The Federal Government has been advised to re-channel the N8,000 per 12 million households, earlier earmarked as palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians over the removal of oil subsidy, to pensioners.
Former Minister of State for Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, gave the suggestion in a press statement he issued in Abuja.
Nakande, who is the National Chairman of NITEL/Mtel Pensioners Association, said pensioners represent the most vulnerable and neglected citizenry and could do with more attention from the federal government.
He said: “As the Federal Government is reviewing the entire palliative package, it should consider channeling the amount earlier earmarked for 12 million households, which has been criticized by many, to pensioners if it intends to reach vulnerable Nigerians.
“By so doing, the government would have reached these senior citizens who have given their best to serve the country but are currently suffering due to neglect.”
The former minister said the pensioners were in dire straits because they can hardly fend for themselves outside the paltry sums they receive as pensions. He added that giving this category of Nigerians the palliatives would go a long way in increasing their purchasing powers and elongating their lives.
“Some of them, due to old age and ill health, cannot engage in any productive exercise and the amount they receive as pension is barely enough to cater for their medical and other bills; so the money would go a long way in complementing what they have,” he said.
The former minister commended the federal government for coming up with the initiative saying the measure had shown that the current administration is a listening one which has the plight of citizens at heart.
Nakande called on President Tinubu to continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently ordered the immediate review of the proposed N8,000 conditional cash transfer to 12 million vulnerable Nigerian households to cushion the negative effects of the removal of subsidy on fuel in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.
