.png)
By Madu Obi
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has announced palliatives for the people of Anambra State to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
In a statement in Awka, Soludo said his administration will also be paying pensioners and public servants in the employ of the state government and the 21 local government areas, a monthly flat non-taxable cash award of N12,000 for the period September- December, 2023.
Recall that the federal government, last week, announced N5 billion palliative to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of measures to cushion the hardship brought about by the fuel subsidy removal.
Soludo said: "We support the federal government agenda and expect to partner with it to ensure that Anambra residents benefit maximally from the federal programmes.
"Ours is a government on the foundation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). We are progressives, and the welfare of the ordinary Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable, remains our primary focus. Our motto is: “Be your brother’s and sister’s keeper”.
"There is no better time to rise up to the full essence of our motto and ideological stance on behalf of the ordinary persons than now.
"In our 2024 budget, we shall roll out a more comprehensive agenda to address the medium to longer term issues that will help to smoothen the path for all our residents, and ensure that everyone shares in our broad agenda of building a livable and prosperous homeland.
"In the meantime and over the remaining four months of the year (September – December 2023), as well as within the context of our 2023 budget framework, we are rolling out a few immediate and medium term measures.
"Our response recognizes that the subsidy removal affects all citizens, especially millions of the unemployed and underemployed youths and vulnerable segments of the population.
"Our interim response reflects the need to target the total population, palliatives salary augmentation and cash award.
"We will continue to clear the backlog of gratuity and pension of our pensioners."
According to the governor, his administration met four-year pension and gratuity arrears when he assumed office, which he has been paying since assumption of office.
He also announced that Anambra State government will be distributing rice to over 300,000 households in the coming weeks across the 326 wards in the state, just as he said that highly vulnerable persons such as hawkers, truck pushers, artisans, wheel barrow pushers, okada riders, vulcanizer, and petty traders with less than N100,000 capital, have been exempted from all forms of taxation/levies.
He added that IGR payments of all transporters have been reduced by 20% with effect from September 1, 2023.
Comentários