Governor Nasir Idris has begun the distribution of over 200 trucks of assorted grains to residents as Ramadan palliatives.

Speaking at the launch of the exercise in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, Idris warned distribution committee members against any abnormalities.

He said any government official found tampering with the distribution exercise would be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

The governor described the palliatives as an interim measure to help the public in its current economic predicament.

While assuring that his administration remained people-oriented, the governor said the gesture fulfilled his campaign promises.

Mr Idris gave the distribution breakdown: the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies would receive 4,000 bags of rice and 3,400 bags of grains.

He added that teachers would receive 9,900 bags of rice and 9,500 bags of grains, while 1,000 bags of rice and 1,000 bags of grains would go to Islamic Scholars, among others.

The governor said the state government fully sponsored the current disbursement, assuring that another batch of palliative was being expected from the federal government.

“We have started receiving consignments from them,” he stated.

Mr Idris said he would continue to discharge his duties to the people, especially those in the teaching profession.

“A sign of good leadership is for leaders to be alive to their responsibilities. As a teacher and a unionist, my government doesn’t owe workers salaries, gratuity or death benefits.

“In the spirit of fairness and magnanimity, I have directed the payment of this month’s workers’ salaries from today, and I have already approved the payment of 2023/2024 leave grant for all categories of workers.

“Workers are my constituency and teachers are my backbone, hence the need to do everything to protect their interests,” he said.

The governor directed the distribution of the palliatives to be done irrespective of party affiliation “because the election is over, what remains now is governance, and everybody will be carried along.”

(NAN)