called Obaseki’s stance on the suggested palliatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal government of Nigeria for the removal of fuel subsidy, as shameful.

According to Imuse, “…it is particularly contradictory considering that he is actively involved as a member of the National Economic team, headed by the Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, that proposed the idea.

“Like many people across our state, I see Governor Obaseki’s shift in position regarding the suggested palliatives as not only perplexing but childish.

“This is because, as a member of the National Economic team that initially proposed this idea, one would have expected him to oppose it at the meetings. But being a coward he could not open up at such high level  forum because he knows that superior arguments would have pooh-poohed his stance.

“As a party, we hereby condemn Governor Obaseki’s promise to allocate a fictitious N500 million monthly from Edo state coffers to the poor, considering Edo’s already heavy indebtedness.

“The feasibility and sustainability of such a  promise is ludicrous, especially when his track record of mismanaging state resources since 2016 is taken into account.

“The governor’s ability to effectively utilize public funds and prioritize the needs of Edo people to ensure accountability and transparency has been called to question severally and he has an unenviable record of failure.” APC statement stated.