Ondo State Government has released measures it planned to put in place to reduce hardship occasioned by hike in prices of fuel.
Ondo Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, while addressing newsmen on Thursday said free shuttle buses for students would be restored.
Akinterinwa said the funding of the palliatives would be gotten from the seven billion naira made available by the Federal Government.
The commissioner said pensioners and vulnerable persons across the eighteen Local Government areas of the state would receive N10,000 monthly beginning from August till December 2023 through Unconditional cash transfer.
On the public servants, he said; “In addition to the provision of free shuttle buses earlier mentioned, there will be immediate payment of 2020 leave bonus to public servants. It should be noted that the state government has already paid leave bonuses for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“Small and Medium Enterprises
Various categories of small and medium enterprises will benefit from Subsidy Removal Palliative
“Given the current economic realities based on the removal of subsidy on petroleum, the government of Ondo State wishes to announce these far-reaching palliatives measures to address pocketbook issues affecting it’s citizens. Here are what we are rolling out based on sectors of the economy.
“The government will restore free shuttle busses for students stating at resumption in September, till December 31st. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged from January 2024. In like manner, free shuttle boats equipped with life jackets for students in riverine areas stating at resumption in September, till December 31st. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged from January 2024.
“To ease the movement of farm produce, tricycles will be given free to farming communities. This will be supervised by officially recognized, community-based stakeholder groups.
“The state government has authorized immediate suspension of haulage fee collection on all non-graded agricultural produce. These are produce that are consumed locally and not for export,”.
