In a significant development, the Ogun State’s N5 billion Intervention Palliative, designed to mitigate the effects of prevailing economic challenges, is positively impacting the lives of its citizens, according to statements made by Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Information.
Speaking during an episode of OGTV’s The RoundTable program on Monday, Akinmade outlined the direct benefits being felt by residents as a result of the intervention program.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing economic hardships through targeted initiatives, aimed at providing relief to those affected.
The announcement of the N5 billion intervention funds by Governor Abiodun underscores the administration’s proactive approach to tackling rising living costs and inflation within the state.
Akinmade revealed that the funds are intended to be distributed as palliatives to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the populace.
During a recent press conference held in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun acknowledged the prevailing challenges exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, including concerns over escalating food prices, shortages, and currency depreciation.
He expressed empathy for the plight of residents and reassured them of the government’s commitment to implementing measures to alleviate their hardships and ensure their well-being.
In light of these challenges, Governor Abiodun affirmed the administration’s determination to take proactive steps to safeguard the welfare and wellness of Ogun State residents during these trying times.
Akinmade said: “Ogun is the first state to implement the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus initiative, to take care of transportation challenges. The buses are currently positioned on strategic routes in the state where people are meant to pay a token fee to cover a reasonable distance.
“Governor Abiodun has initiated policies with direct impacts on the people. Evidence is the ongoing Educash programme that is planned to provide a one-off N10,000 education support grant for 100,000 pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools. The ongoing exercise is done in a transparent manner such that the beneficiaries have been full of appreciation of the gesture coming from the state government.”
According to Hon. Akinmade, 50,000 students of Ogun State origin in tertiary institutions across the country have been captured as part of the planned disbursements of N50,000 grant to each of them.
The Special Adviser added that the administration of Governor Abiodun is also providing health insurance cover for over 70,000 beneficiaries to include pregnant women, children, the elderly, market women, and other members of the informal sector.
“Pregnant women, under the Ibidero Scheme, would also be provided free pre-natal care, an additional N5,000 per birth and free post-natal care in the State Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres,” he said.
Akinmade noted that provision would be made for food palliatives to include rice and other items for about 300,000 households across the state.
“The state government has started offsetting the backlog of inherited deductions. To this end, the government has immediately committed N500 million monthly payments towards outstanding deductions.
“It is noteworthy that we have continued to pay N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants in the state for the last eight months,” Hon. Akinmade submitted.
