Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu
- Restores free shuttle buses for students, workers
- To feed one million households
- Pensioners get N10,000 monthly for five months
By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State government on Thursday rolled out palliatives to cushion the hardship being experienced by the citizenry following the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech on May 29, announced the removal which had been prepared by the preceding Muhammadu Buhari administration which did not make provision for it in the budget.
The state’s Chairman of the Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee who is also the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, announced the palliatives at a press briefing in Akure the state capital.
He said that with the move, the state government is committed to providing essential food items to one million households statewide, adding that the distribution of the food items would be carried out through a well-coordinated system to ensure fairness and transparency.
Akinterinwa, who was flanked by the Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Union Matters and Strategy, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye, and Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, among other cabinet members, said that the government aimed to reach all corners of the state, including rural areas.
He said that pensioners would be supported with a monthly stipend of N10,000 for a period of five months, adding that free shuttle buses and boats would be made available to students to facilitate their transportation to and from their educational institutions.
His words: “Given the current economic realities based on the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, the government of Ondo State wishes to announce these far-reaching palliative measures to address pocketbook issues affecting its citizens.
“The government will restore free shuttle buses for students starting from resumption in September until December 31. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged starting in January 2024. In like manner, free shuttle boats equipped with life jackets will be available for students in riverine areas, starting from resumption in September until December 31. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged starting January 2024.
“We will immediately deploy all existing buses to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as free shuttle buses to public servants until December 31. Additional CNG buses will be purchased to convey public servants to and from work at no cost until December 31.
“Unconditional cash transfer of N10,000 for three months will be given to selected vulnerable persons in every local council. All pensioners in the state, be they local council or state, will get N10,000 each starting this August until December 2023.”
On Social Intervention, he said: “Unconditional Cash Transfer – For three months, ten thousand Naira (N10,000) will be given to selected vulnerable persons in every local government.
“All pensioners in the state, be they local government or state, will get ten thousand Naira (N10,000) each starting this August till December 2023.
“Free food packages will be distributed to 1 million households across the 18 local governments of the state.”
On Agriculture, he said: “Farm inputs at subsidized rates will be made available to farmers. Our poultry and fish farmers will be given free drugs, maize, and feeds for their birds and fishes. In addition, training on local feed formulation and production will be given to them, to help them look inwards.
“Agrochemicals, seeds, drip lines, farm tools, and power tillers will be given at subsidized rates. In riverine areas, free fishing nets and subsidized kilns will be made available.
To ease the movement of farm produce, tricycles will be given free to farming communities. This will be supervised by officially recognized, community-based stakeholder groups.
The state government has authorized immediate suspension of haulage fee collection on all non-graded agricultural produce. These are produce that are consumed locally and not for export.”
On Health, he said: “We announce the immediate suspension of hospital registration and consultation fees. Government will reimburse the hospitals directly based on existing data.”
Akinterinwa said: “In addition to the provision of free shuttle buses earlier mentioned, there will be immediate payment of 2020 leave bonus to public servants. It should be noted that the state government has already paid leave bonuses for 2021, 2022 and 2023.”
On Small and Medium Enterprises, he said: “Various categories of small and medium enterprises will benefit from the state government’s financial assistance. The money to nano, small, medium enterprises will be disbursed through existing government channels.
“Students who are engaged in nano businesses on campus are not excluded. They will also get financial support. The money to nano, small, medium enterprises will be disbursed through existing government channels.
“Students who run nano businesses on campus are not left out. They will also get monetary support.”
