Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has approved a 25 per cent reduction in acceptance fees payable in the four state-owned universities as part of palliatives for students.

The governor’s approval is contained in a statement by his chief press secretary, Festus Ahon, on Wednesday in Asaba.

According to him, the reduction in the acceptance fee is in line with measures taken by the Delta State government to cushion the effects of the removal of the petrol subsidy on citizens.

“The 25 per cent reduction is for new students at the Delta State University, Abraka; Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro; University of Delta, Agbor; and the Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai-Asaba.

“The governor had earlier approved the payment of N10,000 to workers for three months and the payment of N5.522 billion to 50,196 workers as promotion arrears as palliatives to civil servants across the state,” said Mr Ahon.

He said the governor had also approved three working days for servants on salary grade levels 1–14.

“While staff members on SGL 15 and above are to work out what is convenient for them in their respective MDAs, thereby ensuring that essential services remain uninterrupted,

“Two thousand primary school teaching and non-teaching staff members are being recruited in 22 out of the 25 local government areas in the state,” he said.

The statement said the state government had earmarked N10 billion, over 17,000 bags of rice, and over 64,000 bags of maize, all in 50kgs as palliatives for the less privileged, the poor, persons with disabilities, and the aged.

“All these efforts were geared at cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal on citizens of the State,” he said.

(NAN)