Oyebanji Rolls Out Palliatives to Cushion Effect of Fuel Subsidy Removal in Ekiti

•Akwa Ibom governor names 18-man palliative committee

Okon Bassey in Uyo and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has rolled out palliatives to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on residents, which include students, workers and pensioners.

Relatedly, in Akwa Ibom State, the government has constituted an 18-man committee to handle distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the people in the state.

In Ekiti, 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, yesterday, 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.”

He added: “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.”

Eno Names 18-man Palliative Committee in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Government has constituted an 18-man committee to handle distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the people in the state.

The State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno who inaugurated Palliatives Committee, named the Secretary to the State Government, Enobong Uwah, as Chairman; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong as Secretary; Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Sunny James and fifteen other members drawn from the government, organised labour and civil society organisations as members.

The governor outlined the terms of reference for the committee to include providing in details, the measures of how the palliative items would be distributed to positively affect the target population of the poor across the state; creating awareness on measures taken by the state government, and ensure success in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of palliative measures, while upholding integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He disclosed the receipt of 3,000 bags of rice so far, from the federal government and tasked the Committee to ensure that the palliatives get to people who really need them, evaluate and recommend to the state government other measures, to add to the federal government’s palliatives.

This, he stressed, should be done with reference to economic realities and availability of funds in the State, within a time frame of two weeks.

“Apart from the recommendations, we have to know how you want us to make it trigger down so that you will also be part of the implementation, not just for civil servants, but for Akwa Ibomites generally, particularly to the most vulnerable, those who really need these things.

“I am going  to make sure I do whatever it takes to ensure that we cushion the effects of all of these, but it has to be within what the capacity of the State Government,” he stated.

The governor thanked the organised labour for the cooperation enjoyed by his administration since assumption of office especially in ensuring peaceful conduct during the August 2 protest, describing the action as lawful and in line with the tenets of democracy and particularly commended the labour leaders for not allowing the process to be hijacked by mischief makers.

Fielding questions from journalists after the inauguration, the NLC Chairman, James, commended the governor for  keeping to his promise of setting up the committee.