*As free bus shuttle for workers, students begin
John Odunjo
Ekiti State Government will today begin distribution of the 3000 bags of rice received from the Federal Government as palliative to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal to residents across the state particularly the vulnerable citizens.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade, who is the Chairman of the state Palliative Distribution Committee, said that the governor, Biodun Oyebanji, had directed that the bags of rice be distributed within a week.
Boluwade said, “The committee met and agreed on the lists of beneficiaries”.
He gave a breakdown of the distribution as follows: Ten bags of rice each for 177 wards in the state. Parts of the criteria are that we must prioritise widows and women within the wards. What we are saying is that the rice going to the wards should be shared more to women and the widows. We also specially allocated 100 bags for widows.
“All the artisans in the private sector, 200 bags of rice; while the transport unions got 180 bags. All the market women in Ekiti State were allocated 100 bags. The special group got 150 bags, while the people with disability got 140.
“The elderly, that is the pensioners got 100 bags. The civil servants comprising the junior staff got 100 bags,” he said.
Boluwade, who said that the palliatives’ distribution would have no political coloration, added that it would be coming in batches, assuring that those yet to be benefited from the first tranche would be reached in subsequent ones.
This is coming just as the state government on Monday began Free Mass Transit for Civil Servants and Public Schools Students as part of palliatives to cushion the effect of removal of subsidy on petrol.
A public notice from the state government which said that commencement of the scheme was sequel to Oyebanji’s approval, said gaining access to the buses by the civil servants was strictly by government issued identity cards.
The notice added, “Civil servants with damaged or outdated ID cards are to report to their accounting officers for new ones.
“The mass transit is free to all civil servants and public schools students only. All buses are available to civil servants for now, pending the resumption of public schools students. Then the buses will be redesignated and more routes reassigned.
According to the notice, the designated pick-up and stop routes for now are along Ikere Road Axis, Federal Poly/ABUAD Axis, Iworoko Road Axis and Old lyin Road Axis, adding that “pick up starts 7am and drop off starts 4.20pm.
Ikere Road Axis: David Oke Model College – Atlas Motel – Ajebamidele Ologede Police Station – Tosin Aluko Garage – Mobil – Ajilosun -NEPA – Ministry of Works – Ijigbo Round About – Sadiat Hotel Junction: Baptist College – NTA Road and end at the State Secretariat.
Federal Poly/ABUAD Axis: Erinfun – NNPC – Ado Grammar School – Ijigbo Junction-Ojumose – Fajuyi-Moremi Bus Stop and ends at the State Secretariat.
Iworoko Road Axis: llokun, BSES Pathfinder Hotel – Car Wash -Housing Junction – Dallimore Junction – Fajuyi – Moremi Bus Stop and ends at the Secretariat.
Old lyin Road Axis: Faglo Filling Station – Better Life – Local Government Service Commission-Nova Junction – Alade Filling Station – Awedele and ends at the Secretariat.
“All the buses will be stationed at the State Secretariat from 3:30pm till 4:20pm to proceed to various bus stops for prompt drop off,” the notice stated.
