Abiodun announces palliatives for Ogun workers alone, ignore others

To cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and the continued rise in the price of fuel, Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Governor has announced palliative measures for indigenes of the state.

In a statement made available on his Twitter page in the wee hours of Tuesday, Governor Abiodun detailed that the state’s mass transit buses will be converted to CNG to reduce the cost of transportation for citizens of the state.

“…Other measures include the commencement of conversion of State Mass Transit buses to CNG including staff buses and current public transportation buses in circulation to reduce the cost of transportation by charging rates comparable to what was obtained before deregulation. Immediate Road Infrastructure Intervention, with all the local governments working with Community Development Associations and Community Leaders to submit three roads that require immediate intervention as part of the palliative programmes and support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through Special Schemes to boost production capacity and employment generation,” statement by Governor Abiodun partly read.

Governor Abiodun further approved a three-month N10,000 cash palliative for the state’s public servants. The governor also okayed the payment of hazard allowance for all health and medical personnels in the state.

“In line with the current realities in the country and commitment of our administration to ameliorate the effects of removal of fuel subsidy on the well-being of the good people of Ogun State, we have approved the following measures for immediate implementation: 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 3 months 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,” the statement read in part.

Mr Abiodun also disclosed that leave bonuses for the month of April and May will be paid to the state’s public servants.

The governor also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state to ensure that 20 percent of their staff strength are off duty on a daily basis to cushion the effect of the recent hike in the pump price of fuel.

“Payment of March and April 2023 leave bonuses for public servants in the State. 6. Immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners. 7. All our Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to work out modalities of ensuring that 20% of their staff strengths are off-duty daily to ease the effect of the recent increase in fuel price among public servants. 8. Commencement of food palliatives to the vulnerable (rice, garri, beans, maize etc).