…As Makinde Flags Off Distribution In Oyo Town
The Engr Seyi Makinde-led government of Oyo State has said that the sum of N8,633,996,464.00 was earmarked for palliatives by the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery, SAfER, committee in the state.
State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade disclosed this during a press briefing after Tuesday’s executive council meeting.
Prince Oyelade revealed that local government areas in the state infused the sum of N2,636,871,500.00 into food palliatives, while the state government expended N5,997,124,964.00.
Recall that last week, Governor Makinde had, in a newsletter, promised that the full implementation of the palliative distribution will begin this week.
Oyelade therefore hinted that Governor Makinde and some principal officers of the state government will flag-off the distribution of the palliatives tomorrow – Wednesday – while full distribution in each geo-political zones will commence on Thursday, which will cover 200,000 households in the first phase.
The commissioner emphasised that the distribution will be done in different batches, to bring succour to citizens of Oyo State.
He also added that the distribution is aimed at alleviating the pains of residents of the state occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
Oyelade said, “If you assume that every family has about 6 members, we are talking about over one million people to be affected by the initial roll out of palliatives.”
He said that items to be distributed include 10-kilogramme of rice, garri, beans and elubo respectively and one litre of vegetable oil.
Prince Oyelade said that the flag-off, targeted at the poorest of the poor in the society, will be held simultaneously in all the major zones, including Oyo, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Ibadan main and less cities.
He added that the state deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, will flag-off the distribution in Saki; while the Chief of Staff, CoS, will flag ensure the flag-off in Ogbomoso.
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, will flag-off the distribution in Ibarapa, while the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun will flag off the distribution in Ibadan North-West.
The state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Musbau Babatunde, while giving a break down of the total budget, said they the food palliatives will cost a total of N5,273,743,000.
He however said that local government areas in the state paid a counterpart fund of N2,636,871,500).ll.
Musbau said that, the government has earmarked N149,199,682.00 for the Transportation sub-committee, adding that the budget includes logistics, branding of buses, personnel, and diesel cost.
On food security, which will cater for agropreneurs and small and medium scale enterprises, SMSEs, farmers, the Oyo State government earmarked the sum of N1,701,053,782.00, while loans to be rolled out to SMSEs will cost N510,000,000.
In the healthcare sector, the commissioner said that N1,000,000,000 has been set aside to cater for the health insurance of 50,000 pensioners, at N4,000 per person.
He added that 100,000 vulnerable members of the society too will be catered for, by the Oyo State government.
Musibau added that personnel of security outfits including Amotekun, Nigerian Army, Police Force and Civil Defence, who are first line of defence in the state will benefit from the palliatives.
Civil servants, within the low rung of civil service will also be beneficiaries of the gesture.
He assured residents of efficiency and effectiveness in the distribution methods, adding that monitoring and evaluation mechanism has been put in place by the state government.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, said that the state government places premium on engagement with the populace.
She said the distribution dynamics is not cast in stone, therefore a robust program of such nature was put in place by the government, with an effective redeployment and roll out plans.
She enjoined residents to reach out to the state government through its feedback and communication channels, to lay complaints or commend its efforts.
