COVID-19: Plateau starts relief distribution today

Officials in Plateau State would Saturday start distributing “palliatives” to “needy” citizens.

Governor of the State, Simon Lalong, Thursday announced in a State broadcast that the palliative Committee headed by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, “will commence distribution to those who are truly in need by Saturday 25th April 2020.”

The State had received private and corporate donations of about 50 million naira to ease hardships caused by COVID-19.

Governor Lalong had however in his previous broadcast appealed that the palliatives be reserved for only the weak and vulnerable.

Emphasizing that in the past broadcast, “Government is aware of the hardship being faced by our citizens particularly the vulnerable and weak.”

Civil servants and pensioners, Lalong said will continue to get their salaries and pensions “as and when due”.

“I have therefore directed the Commissioner of Finance to ensure that in the next few days, people start getting their alerts for April emoluments,” he said.

The State, though having revenue cuts, the State Finance Commissioner, Dr Regina Soemlat said has sufficient funds to bear the salaries despite workers being unable to go to work.

The Governor had however suspended all payments of the newly upgraded minimum wage of N30,000 from the start of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria.