The Ebonyi State Government has said it was aware of the harsh economic situations of the citizens amid the fuel subsidy removal and vowed to deploy measures aimed at ameliorating their sufferings.
The government noted that it was studying the nature of palliatives currently muted by the Federal Government for Nigerians in a bid to match same with what its resources could offer Ebonyi residents.
During a meeting with journalists, in Abakaliki, on Sunday, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpo said that the recent increment in workers’ salaries by Governor Francis Nwifuru, was one of the steps being taken by the state government to assuage the sufferings of the people.
He said: “Water flows from the top down. Ebonyi State will wait because it does not operate in isolation from the Federal Government. We will wait and see what the Government at the centre is going to do as it concerns palliatives, then we sit back and study whether our resources will be in sync with whatever decision we are going to take.
“We will not be in a haste to take any decision on this. That’s why the governor has thought it wise to alleviate the sufferings of Ebonyi workers by increasing their salary, across the board. It’s work in process and gradually we will get there.
“We are aware that the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu is planning a palliatives package for the whole of Nigerians to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. Ebonyians are also going to be beneficiaries of the palliatives package.
“And if there are opportunities to add to what the Federal Government is going to do, the Ebonyi State Government will explore those opportunities within the limit of its resources.
“Human capital development is one of the core priorities of Governor Nwifuru and he’s passionate about it. No stone will be left unturned to ensure the living standards of Ebonyi are upgraded during his time, as governor”.
On the allegation by a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Chika Nwoba that Nwifuru was running a government of cultists, the commissioner said: “On assumption of office as Commissioner, I decided not to respond to unfounded issues in the social media. And so, I don’t want to respond to allegations credited to a Facebook chieftain.
“One thing is clear. He should show Nigerians where he has a register of cultists and where he was able to identify the appointees of the governor as cultists. It takes a cultist to recognise one”.
