Subsidy removal: Ondo govt rolls out palliatives for workers, pensioners, residents

<p>The Ondo State government on Thursday rolled out palliatives to cushion the high cost of living and transportation brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy, to assuage the sufferings of the residents of the state.</p>, <p>The state Commissioner for Finance who doubles as the Chairman Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, disclosed this in Akure, the state capital.</p>, <p>He said the budget for the palliative is N7 billion from Federal Government palliative relief for every state as infrastructure support fund to cushion these effects and said the state government has concluded plans to roll out palliatives for civil servants spread across the state.</p>, <p>Akinterinwa said the steps taken by the state government became necessary based on the current economic realities following the removal of subsidy on petroleum, saying the measures would go a long way towards ameliorating the negative effects that the removal of the petrol subsidy has had on workers and the entire citizens of the state.</p>, <p>He said the state government has had a round-table dialogue with labour leaders, market associations, and other critical stakeholders to work out modalities for the distribution of the palliative.</p>, <p>The Finance Commissioner listed some of the critical sectors to be touched which include; transport, agriculture, health, Small and Medium Enterprises, public servants and social intervention.</p>, <p>According to him, “the government will restore free shuttle buses for students starting from resumption in September till December 31st. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged from January 2024.</p>, <p>“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.</p>, <p>“We will immediately deploy all existing buses in all MDA’S to serve as free shuttle buses to public servants till December 31st. Additional CNG buses will