Ekiti To Subject Social Register To Periodic Review

Ekiti State government has said that its Social Register may be subjected to periodic reviews to accommodate more indigent members of the society.

Governor Oyebanji stated this while flagging off the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries of the monthly payment of N5,000 as palliatives to 10,000 economically vulnerable citizens of the state.

Oyebanji who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Niyi Adebayo disclosed that the 10,000 beneficiaries were selected from the 18,000 Indigent members of the state captured in the Social Register in collaboration with the Federal Government.

The gestures according to Adebayo were part of the palliative plans of his administration to cushion the effect of the current economic situation on indigent citizens.

He explained further that the compilation of the Social Register was devoid of political, religious or ethnic colouration adding that their selection was transparent and it cut across all the 16 Local Government and 22 Local Council Development Areas which was

He noted that the initiative, which had started for over two months now, will last for six months for 10,000 indigenes of the state.

The Commissioner added that the gesture was part of the state government’s alleviation programme, aimed at ensuring that the less privileged in society feel the presence of government in times of hardship.

He explained that the palliative scheme was occasioned by the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on petroleum products in May this year, leading to increase in the prices of food stuffs and other commodities.

“Having realized the attendant suffering of the low-income earners, Ekiti State Government decided to intervene by giving these categories of people the succour to ameliorate their suffering.”

Adebayo highlighted some of the on-going palliative programmes of the state government to include: distribution of food items, provision of free transport system to support civil/public servants and students, payment of consequential salary adjustment to senior civil/public servants and payment of 2017 leave bonus arrears to workers, food bank for elders, among others.