The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has told the people of his state that the N5 billion palliative given to all states and the FCT is not a free lunch from the federal government, as thought by many.
Naija News understands that the governor said there was need for him to give details of the money because of the several speculations making the rounds.
He explained that the federal government palliative was not entirely free because there is a loan component of it to be paid back by states. 
Recall that the federal government had last Thursday announced the release of N5 billion to the 36 states and the FCT and some grains to cushion the hardship created by the fuel subsidy removal.
Mutfwang, on Monday at a parley with the elders in the state, disclosed that Plateau State has so far received the sum of N2 billion of the total amount.
Giving further explanation to the elders, the governor noted that the N5 billion palliatives have a 52 percent drive component while the remaining 48 percent is a loan component that must be repaid.
He said “The federal government allocated N5 billion in palliatives to each state of the federation; the money was, in principle, given to every state for the purpose of giving palliatives to the poorest of the poor. We have so far received N2 billion; the N5 billion has a 52 percent drive component, while 48 percent is a loan component that must be repaid.
“So it is not a free launch; we were allocated 3,000 bags of rice for the whole state. We were mandated to use N1 billion of the N5 billion to buy rice locally. The intention of the federal government is that the N1 billion should not be given to one contractor; we must share it around so that money can circulate in the local economy.
“And I like to pledge and give you my pledge of honor that not a single kobo of this N5 billion will be misused. Already, we have shared the rice with various local governments, and this will be further distributed.”
He also pledged that the state would look into how to supplement what the federal government has provided adding that a committee has been set up to bring up all the possible palliative measures to cover a wide spectrum of society.
Speaking on salary, the governor applauded civil servants in the state for calling off their strike due to the payment of two months out of their outstanding.
He submitted that ”The outstanding salaries will be paid; the government has sourced funds to pay up to July, so don’t hang me if it is delayed; it might be due to bureaucracy by the civil servants.’
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