Subsidy: Kwara gov grants N10,000 monthly palliative for workers

The governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved a palliative payment of N10,000 per month for employees.

With the recent withdrawal of gasoline subsidies and its associated economic effects, workers would get N10,000 per month as a palliative.

At a news conference on Monday at the Government House in Ilorin, the governor’s chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, announced the government’s choice.

“On top of the palliatives is a financial support of N10,000 for every public sector employee in the state, which will start this month (July) and last until a new minimum wage is imposed to help workers deal with the economic shocks generated by the subsidy reduction,” Ajakaye added.

“The governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule — not to exceed three days a week — to reduce transportation expenses for workers,” he said. “This is in deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their own independent responses to the development.”

Kwara had already implemented a 3-day workweek for its civil personnel but delayed it in observance of an earlier NEC guideline urging states to hold off on responding to the development until a more comprehensive response was available.

The governor’s spokeswoman underlined that the staggered work schedule will not apply to “critical staff.”

“The governor has also approved the payment of new hazard and skipping allowances, as well as 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical professionals under the government payroll, effective this month, July.

He also gave his approval to a new system of benefits for nurses employed by the state government. The goal is to reduce attrition in the healthcare industry and recruit and keep specialists and doctors so that the state’s citizens may receive better, higher-quality healthcare services, he added.

The immediate cash-backing of promotions for 2019 and 2020 for Teaching Service Commission employees has also received the governor’s support. For TESCOM for the years 2015–2018, the administration had previously paid arrears of promotion.

“In the same line, he has approved financial support for the promotion process for SUBEB’s teaching and non-teaching personnel in 2021 as well as the restoration of steps for everyone. This is a policy solution to SUBEB employees’ longings since 2016, when steps ceased to exist for SUBEB employees.

“The Governor also approved the expansion of free bus trips for students attending higher institutions in the state, and in the coming days, protocols for sporadic food distribution to the most vulnerable and impoverished homes would go into effect.

“This shall be nonpartisan and shall be coordinated by a government team to be assisted by respected stakeholders who would receive input from traditional rulers, religious bodies, market leaders, trade unionists, and community-based organizations to generate the beneficiary lists and disburse in accordance with those lists.

The goal of these actions, which consume billions of naira in taxpayer money, is to demonstrate compassion and use all available resources to assist the populace during this important period.

The Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), which would activate N500 million in conditional support for MSMEs and tiny merchants in the state, has also received the Governor’s approval.

“The state government will pay for and receive grains and fertilizers from the federal government. It costs money. Modalities for processing these will be available later. This will increase the state’s agricultural productivity and food security.

The government will create a commission to communicate with marketers about the need to stop extortionist tendencies, which are evident in the arbitrarily setting of food prices. This habit makes Eve’s life difficult.