Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on the Airforce, Shehu Koko, on Tuesday, called on the federal government to at the moment, suspend payment obligations of utility bills to Nigerians in view of effects of the ravaging Coronavirus spread.
The House of Representatives had earlier in the day announced members’ decision to donate two months salaries to government intervention plans to cushioning effects of the pandemic.
Koko in a statement made available to journalists, there was need for the federal government to extend its palliatives to include suspension of payment of electricity and water bills for ordinary Nigerians for two months in the wake of dwindling economic fortunes.
The lawmaker who represents the Maiyama/Koko/Besse Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in the statement said, “Our Country is going through trying times just like the international communities. While we continue to pray for God to come to our rescue, I urge the Federal government to provide basic amenities like water and electricity at no cost especially those at the grassroot level without interruption”
“This I believe will go a long way to assist the federal government’s decision to provide relief materials to citizens this period.
“Though these amenities are private sector driven, we urge the government to intervene and ameliorate the sufferings of the people”.
Koko who lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to shutdown states mostly infected with the virus for two weeks, describing the move as a step in the right direction, also hailed the government on the decision to offer a three month repayment moratorium for all TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni loans beneficiaries.
