Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar has proposed that both the federal and state governments should distribute N10,000 which would serve as foodstuff supplement to about 30 million households in the country.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 election insisted that there is need for the government to provide palliatives to Nigerians so as to enable them survive during the period.
Abubakar gave this advice on his verified facebook account on Wednesday afternoon.
He explained that large percentage of Nigerians don’t have financial capacity to survive long periods of self-isolation and even lockdown.
The former vice president who commended the government for its effort in curbing the spread of the pandemic disease said the government must ensure that all Nigerians benefit in the gesture and other palliative measures.
He however promised to donate N50 million as a relief fund that will form part of the stimulus package.
He said, “as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the world, I applaud the various Nigerian state governments who have proactively taken measures, such as issuing stay at home orders, and shutting down non-essential markets and other places of mass gatherings, while also giving guidelines for social distancing.
“However, we must accept the fact that much of the Nigerian public have a subsistence existence.
“A large percentage of our people do not have the financial capacity to withstand long periods of self-isolation and even lockdown.
“It is, therefore, incumbent on the Federal and state governments to provide palliatives to the Nigerian people to enable them to survive, even as they abide by these necessary measures put in place for their safety.
“At an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, the government should devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as a supplement for foodstuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind.
“It is thus time for the National Assembly to reconvene in an emergency session, perhaps by teleconference (in line with the demands of social distancing), to legislate a Stimulus Package Act that will cater for all Nigerian citizens.
“I also call on all Mobile Telephony Companies in Nigeria to urgently develop mobile money platforms so that the government can reach the unbanked with financial assistance.
“I commend all individuals and corporate organisations who have one way or the other provided some form of relief for the Nigerian people. In essence, this is what makes Nigeria great, when we help each other at such crisis times as this, irrespective of any differences.
“To this end, Priam Group pledges N50 million on my behalf as my humble contribution to a relief Fund that will form part of the stimulus package.”
