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Kwara, Ogun, Imo, announce support for workers, citizens
Jigawa boosts farmers, others
Trade Union Congress seeks quick action
Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)/Kwara State Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq led the way yesterday as more governors rolled out plans to give succour to workers and others feeling the pinch of petrol subsidy removal.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi also announced their plans.
AbdulRazaq approved a monthly payment of N10,000 to every civil servant in the state.
Abiodun sanctioned the payment of N10,000 additional salary, an immediate promotion or workers and leave bonuses.
Uzodimma okayed the sale of food items at reduced prices to citizens. The state will increase the fleet of its mass transit buses.
Read Also: Subsidy Removal: AbdulRazaq approves multisectoral palliatives
Last week, the National Economic Council (NEC) mandated governors to take charge of giving palliatives and prepare a register of the poor to facilitate conditional cash transfers.
They will also receive grains and fertilisers from the Federal Government’s strategic reserves for distribution to their citizens.
Before the NEC meeting, governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) and Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) bought buses to subsidise transportation.
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru increased workers’ allowances by N10,000.
Kwara
Governor AbdulRazaq, who had earlier provided free bus transportation for students in the state, announced yesterday the payment of N8,000 to workers.
He approved a monthly payment of N10,000 to civil servants.
The civil servants, according to Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, will resume working for three days a week.
He added that “different sectors and demographics in the state would benefit” from a “slew of billion naira palliatives” by the state government.
“The governor also approved the extension of free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions, while modalities for occasional distribution of food to poor and most vulnerable households are to be activated in the next few days.
“On top of the palliatives is a cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker, which will begin this month and last until a new minimum wage is introduced to enable workers to cope with the economic shocks created by subsidy removal.
“In deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their independent responses to the development, the governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule — not exceeding three days a week — to reduce transportation expenses for workers.
“The governor has similarly approved the payment, from this month of a new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100 per cent CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors on the government’s payroll.
“He also approved a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government.
“The whole essence is to check the attrition rate in the health sector and attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare services for the people.
“The governor also approved the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to activate N500 million worth of conditional support for petty traders and MSMEs.
“The state government will receive fertilisers and grains from the Federal Government and pay for same. It is not free. Modalities for the handling of these will be made available later.”
Ogun
In Ogun State, “public servants” will for three months enjoy N10,000 additional salary each, an immediate promotion (2021 and 2022) and leave bonuses for March and April this year.
Every pensioner will also have N10,000 added to his monthly pay.
The government plans to convert its mass transit and staff buses to Compressed National Gas (CNG) and launch electric motorbikes as well as tricycles” to ease transportation.
Besides, the Gateway Trading Company is to establish food distribution outlets across the state. The outlets will sell food items at the rates obtainable in markets before May 29.
These were the highlights of a 14-point statement made available by the Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi.
The government also approved hazard allowances for all health and medical personnel in the state and peculiar allowances for public servants.
According to Talabi, the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are to work out modalities of ensuring that 20 per cent of their staff members are off-duty daily to ease the effect of the recent increase in fuel prices among public servants.
Other palliatives are:
•Establishment of a commodity exchange to ensure optimisation of current and future investment in the agro-allied sector of the economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s war on food insecurity;
•Distribution of fertilisers and other farm inputs to farmers at subsidised and controlled prices;
•Immediate road infrastructure intervention. All the local government areas working with community development associations and community leaders will submit three roads that require immediate intervention; and
•Support for micro, small and medium enterprises through special schemes to boost production capacity and employment generation.
Imo to sell items at reduced cost
Imo State government said the sale of food items at reduced prices will begin at special centres across the state.
The decision was taken at an emergency state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, will work with the relevant ministries and Head of Service to fine-tune the modalities for the palliatives implementation.
Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics, Dr. C. C. Osuala, said commodity centres have been set up in the 27 LGAs that will stock and sell products such as rice, ‘garri’, fertilizers etc., at reduced prices to her citizens.
The commissioner said: “The commodity centres are meant to bring down the astronomical market prices by the shylock businessmen and women.”
Osuala also said that EXCO approved a new mass transit system that will reduce transportation costs.
“This government hopes to achieve through improved Imo Transport Company (ITC) operations and expansion of the civil service free transport scheme by expanding the routes and injecting more vehicles.”
Osuala told the newsmen that the governor had earlier reeled out the palliatives in his address to stakeholders.
“Anyone desirous of the report can approach the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to get a copy,” he said.
Commissioner for Transport and his Trade and Investment colleagues, Anunobi and Ebegbulem said that plans are nearing conclusion for the Mass transit to take off just as the commodity centres as approved will soon start procuring products for sale to Imo citizens.
Jigawa
In Jigawa State, Governor Umar Namadi promised to support farmers by providing them with fertiliser, chemicals and equipment.
The governor made the promises in a speech at a reception organised in honour of the state Assembly Speaker Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin in Miga, Miga Local Government Area.
“This present administration will ensure agricultural revolution agenda and other policies designed to improve the state’s economy and social development,” he said
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