- Says N8,000 monthly to 12 million households a waste
The Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR) Osun State chapter, has criticised the planned payment by the Federal Government of N8,000 monthly palliative for six months to 12 million ‘most vulnerable’ families each as wasteful, illogical, ridiculous, and unacceptable.
It called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to roll out palliatives to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal as his counterpart Southwest governors have done in their various states.
To the body, the Federal Government’s plan of N8,000 monthly palliative payment to 12 million ‘most vulnerable families’ each for six months is a waste of resources.
The human rights organization made the call in a statement signed on Monday by the newly elected chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, which also charged Adeleke to look inward on how to invest in agriculture and provide grants for small-scale businesses.
It said: “We advise the Osun State Government not to embark on such a ridiculous mission of Mr. President because there is nowhere in the world that the distribution of direct money into an economy can cushion the effect of economic hardship.
“The administration of Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke should therefore look into the direction of increasing workers’ salaries and provision for befitting welfare packages, provision of means of transportation, investment in agriculture, and provision of grants for small-scale businesses for this remain a palliative that will improve the life of a citizen, create jobs all and provide food for all.”
According to the statement, “We are aware of all forms of injustice from the government and its agencies, traditional leaders, public and private Establishment, Domestic Violence in homes, rape cases, sexual molestation, drug abuse, environmental degradation, and other forms of violation of people’s Fundamental, Economic, Religious Rights, etc.
“Our leadership is, therefore, ready to partner with organizations and persons of like minds as our vision is to ensure that we have a society that will be free from all forms of rights violations. We use this medium to advise that the Osun state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke takes the step of the governments of Ondo State, Ogun State, Lagos State, etc. which have rolled out their palliative plans to cushion the effect of the removal of Subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); for the silence of the Governor is a reflection that the People of Osun State have been neglected.
“It is imperative that we use this medium to notify the Osun State Government that the present Minimum Wages for workers and the direct Income of informal workers cannot meet the economic reality of the Nigerian markets.
“As an organization, we are disappointed about the announced palliative of President Bola Hammed Tinubu, which to us, reflects incompetence, insincerity with the Nigerian people, and a reflection of brain-drain in the Nigerian governance.”
