This followed the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government which caused economic hardship including the hike in foodstuff prices and other essential commodities.
The State Deputy Governor, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe, while launching the distribution exercise in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state, explained that the palliatives will cover all the 361 wards of the state where each of the 6,652 polling units will be given five bags of rice.
He announced that there are a lot of initiatives by the Federal Government meant to alleviate the sufferings of people as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
The Governor, however, appealed to the public to take advantage of the palliatives and other incentives, urging them to behave themselves by ensuring that only vulnerable groups in the society will benefit.
“These palliatives are to be distributed to polling units and Kankara local government has eleven wards with two hundred and fifty-six polling units.
“This is different from the earlier one distributed by the local councils following the directives of the State Governor, Malam Dikko Radda, for local councils to purchase maize and distribute to the people free of charge.
“A committee has been set up in each of the thirty-four local government areas of Katsina State with the local government chairman serving as committee chairman. The members include members of the state house of assembly in each local government, religious leaders, and any appointee from the local government, be it a commissioner or special adviser.
“All other things will be done, particularly empowering the less privileged and small and medium enterprises, to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
“Apart from the palliatives, we are looking at the transport sector. The labour unions are also putting pressure on the Federal Government to negotiate wages.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mansir Sa’idu Kankara, thanked the administration for touching the lives of the poor, calling on the distribution committee to ensure that the palliatives reach the targeted beneficiaries