Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has directed state officials charged with the distribution of palliatives to draw up modality on how to extend the gesture to students in tertiary institutions.
Governor Sule gave the directive during an emergency State Executive Council meeting in Lafia.
The governor while acknowledging the success of the programme in the state, said the palliative distribution will continue, especially with students of tertiary institutions as target beneficiaries.
He said there is urgent need to extend the gesture to the students as the prevailing hardship is affecting every segment of the society.
Sule added that the gesture will greatly reduce the burden on the parents who are also battling to pay the school fees of their children and wards in the face of the prevailing situation.
“To continue with the palliative, we have to discuss what to do with the students. Students, especially in tertiary institutions are yet to benefit from the palliative, especially during this month of Ramadan. We need to probably go to the tertiary institutions,” he stated.
He urged the appropriate state organ to find a way of identifying the students and reaching out to them accordingly.
The governor equally spoke on the need for the state to support final year secondary school students, stressing that he has already directed the Commissioner of Education, Hon. John Mamman to look into the matter.
He commended the State Palliative Distribution Committee chaired by the State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe for the success of the initiative so far.
The governor particularly appreciated the Commissioner for Special Duties on Humanitarian, Social Services, and NGOs, Hon. Magret Elayo, for her efforts, especially that they have to spend the night supervising the rebagging of the 50kg of rice into 7.5kg, as well as ensuring that the food items were conveyed to the various locations for onward distribution.