Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Ogun government has approved a cash palliative of N10,000 each for public servants and pensioners. 

Tokunbo Talabi, the secretary to the state government, announced this in a statement released late Monday, saying the palliative was designed for three months in the first instance to help workers cope with the economic shocks occasioned by the petrol subsidy removal.

He mentioned that payment would begin in July.

Mr Talabi added that the Ogun government would give out foodstuffs as part of the palliatives to the vulnerable, with the Gateway Trading Company mandated to establish food distribution outlets across the state, to sell food items at the market rate obtainable before the fuel subsidy removal.

He also mentioned that Mr Abiodun had approved a hazard allowance for all health and medical personnel and a peculiar allowance for public servants.

“Immediate release of letters of promotion in respect of 2021 and 2022, as well as payment of March and April 2023 leave bonuses for public servants in the state, will also begin,” stated Mr Talabi. “There will also be an immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners.”

Mr Talabi disclosed that the state’s ministries, departments and agencies would work out modalities to ensure that 20 per cent of their staff strength was off-duty daily “to ease the effect of the recent increase in fuel price among public servants.”

He also announced the commencement of conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) of state-owned mass transit buses, including staff buses and current public transportation buses in circulation.

(NAN)