COVID-19: NGO calls for transparency in distribution of palliative items in Enugu

NGO
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, April 25, 2020 (NAN) A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiatives (DEDSRI), wants Enugu State government to be transparent in the distribution of palliative items to indigents in the state.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Ms Ogechukwu Enwelum, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Enugu.

Enwelum also called for the involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), in the distribution of such items.

She said  the call was to build public trust by ensuring that the process was not marred by partisanship.

She said that the partial lockdown on economic activities in the state arising from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had taken its toll on the indigent residents of the state.

“We are worried that the lockdown has taken adverse toll on the welfare of most residents of the state and may lead to unsavoury consequences if not properly checked.

“While we commend the state government for ensuring that the state is able to contain the spread of the virus, we appeal that necessary steps be taken to support residents of the state in this trying moment.

“One would have expected the state government to map out comprehensive palliative measures to cushion the effect of the lockdown order, especially, on the most vulnerable persons in the state,” she said.

Enwelum said that the NGO was not unmindful of the fact that some organisations and individuals had made donations to the state government.

“The state government had also announced the distribution of some bags of rice to some vulnerable persons in the state.

“However, what one cannot guarantee is the transparency in the process as the sharing or distribution has come under severe criticisms by some supposed beneficiaries,” she said.

“Due to the complaints in the handling of the initial palliative materials, we have deemed it necessary to closely monitor the further distribution of palliative items by the state government where they are available,” she said.

She called on all relevant government agencies and committees handling procurement and or distribution processes under the COVID-19 regime to maintain accurate accounts.

“This includes procurement details of all materials and logistics to ensure accountability as a comprehensive report will be needed at the end,” Enwelum said.

When contacted, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs Nkechi Eneh, said that the state government had begun the distribution of palliative items.

Eneh said that the distribution was done in batches and would continue until all the prospective beneficiaries were reached.

The executive secretary said that already some charity homes, hospitals, people living with disability and churches had benefitted.

Eneh said that the committee handling the distribution of the palliative items recently met to review the process, adding that more items would be given out. (NAN)
EOA/CHOM/DCU

==============

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Donald Ugwu