By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Oyo State Government has disclosed that palliatives worth N8.6 billion would be distributed to residents of the state through the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, disclosed after the executive council meeting that the local councils in the state contributed N2.6 billion, while the state government put down N6 billion.
He said items to be shared to members of the public are mainly food (10kg of rice, 5 kg of Garri, 5kg of beans, 5kg of yam powder and 1 litre of vegetable oil.)
He noted Governor Seyi Makinde and some principal officers of the state government would flag off the distribution in each geo-political zone and would cover 200,000 households in the first phase.
According to him, the distribution will be done in different batches to bring succour to the citizens of Oyo State and alleviate the pains of residents of the state over fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.
“If you assume that every family has about six members, we are talking about over 1 million people to be affected by the initial rollout of palliatives,” Mr Oyelade said.
Recall that last week, Mr Makinde promised that full implementation of palliative distribution would begin this week.
The Commissioner said the Governor has fulfilled this promise and that the poorest of the poor in the society is the main target, adding that it will be simultaneously done in all the major zones, including Oyo, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, and Ibadan.
He said the Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal, would flag off the distribution in Saki, while the Chief of Staff would ensure the flag-off in Ogbomoso.
The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr 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.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Musibau Babatunde, while giving a breakdown of the total budget, said food palliatives will cost N5.3 billion.
