Subsidy Palliatives: Ondo Announces Free Registration, Consultation Fees In Hospitals

By Ayodele Oni

Students, public servants, retirees and owners of small scale businesses in Ondo state have been picked to benefit from palliative measures being put in place by the government to cushion hardship caused by subsidy withdrawal on petrol.

Retirees in the state are to receive N10 thousand each added to their monthly pensions, while free shuttle buses are to be provided to ease transportation of students.

The commissioner for finance, Wale Akinterinwa disclosed the packages on Thursday in Akure while briefing journalists on government intervention measures.

He said “government will restore free shuttle buses for students starting from 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 starting at resumption in September, till December 31st. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged from January 2024.

“Additional CNG BUSES will be purchased to convey of public servants, to and from work at no cost to them, till December 31st.

“Unconditional Cash Transfer – For three months, ten thousand Naira (N10,000) will be given to selected vulnerable persons in every local government.

“All pensioners in the state, be they local government or state, will get ten thousand Naira (N10,000) each starting this August till December 2023.

“Food – free food packages will be distributed to one million households across the 18 local government the state.

“Farm inputs at subsidized rates will be made available to farmers. Our poultry and fish farmers will be given free drugs, maize, and feeds for their birds and fishes. In addition, training on local feed formulation and production will be given to them, to help them look inwards.

“Agrochemicals, seeds, drip lines, farm tools and power tillers will be given at subsidized rates. In riverine areas, free fishing nets and subsidized kilns will be made available.

“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.

“We announce the immediate suspension of hospital registration and consultation fees. Government will reimburse the hospitals directly based on existing data.

“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.”