• Proposes Involvement of Committees, NGOs, Students, Market Women, NLC for Distribution
The controversy surrounding the federal government’s plan to distribute N8,000 as palliative to alleviate the hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies continues to escalate. Uche Nwosu, former Chief of Staff to the Imo State government, believes that the administration must adopt an innovative approach to ensure the success of this policy.
In a conversation with journalists, Nwosu stated that President Bola Tinubu and his team should not replicate the methods of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who established a specialized ministry for such interventions.
“It should not be business as usual, where funds like these are allocated to ministries or agencies, only for the money to end up unaccounted for,” he explained. “Many of these agencies have been detrimental to our progress; most of them operate from their offices in Abuja, manipulating figures, and ultimately, the funds find their way into the pockets of a few individuals.”
Nwosu stressed the need for committee members to possess integrity and a genuine willingness to serve. Given the difficulties faced by Nigerians, he expressed support for the palliative initiative, stating, “There are people who genuinely require this assistance, and the initiative is a welcome one.”
He further proposed, “What the federal government should do now is establish a committee comprising market women, students, members of the Nigerian Labour Congress, senior statesmen and women, civil society organizations, and farmers. This will ensure transparent monitoring of the funds.”
Nwosu emphasized the importance of publishing the names of beneficiaries at the local government, state, and federal levels, instead of transferring the money to undisclosed accounts. “Committees are vital in achieving this,” he affirmed. He also recommended involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) since ministers in Abuja may not have a comprehensive understanding of grassroots situations. “The government should collaborate with NGOs to determine those in dire need of the funds,” he added.
As President Tinubu considers these suggestions, the former Chief of Staff, who also heads the Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa, urged an increase in the subsidy palliative from N8,000 to N30,000 for 12 million households. Emphasizing the necessity of thorough monitoring, he expressed gratitude for the increase from N5,000, which was implemented during the previous administration.
Nwosu concluded, “This money should not be allocated to individuals who are already financially stable. Neglecting the importance of this initiative implies disregarding those who struggle on the streets with just N5 for a meal. While I appeal to President Tinubu to raise the amount to N30,000, providing market women and others with investment capital, our primary concern should be the transparent management of these funds.”
