Abiodun flags off distribution of 300,000 bags of rice as palliatives for subsidy removal

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has started distributing 300,000 bags of 10kg rice palliatives to state residents.

The event, which took place on Friday, was in keeping with Prince Abiodun’s vow to secure the timely distribution of palliatives.

The governor confirmed that the federal government had provided palliatives to states, which had been domesticated by the state government.

“This is a federal government initiative being domesticated right here in Ogun State under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

“Our initial goal is to distribute approximately 300,000 bags of 10kg rice across our 5,400 polling units.”

“We decided to use polling units as a distribution reference rather than wards because we realised that using wards would not be equitable.”

“Imagine taking a ward in Sagamu, such as the Ogijo ward, and comparing it to a ward in Ikenne. It is very unfair and inequitable to use the ward as a benchmark for allocating palliatives.

“However, we know that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done a very detailed arrangement of our polling units to the point where all of us belong to a polling unit, allowing us to determine the number of people in our various wards.”

“So you discover that, for example, a ward in Ogijo will have far more polling units than a ward in Ikenne or Remo North.” “So we decided to use the polling units as a point of reference,” he explained.

Abiodun stated that a committee of prominent men and women has been formed to oversee the distribution of the palliatives.

He stated that the group, chaired by his deputy, will guarantee that the palliative distribution is efficiently executed, and that similar committees will be formed in each of the 20 local governments.

“This committee is comprised of eminent, trustworthy, and distinguished men and women from across the state.”

“The committee will be chaired by my Deputy Governor, and she will be supported by two members of the National Assembly, one representing the House of Representatives and the other representing the Senate.”

“Members of the state Assembly, specifically the Deputy Speaker and Minority Leader, our Iyalojas, CDCs, CDAs, members of our youth community, inter-ethnic representatives, community leaders, and other distinguished eminent personalities,” he said.

According to him, the Central Working Committee (CWC) will be given the authority to establish committees in each of the state’s 20 local government regions.

The council chairman, Governor’s Liaison Officers (GLO), a member of the state House of Assembly in each local government, religious leaders, community leaders, youths, students, Iyalojas, and traditional institutions will form the committees in each local government.

While praising President Tinubu for conceptualising the programme to mitigate the impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy, Abiodun stated that his administration has classified the president’s various interventions, which his administration has domesticated into the immediate, medium, and long terms.

The state’s governor announced that his administration has began the payment of N10,000 travel allowance to public officials in the state, as well as the payment of additional allowances such as hazard and gratuity.

“As you recall, we began by providing N10,000 transport allowances to all of our public servants, including pensioners and teachers.”

“We also decided that no more than 80% of our workforce should be required to come to the office at any given time.”

“We’ve started paying various allowances, including hazard allowances.” We started offsetting backlogs of various payments, including as pensions, gratuities, deductions, and all other payments, as we see them as part of the cushioning effect of subsidy elimination,” he stated.

Abiodun also stated that his administration plans to provide health insurance coverage to pregnant women throughout the state.

He went on to say that the health insurance coverage will allow them to go to primary, secondary, or tertiary care facilities.

“We will also provide for all pregnant women in Ogun State through our Ogun State Health Insurance Cover called ‘Ibi Dero.'”

“This will cover their pre-natal engagements as well as post-natal consultations for up to six months,” he explained. “This means that you can go to a Primary Health Care Centre, Secondary Health Care Centre, or Tertiary and consult Pre-natal, give birth for free because the state government is bearing the cost of all of that.”

The governor also stated that his administration would make the palliatives available to poor kids across the state.

While revealing that his administration would soon begin its energy transition programme, which would allow state-owned buses to use compressed natural gas (CNG), Prince Abiodun also stated that the start of its E-mobility programme would allow his administration to replace petrol-powered motorcycles with electric motorcycles at the expense of the state.

Earlier, Usman Olamilekan, a representative of the Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Comrade Bola Lawal, a representative of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), praised Governor Abiodun for his open-door policy.

Alhaja Yemisi Abass, the Iyaloja General of Ogun State and a member of the committee, also praised the governor for sending more grains to supplement the ones given by the Federal Government.
He complimented the governor for appointing committee members from around the state.

Mrs. Ileyemi Olayinka, who represents people with special needs, and Comrade Segun Obadimu, who represents the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, thanked Governor Dapo Abiodun for the rice palliative, noting that such programmes would help the people of the state persevere.