TheCable

Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, has flagged off the distribution of 300,000 bags of 10kg rice palliatives to citizens of the state.

Speaking on Saturday, Abiodun said the palliatives were sent to states by the federal government.

“This is a federal government initiative that is being domesticated right here in Ogun State,” the governor said.

“We have decided to use the polling 5,400 polling units as a reference of distribution, not wards, because we realized that using wards won’t be equitable.”

Abiodun said a committee made up of “eminent men and women of distinguished character” has been set up to oversee the distribution of the palliatives.

“The committee will be chaired by my Deputy Governor and she will be supported by our former deputy governors that are here present, two members of the National Assembly, one representing the House of Representatives, and the other representing the Senate,” the governor said.

According to him, the central working committee (CWC) will be saddled with the authority to inaugurate committees in each of the 20 LGAs of the state.

The committees in each local government will comprise the council chairman, governor’s liaison officers (GLO), a member of the state house of assembly in each LGA, religious leaders, community leaders, youths, students, Iyalojas and the traditional institution.

Abiodun commended President Bola Tinubu for conceptualizing the programme to cushion the effect of the removal of the fuel subsidy.

He said his administration has classified the various interventions of the president, which his administration has domesticated into the immediate, medium and long terms.

The governor said his administration has commenced the payment of N10,000 transport allowance to public servants in the state.

He said the payment of various allowances, ranging from hazard and gratuities has begun.

He also disclosed that his administration would be providing health insurance coverage for pregnant women across the state.

The governor added that the health insurance coverage would allow them to either visit the primary, secondary, or tertiary health care centres.

“We will also be providing for all our pregnant women across the board in Ogun State with our Ogun State Health Insurance Cover called ‘Ibi Dero’,” he said.

“This will cover their pre-natal engagements and also post-natal consultations for up to six months, meaning that, you can go to a Primary Health Care Center, Secondary Health Care or a Tertiary and consult Pre-natal, give birth for free because the state government is bearing the cost of all that.”

The federal government had earlier announced a N5 billion palliative for each state of the federation, including the federal capital territory (FCT), to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.