Comrade Tunde Bright Olorungbotemi has expressed dissatisfaction that the government at all levels are yet to set up plans for equitable distribution of resources to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Olorungbotemi who made a call on the statement in Osogbo, Osun State capital, called on the government to introduce palliative measures and create ways to support the people, most especially the less privileges in the country.
“Now that their source of income has been restrained and restricted with the present lockdown, no hope of income from any other means, the government needs to step in and mandate the relevant agencies to capture their data and begin the distribution of resources to support this sector.
“Anything short of this could mean an invitation to hunger and depression for a large percentage of Nigerians; suicide looming.
“This is the time for states in Nigeria to start diversifying on their sources of income and IGR immediately after this pandemic ravaging nations of the world is gone.
So far, the Federal and the Lagos state Government have being doing well for outlining aggressive measures to contain the spread of the novel virus in Nigeria, he said.
I appeal to Federal, state and local Government officials that they should not only be jealous of Lagos pro-activeness but they should think, brainstorm and act like Lagos too.
Beyond closure of borders and total lockdown, we need responsive and crisis management plans from the government only if there’s made available food for the people, not everybody is a government worker; not everyone earns salary, and our lives and properties should be your top priority.”