Ekiti state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the recommendations of the committee set up to look into the various measures to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizens of the state.
Briefing journalists, Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, who is chairman of the committee, Mr Akintunde Oyebode, said the palliative measures cover people in the formal and informal sectors as well as the elderly and the indigent citizens.
According to Oyebode, some of the succours to be enjoyed by workers, tagged ‘Ekiti State Subsidy Relief Programme’ include immediate payment of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to officers on Grade levels 14-17; leave bonus of 2017 as well as the implementation and payment of 2020 and 2021 promotion arrears.
Other palliatives as approved by the governor for the informal sector are N5,000 monthly conditional cash transfer to 10,000 poor and most vulnerable households from August to December 2023 with particular emphasis on the aged; while another 10,000 residents and especially the aged would be considered for free medical attention through the EKHIS programme (Ulera Wa).
To cushion the effect of the high cost of transportation, especially on workers and students, the Ekiti government would make available mass transit buses as free shuttles for workers and students to and from their places of assignments while foodstuff would also be distributed to the poor and most vulnerable households.
Other approval of the governor, according to the committee included the implementation of 90 percent CONHESS and 100 percent Hazard allowance for local government Health Workers as well as salary parity for clinical staff of the Hospitals Management Board.
“In addition to the already mentioned interventions, the governor has also approved additional interventions designed to directly impact our poorest and most vulnerable residents to include a food distribution programme that will commence this month, distribution of inputs to farmers as well as financial support to small businesses and our informal sector,” the commissioner stated.
In their responses, leaders of organized labour in the state including Chairmen, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Kolapo Olatunde; Trade Union Congress(TUC), Sola Adigun and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Comrade, Ajoloko Oluwafemi, who were present at the media briefing, took turns to express their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for his love for workers and the entire citizens of the state..
