Ondo State Government has announced plans to give free food packages to 1 million households across the 18 local government areas of the state as one of its plans to give succor to workers and others feeling the pinch of petrol subsidy removal.
Apart from the distribution of food, the state government also announced the return of free shuttle buses for students starting from resumption in September, till December 31st.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the state capital on Thursday, the Chairman Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, disclosed that the government has also planned to give an unconditional cash transfer of N10,000 for three months to selected vulnerable persons in every local government area of the state.
Akinterinwa who is also the state commissioner for finance, hinted that all pensioners in the state, both at local government and the state will get N10,000 each starting from this August till December 2023.
Flanked by the commissioner for information, Bamidele Ademola- Olateju, and other members of the committee, Akinterinwa announced the immediate suspension of hospital registration and consultation fees.
According to him, the government will reimburse the hospitals directly based on existing data.
His words: “In like manner, free shuttle boats equipped with life jackets for students in riverine areas starting at resumption in September, till December 31st. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged from January 2024.
“We will immediately deploy all existing buses in all MDAs to serve as free shuttle buses to public servants till December 31st.
“Additional CNG BUSES will be purchased to convey public servants, to and from work at no cost to them, till December 31st.
“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.
“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 produced that are consumed locally and not for export.
“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.
“Small and Medium Enterprises, various categories of small and medium enterprises will benefit from Subsidy Removal Palliative.
