Former Nigeria vice president Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to give every Nigerian family in the country N10,000 to make them stay a
Former Nigeria vice president Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to give every Nigerian family in the country N10,000 to make them stay at home just as he himself has donated 50 million naira as relief fund to support the Federal Government’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Atiku said his contribution will help form part of the stimulus package.
While praising the Federal and State Governments for taking precautionary measures in containing the spread of the virus in the country, he asked the Federal Government especially governments at all levels to provide palliatives to the Nigerian people to enable them to survive, even as they abide by these necessary measures put in place for their own safety.
According to him, a large percentage of our people do not have the financial capacity to withstand long periods of self-isolation and even lockdown.
“At an approximate 30 million households or thereabouts, the government should devise modalities to distribute N10,000 as a supplement for foodstuff to each household, among other palliative measures, with no one left behind,
“It is thus time for the National Assembly to reconvene in an emergency session, perhaps by teleconference (in line with the demands of social distancing), to legislate a Stimulus Package Act that will cater for all Nigerian citizens.”
Atiku said that it will be difficult to keep Nigerians at home without the government providing for their needs at the time of the global pandemic. The former vice president advised “all Mobile Telephony Companies in Nigeria to urgently develop mobile money platforms so that the government can reach the unbanked with financial assistance.
“I also urge these telecommunications firms to offer each of the 100 million mobile phone lines in Nigeria free credit of at least ₦1500 per mobile line, so that Nigerians who show symptoms, or those who just want information, can call the nearest available health facility, or even an ambulance service, as the case may be.
“In essence, this is what makes Nigeria great, when we help each other at such crisis times as this, irrespective of any differences. I further call on more corporations and individuals with capacity, to assist the public in these trying times.”
