JUST IN: Kwara governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approves N10,000 monthly palliative for workers AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governor of Kwara...
JUST IN: Kwara governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approves N10,000 monthly palliative for workers
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governor of Kwara state, has approved a palliative payment of N10,000 per month for employees.
On Monday, July 24, 2023, at the Government House in Ilorin, the governor's chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, made this decision official during a press conference.
With the recent withdrawal of fuel subsidies, workers will need assistance from the fund to manage their financial situation.
"On top of the palliatives is a cash support of N10,000 for every public sector employee in the state, which will start this month (July) and last until a new minimum wage is introduced to help workers deal with the economic shocks created by the subsidy removal," Ajakaye added.
"The governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule — not to exceed three days a week — to reduce transportation expenses for workers," he said. "This is in deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their own independent responses to the development."
Kwara had already implemented a 3-day workweek for its civil servants, but it was postponed in observance of an earlier NEC recommendation that states wait for a more comprehensive reaction to the issue.
The governor's spokeswoman confirmed that "essential workers" will not be covered by the staggered work schedule.
"The governor has also approved the payment of new hazard and skipping allowances, as well as 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical professionals under the government payroll, effective this month, July.
He also gave his approval to a new system of benefits for nurses employed by the state government. The goal is to reduce attrition in the healthcare industry and recruit and keep specialists and doctors so that the state's citizens may receive better, higher-quality healthcare services, he added.
The immediate cash-backing of promotions for 2019 and 2020 for Teaching Service Commission employees has also received the governor's support. The government has previous cash-backed arrears of
TESCOM will receive promotion from 2015 to 2018.
"In the same line, he has approved financial support for the promotion process for SUBEB's teaching and non-teaching personnel in 2021 as well as the restoration of steps for everyone. This is a policy solution to SUBEB employees' longings since 2016, when steps ceased to exist for SUBEB employees.
"The Governor also approved the expansion of free bus trips for students attending tertiary institutions in the state, and in the coming days, modalities for sporadic food delivery to the most vulnerable and impoverished homes will be activated.
"This shall be nonpartisan and shall be coordinated by a government team to be assisted by respected stakeholders who would receive input from traditional rulers, religious bodies, market leaders, trade unionists, and community-based organizations to generate the beneficiary lists and disburse in accordance with those lists.
The goal of these actions, which consume billions of naira in taxpayer money, is to demonstrate compassion and use all available resources to assist the populace during this important period.
The Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), which would activate N500 million in conditional support for MSMEs and tiny merchants in the state, has also received the Governor's approval.
"The state government will pay for and receive grains and fertilizers from the federal government. It costs money. Later, methods for handling these will be made available. This will increase the state's agricultural productivity and food security.
The immediate cash-backing of promotions for 2019 and 2020 for Teaching Service Commission employees has also received the governor's support. The administration formerly had TESCOM promotion arrears that were guaranteed by cash for the years 2015 to 2018.