By Muhammad Tanko Shittu – The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, has advised President Bola Tinubu to establish a Federal Ward Development Commission, FEDC, for people at the grassroots to directly benefit from the cash palliatives.
Recall that the president had earmarked N500billion for disbursement to 12million Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
But the IPAC, under its Northern Chairmen Forum, observed that the N8,000 earlier proposed by the government for 12million households is no longer feasible.
In a letter to the President, dated July 19, signed by its chairman, Abubakar Dogara, the Forum recalled that previous funds generated from the Paris Club Refund and the Excess Crude Account made available to states were not effectively utilised to the benefit of the masses.
“We hope his Excellency is aware that most of the funds benefitted and/or generated by the country from Paris Club Refund, Excess Crude (windfall) Account, etc, has never been effectively used to the benefit of Nigerians at the ward level (Grassroot),” it said.
The Forum, therefore, recommended the creation of Federal (electoral) Ward Development Commission, FEDC, to enable the downtrodden Nigerians benefits from such funds.
“We recommend the immediate establishment of Federal Wards Development Commission, with six Commissioners each representing a geopolitical zone and a Chairman as the head.
“The Commission will be responsible for the disbursement of the said funds across the Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Six Federal Wards in Nigeria. Each ward will receive 56 Million Naira as a soft loan to be refunded in 2 years,” they canvassed.
The Forum further recommended that an account with NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, saying that “the funds are to be received and managed by the existing ward Development Committees created by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency across the Nation”.
The Forum, therefore, assured the President of their continuous support as he embarks on the noble assignment of nation-building.
