A WEEK FOR PALLIATIVE?
By :Yahaya Mohammed Usman.
But honestly speaking, I don’t think it is a good Idea to spend a whole week as work free for just distribution of Palliative package.
Gov. Bago didn’t truly give that pronouncement a good thought before making it.
In September 2023 a similar 3 days was wasted on similar palliative distribution from the FGN N5billion grant.
Now again, a whole productive week cancelled just to distribute food and some cash is not economically logical for a state that desperately wants an improved IGR.
One of the weaknesses of Bago that is becoming too glaring is spontaneity. Sometimes it’s good for leadership but most times it’s not, especially in policy decisions.
Democratic leadership is not Jackboot, it requires a clear, careful and consistent thought process that benefits a majority.
Now what happens to the larger chunk of the society that are not civil servants; those leaving on daily pay, those earning as you work?
Estimatedly, Bago’s Government has a Budget Of N613.2Billion for 2024.
Not for FAAC, if these funds were to be generated from the IGR of the state, which is clearly impossible, he would have lost N11.8billion for that week’s break.
What that means is that his budget is already deficit from a deliberate action that is not necessary and preventable.
With a clamour for restructuring that is gaining traction, states and especially Northern states should begin to be more creative and more strategic.
Just imagine if all other states and FGN too decides to all shut down for a week too.
Where will the FAAC come from?
