Following the fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the federal government and various state governments are rolling out different palliative packages for people of their states. While the federal government is rolling out palliative programmes for the entire nation, state governors are rolling out plans to cushion the effects of the fuel price increase on their people.
At the federal level, President Tinubu has announced different palliative packages for Nigerians. The palliatives, according to his announcement, cover all classes of Nigerians, students, transporters, business people, farmers, civil servants and public office holders across the nation. This is done with the understanding that the fuel price hike has led to astronomical rise in the price of goods and services. Prices of foodstuff have hit the roof tops, transport fares have been increased more than 200perent. All these tell on the final consumer of goods and services.
The president has said he understands the pains of Nigerians, hence the palliatives to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal and the attendant hike in the price of fuel. Following the announcement of palliatives by the federal government, governors from the east to the west, north to south are rolling out palliative programmes for residents and indigenes of their states. The governors are not banking on the promises of the federal government, which may not reach people at the lowest rung of the ladder. Even at that, they cannot leave the welfare of their people to only the federal government. They understand that the federal government has a bulk of work on its shoulders.
Arising from this, many governors have increased salaries of workers. Most of these states are less financially endowed compared to Delta state. In the last federal allocation released to states, Delta state was the highest in the South South and the Niger Delta region. The state received N23bn while states like Edo, Imo, and others received far less than N10bn. Some of these states have increased workers’ salaries, some are reducing transport fares for state transport companies, some are establishing different schemes to aid their people cope with the harsh realities of the present economic hardship.
Some are providing buses for students so as to cut cost of boarding buses to schools for all grades of students in their states. Some are buying food to be distributed to vulnerable people and households in their states. But Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state seems to be unaware of the goings on in the country.
While reacting to demonstrators on Wednesday last week at the front of the state government house, the representative of the governor, Funkekeme Solomon, only told the protesters that Oborevwori was aware of the plight of Deltans and that he knew what to do. But Funkekeme, who definitely was acting on the instruction of the governor, never made categorical statement on what the governor would do for the people of Delta state. He tactically evaded the greatest statement which Deltans wanted him to make.
Beside Lagos state in Nigeria, no state is as rich as Delta state. Delta is richer than Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Oyo, Edo, Niger, Osun, infact Delta is number two in Nigeria after Lagos state. Lagos is richer than Delta due to it being headquarters of almost all big firms and multinational corporations in the country. Hence, its internally generated revenue is higher than that of Delta state. With all the funds flowing into Delta, Governor Oborevwori is keeping mute, pretending to be unaware of the pains of Deltans. Arising from the increase of fuel price, transport fares have gone up, prices of foods have hit roof top, but Oborevwori has reportedly refused to make statements on palliatives for the people of Delta state. This is to say the least unacceptable and most uncharitable.
The establishment of government in any society is to aid the people live to their fullest and provide for the needs of the people. No good government remains mute while its people are pining away under the excruciating pangs of hunger and lack. Government is the reservoir of all the resources in the state. Hence, its establishment is to provide for the people and ensure their survival and wellbeing. Keeping mute in times of hunger and pains does not depict a government that takes people’s welfare a priority. A governor must place himself in the shoes of the people and see how painful the situation is to them.
Governor Oborevwori cannot be in government house while Deltans are passing through hard times and he remains unconcerned. That is not the government Deltans voted for. States are increasing salaries of workers, Oborevowir is keeping quiet. States are providing buses at cheaper rates for their people, both for students and the general masses; Oborevowri is keeping quiet as if there is no change in the cost of transport in Delta state.
What he only promised civil servants was payment of promotion arrears of N5bn. This has no connection with fuel price hike. States have added N10,000 to the initial N30,000 minimum wage. These are poor states compared to Delta state. Imo and Edo states cannot raise shoulders where Delta is standing in terms of federal allocation or internally generated revenue. But these states were the first to raise the bar in terms of increasing minimum wage to N40,000 for workers.
During the labour leaders protest on Wednesday last week, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state promised releasing N500million for the welfare of the vulnerable people in the state. But no promise was made in the speech delivered by the governor of Delta state. This is not a good omen of better things to come for the people of Delta state. During the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, he bought coaster buses for students and general transport across the state. Every community in Delta felt the presence of the Uduaghan bus in his days. Now, one may ask, where are those buses?
One of the functions of government is to ensure the welfare of the people. The welfare of the people is the paramount function of government. If the function of government excludes the welfare of the people, then, there is no need for the existence of government. Subsidy is not only for fuel, every aspect of existence is to be subsidized by government for the overall good of the people. Health, education, water, food, transport, shelter, clothing, all these can be subsidized for the good of the people. Deltans are in need of a government who cares and sees their welfare as number one in his priorities.
Governor Oborevowi must wake up and face the realities of the moment. He cannot fold his hands while other poor and less endowed states are rolling out palliatives for their people. He cannot fold his hands while other states are reducing cost of transport for their people. He cannot fold his hands while other states are providing food for their people. He cannot fold his hands while other states are increasing salaries of their workers. He cannot fold his hands while students are paying through their nostrils to board buses to school. He cannot fold his hands while farmers cannot transport their farm produce to market for sale.
The only achievement of the governor since he came on board is the appointment of special advisers and commissioners. But the people of Delta are yet to feel the impact of his government. This is the time to prove that the people of Delta did not make mistake on March 18, 2023. Deltans need palliatives and it is veeeeeeeeeery urgent.
