By Damilola Adeparusi
The Ekiti State Government has began the distribution of rice palliatives donated by the Federal Government to it’s indigenes across the State.
Flagging off the distributions at the Oshuntokun Government House Pavillon in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital on Wednesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security who doubled as the Chairman of the Palliatives Distribution Committee, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade revealed that about 1800 bags of rice have been effectively shared among the most vulnerables in the State.
He gave the above figure while responding to questions from pressmen at the distribution venue, giving the details of the beneficiaries to include the
Vulnerables, the Aged, the Pensioner’s, the Artisans, Associations, Road Transport Unions, Market Women, People With Disabilities, Okada Riders and Maruwa Riders among all others within the society in the State will be involved.
The Agriculture Commissioner and the Chairman of the Palliatives Distribution Committee, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade hinged the reason for the donation of the bags of rice by the Federal Government to the people of Ekiti State as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inauguration speech on May 29.
According to Boluwade, he stated, that, “the Federal Government released the rice palliatives to the Ekiti State Government on the 10th of August, 2023 and today, we are distributing to those who needs them”.
Boluwade added that, “200 bags of rice was allocated to the Artisans and Private sector, 50 bags goes to road transport workers, Okada riders got 40 bags,Tricycle riders 50 bags , people with disabilities 100bags, pensioners 100bags,so also was the rice palliatives allocated to other sectors of the state dwellers.
He used the opportunity to impressed it on those expected to effect the distributions to ensure the rice palliatives reached the approved vulnerable beneficiaries at the grassroots.
Responding to the question asking him to explain how the rice palliatives will be distributed at ward levels, he said, “the ward issue was factored because it is the last place in the chain of governance. He described the ward as a place where every localities are represented such as the traditional rulers who are not politicians.
He listed other categories of people involved in the monitoring of the distributions of the rice palliatives to include the NGO’s, faith Organizations like their clerics, the Alfas, the Pastor’s and the Imams among others.
Others who spoke at the event took turn to praise the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government for releasing the rice palliatives to the State on time and commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for being transparent in his dealings with the people of the State since he assumed office as Governor.
Present at the venue of the distributions included the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro; the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Rt. Taiwo Olatubosun; Honourable Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, the Special Adviser on Social Investment Programmes as well as Mrs. Oluremi Ajayi Babington, the Special Adviser on Rural Mobilisation among others.