* Begins food distribution, N5,000 payment to 10,000 households
*John Odunjo
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has rolled out palliatives to soften the impact of removal of fuel subsidy to residents including students, workers and pensioners.
The Chairman of the State Palliatives Committee and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akin Oyebode, who said a decision like fuel subsidy removal would naturally come with short term pains, said the palliatives would stand in the gap.
Oyebode spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Wednesday while giving report of the outcome of the committee meetings, which he said the governor had approved for immediate implementation.
Membership of the committee comprised government representatives and other stakeholders including the organised labour.
He said these include: “Payment of one year’s leave bonus for State and Local Government workers.
“Payment of one month’s pension arrears for State and Local Government pensioners.
“Implementation of consequential adjustment for workers on GL. 14 to GL. 17 for State and Local
Government workers.
“Implementation of 90 per cent CONHESS and 100 per cent Hazard Allowance for health workers at the Local Governments.
“Implementation of salary parity for clinical staff of the Hospitals’ Management Board.
“Implementation of financial benefits of 2020 and 2021
promotions for State and Local Government workers.
“Immediate payment of one month subvention arrears to tertiary institutions.
“Provision of free shuttle buses for workers and students to ease transportation to/from work and
school respectively.
“In addition to the already mentioned interventions, Mr
Governor has also approved additional interventions designed
to directly impact our poorest and most vulnerable residents”.
These are: “Payment of N5,000 as a conditional cash transfer to 10,000 households from August till December 2023 with emphasis on our aged people.
“Inclusion of 10,000 persons in the Ulera Wa Health Insurance programme.
“A food distribution programme that will commence this month.
“The distribution of inputs to farmers as well as financial
support to small businesses and our informal sector,” the commissioner said.
He added, “The fiscal benefits of the difficult decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu are already being felt and these interventions, an urgent and immediate
response to the hardship being faced by our people, is only
possible because of the additional revenues earned by the
three tiers of government.
“As a government, we feel the pain
of our people and acknowledge those who stressed the need
for an immediate response from us.
“However, the gravity of the situation required broad consultation with various groups,
to ensure our response alleviates the pain of the people”.
Oyebode reiterated the Oyebanji government’s commitment to the people of Ekiti State, saying, “The
increased revenues from the removal of fuel subsidy will lead
to better service delivery from our Government.
“Mr Governor remains irrevocably committed to his vision of “Shared
Prosperity” which is being driven by the government’s six-point agenda, and “under his leadership, we will continue to advance our journey towards prosperity”, he said.
