Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Saturday, urged the Federal Government to increase the number of beneficiaries in its palliatives measures amidst the Coronavirus lockdown.
This was contained in his message during the distribution of food items to his constituents.
Ekweremadu, representing Enugu West Senatorial Zone, titled the message, “Covid-19: Together, We Shall Overcome”.
He equally called for increment in the amount given to individual beneficiaries in the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.
He commended leaders at the national and state levels, as well as the international community, development partners, corporate Nigeria, and kindhearted individuals “for their efforts so far to end the pandemic and mitigate the challenges occasioned by it.
“I commend the Governors of the South East for the proactive measures taken by them. I believe this accounts for the comparatively low cases in the region. I commend in a special way the Government of Enugu State for the successful management and discharge of the two COVID-19 index cases.
“Nevertheless, we must not let down our guards. We must consolidate on this advantage of minimal cases by continuously staying safe and building capacities in the areas of medical infrastructure, equipment, personnel, and food security to prepare ourselves for the days ahead.
“The support and complementary efforts of our Local Government Council Chairmen and legislators at local, state, and federal levels in the provision of palliatives, relevant supplies, and sustained enlightenment are well noted and deserve commendation.
“I wish I could reach out to everyone that needs help at this time, but I shall continue to do my best. I call on our people to continue to complement governments’ efforts in cushioning the hardship occasioned by the pandemic on the less privileged citizens. According to Psalm 41: 1-2, ‘Blessed is he who has regards for the weak, the Lord delivers him in the day of trouble. The Lord will preserve his life… and bless him in the land’.”
He added that as Chairman of the South East Senate Caucus, he would continue to work with his colleagues to ensure that the South East got its fair and equitable share of every intervention by the Federal Government “in addition to our modest individual initiatives to help our constituents these trying times.”
“I call on the Presidency to consider increasing the number of beneficiaries as well as the amount given to individual beneficiaries in the Conditional Cash Transfer programme in order to impact a more significant number of indigent Nigerians.
“It is no longer news that the International Monetary Fund, IMF, has predicted that Nigeria would suffer its worst recession in 30 years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a member of the seven-man International Parliamentary Taskforce on COVID-19, I have been holding useful virtual meetings with my colleagues around the world with the aim of mitigating the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable citizens in developing nations, and countries with low capacity to deal with the pandemic and its effects. We will continue to share perspectives with a view to mobilizing ideas and global resources to deal with the pandemic.
“Let me appreciate our health workers, who are at the frontline of this battle against the novel coronavirus. I commend them for their highly commendable efforts in the management of the pandemic. But let me also call on African, particularly Nigerian scientists, to join the race for the cure and vaccine for COVID-19.
“My dear people, challenges are part of life, but I trust God that this too shall pass and together we will surely overcome. My prayers and thoughts are always with you. May God continue to preserve and see us through these difficult times. Lets us stay strong and safe,” he stated.
