Subsidy Removal: Adamawa Government Rolls Out Palliative Measures to Cushion Effects

By Barnabas Augustine

26/7/2023
 

The Adamawa State Government has roll out palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal from the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that has risen cost of transportation and goods and services in Nigeria.
 

Briefing Newsmen in Government House Yola, the Chairman Adamawa State Fuel Subsidy Removal Palliative Measure, the Chief of Staff Government House Yola, Dr Edgar Amos said Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has expressed concern over the pains on the citizens from the fuel  subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
He said the Governor constituted a committee to be headed by the Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government, Head of Service, Accountant General of the State and the Organized Labour to look at what the state is capable of doing to mitigate the pains of the fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry.
 

Dr Amos said in the Committee recommendation forwarded to Governor Fintiri to time being and is subject to review, he has approved transport allowance of ten thousand naira to all Civil Servants and Pensioners who are on the payroll of the State Government with effect from the month of August 2023.
 

Dr Amos explained that in committee's palliative measure beginning from next month, Local Government Staff will start enjoying full minimum wage as their counterpart at the state level. He disclosed that there is plan, the Government will purchase buses that will be conveying Civil Servants to the State Secretariat in the State Capital and another buses for inter Local Government transport network to mitigate on the pains of the citizenry.
He further said that the Government has ordered the purchase of 70 trucks of maize and 20 trucks of rice for distribution.
 

To boost agricultural production, Dr Amos said that Governor Fintiri has approved purchase of 50 trucks of fertilizer that will be sold to the citizenry at subsidized rate.
The Chairman of the Committee stated that the palliative measure for the civil servants in the State will last for the period of six months while explaining that the organized Labour is negotiating on the national minimum wage with both the Federal and State Governments which the constitutional five year review will be in 2024.
 

The State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Comrade Engr. Dauda Aliyu who spoke on behalf of the Organized Labour disclosed that the pressure group was part of the meeting for the past three weeks and they are working for the interest of the workers and the state in general. He called on the members not to panic as the Organized Labour has good representation in the action taken.