…says measures will give great succour to public servants, others
A group, Egba L’okan Youth Movement 2027, has applauded the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, for approving a cash sum of N10,000 among other palliatives to all the public servants and pesioners in the state to ameliorate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The Ogun State Government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, had on Monday, announced the approval of Governor Abiodun of the sum for a period of three months.
Other palliatives as announced included approval of Hazard Allowance for all Health and Medical Personnel in the State; approval of Peculiar Allowance for Public Servants in the State; immediate release of Letters of Promotion in respect of 2021 and 2022; payment of March and April, 2023 Leave Bonuses for Public Servants in the State; immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners; commencement of food palliatives to the vulnerable among others.
In a statement signed on behalf of the youth group, on Wednesday, in Abeokuta, by its Coordinator, Idowu Saheed, commended Abiodun for putting in place a robust measure to give succour to the people of the state and ensure the well-being of the public servants, in the face of th biting effects brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to Idowu, the immediate implementation of the payment of N10,000 cash palliative will offer a great relief to the civil servants and the senior citizens, while distribution of food palliatives to the vulnerable in the state will go a long way in cushioning the effect of rise in prices of staple food items on the people.
The group further lauded the state government on the mandate given to Gateway Trading Company to establish food distribution outlets across the state, with directive that food items should be sold at the rate obtainable in the market before removal of fuel subsidy.
Idowu, while noting that inclusion of farmers in the state in the palliative measures with the distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to them at subsidized and control prices, also pointed out that the commencement of conversion of State Mass Transit buses to CNG including staff buses and current public transportation buses in circulation to reduce cost of transportation by charging rates comparable to what obtained before deregulation, will greatly help residents of the state.
“Unlike other state governors, Governor Abiodun moved a notch higher beyond cash palliatives of N10,000 to public servants and pensioners for an upward period of three months, by extending palliatives to others residing in the state. The food outlets across the state will go a long way to provide succour to our people, while farmers will increase their yield with the help of provision of fertilizer and other farm inputs by the state government.
“Apart from that, the governor also said the state would comence conversion of staff buses and others in the state to CNG-enabled ones, with the view to reduce high cost of transportation as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy removal.
“To this end, Egba L’okan Youth Movement 2027, hereby, commends Governor Abiodun-led administration in the state to put in place a comprehensive and robust subsidy removal palliatives, which is perhaps one of the best in the country. We give kudos to the governor for this humane and pro-people palliative measures. While others only target the civil servants in the states for palliatives, our governor ensured that the goodies are extended to the people of the state, especially with the decision to identify three roads per local government for immediate infrastructural intervention, as part of palliative programmes”, the group stated in the statement.