Fuel subsisy removal: Ogun Govt approves food, cash palliatives

In line with the current realities in the country and commitment of Ogun State Government to ameliorate the effects of removal of fuel subsidy on the well-being of good people of Ogun State, the Administration of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the cash and food measures for immediate implementation in the state.

In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi the SSG palliative listed the palliatives to include:

“Cash palliative of N10,000 for each Public Servant including Pensioners to enable workers to cope with the economic shocks occasioned by the removal of Fuel Subsidy for a period of 3months in the first instance with effect from July, 2023.

“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.

“The Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to work out modalities of ensuring that 20 per cent of their staff strengths are off-duty daily to ease the effect of recent increase in fuel price among Public Servants.

“Commencement of food palliatives to the vulnerable (Rice, Garri, Beans, Maize etc).

“Also, the Gateway Trading Company has been mandated to establish food distribution outlets across the State, and must sell the items at the rate obtainable in the market before removal of fuel subsidy.

“Distribution of fertilisers and other farm imputs to farmers at subsidised and control prices,” the statement revealed.

The statement also revealed that the State is also establishing a commodity exchange to ensure optimisation of current and future investment in the Agro-allied sector of the economy in line with President Tinubu’s war on food insecurity.

The SSG also listed the full implementation of the administration’s Energy Transition Strategy with the launch of Electric Motorbikes and Tricycles all over the State, 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.

“The Government will also be acquiring additional new CNG Buses to ease transportation in the State charging fares comparable to what obtained before the fuel subsidy removal,” he said.

“All Local Governments working with Community Development Associations and Community Leaders are to submit three roads that require immediate intervention as part of the palliative programmes,” he concluded.