N8,000 handout to poor families: Nigerians react
By Elem Kash
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu moves to deal with challenges facing Nigeria’s poorest of the poor.
Nigerians have been reacting to the decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the sum of N8000 to poor households on monthly basis.
The administration which is working on palliatives meant to cushion the effect of the latest subsidy removal on Nigerians is to spend N800 billion as part of a federal supplementary budget.
A breakdown shows that N500 billion is to be spent on palliatives, N10 billion on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, N70 billion on the National Assembly, N19.2 billion on agriculture, and N35 billion on the Judicial Service Commission.
Some Nigerians have criticised the speed with which the two arms of the National Assembly approved the presidential request.
They are also saying that the Senators and lawmakers in the House of Reps have no business taking a whooping N70 billion out of the N800 billion loan the Presidency has requested.
Rufai Oseni (left) and Reuben Abati (right) on the Morning Show doing what they like best.
Reuben Abati and Rufai Oseni predictably chastised the lawmakers on the Morning Show broadcast Friday on Arise News.
While Rufai who repeatedly urged members of the National Assembly to “fear God” calculated senators and lawmakers could go home with a mouth-watering sum of N140 each if the money is shared equitably, Abati said a matter laid out in the morning was passed even before Nigerians could get to their lunchtime tables in the afternoon.
On the social media, there have been reactions from Nigerians over the decision by the Tinubu administration to hand over a pay cheque of N8000 to the poorest of the poor.
Senator Shehu Sani who took to Twitter remarked, “People who collected Buhari’s ‘jazzed’ 10k ended up in deeper poverty. Pray before you collect the next 8k. 8k is “Almajirinization” of the country.”
Phrank Shaibu, an Atiku Abubakar Spokesman said, “A Nigerian household as at 2019 counted on an average of 5.06 members. So, with Tinubu’s uninspiring plan, each individual in a household will get N1,600 per month or N53 per day. What should they do with it? Use the money to buy sachet (pure) water or a cup of boiled groundnut?”
Phrank Shaibu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s Spokesman in the presidential campaign season disagreeing with Tinubu’s palliative plan.
Zahrah Musa wrote on Twitter, “I have seen people opining negatively about the 8k palliative. One thing I know is that there are many people in Nigeria to whom 8k is a lifesaver.
“Between courtesy of the several poverty alleviation programs in the past, Nigeria has a database of poorest of poor to start working with.”
Another Nigerian who goes by the name “Kennygee babe” on Twitter expressed this view, “The world bank has the database and has been in partnership with FG for such. I only pray that it is not hijacked by some unscrupulous elements. By the way, how will people like me benefit? I’m someone’s child too o.”
“Another issue here is that at the time that they are trying to uplift the most poor and vulnerable persons”, A.B Umar noted, “the average ones are falling.. no salary/other income increment but prices (are) already up, things are so hard.”
Senator Shehu Sani wonders if the Almajirinization of the country hasn’t started?
Victor Abisoye is among Nigerians who do not agree with the handout theory. Hear him, “It is a bad idea. Handouts don’t work here. We need to stop funding consumption and start funding production instead.
“A food bank warehouse in every ward or LGA where food items % farm inputs are sold at half price to locals using NIN is a better idea. We can’t continue poverty.”