Abiodun Allocates N5 Billion Intervention Fund To Mitigate Economic Hardship In Ogun State

ABEOKUTA – Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced a N5 billion intervention fund to support various sectors of the state’s economy, aimed at alleviating the impact of the ongoing economic challenges in the country.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun acknowledged the hardships faced by the people of the state.

He emphasized his administration’s commitment to improving the well-being of residents by providing much-needed assistance.

The governor assured the public of his government’s sensitivity to the prevailing economic difficulties, reaffirming his determination to offer relief and support to the citizens of Ogun State during these challenging times.

His words, “Recognising the concerns raised by our citizens regarding the increase in food prices and shortages, along with the depreciation of the naira, our administration has planned a series of initiatives aimed at relieving the burden on all our citizens during this trying period.

“These initiatives will be implemented in phases and will focus on the following sectors:

Education Sector:

1. We will provide a minimum of five exercise books to all 850,000 students in our public primary and secondary schools.

2. A one-time education support grant of ₦10,000 will be given to at least 100,000 pupils in our public primary and secondary schools.

3. We will provide an education grant of N50,000 each to the 27,600 indigent students in various tertiary institutions nationwide.

Health:

1. We will offer insurance health cover to over 70,000 beneficiaries, including pregnant women, children, the elderly, market women, and members of the informal sector.

2. Under the Ibidero Scheme, pregnant women will receive free prenatal care, an additional ₦5,000 per birth, and free postnatal care in the state hospitals and primary health care centres.

Agriculture:

1. Food palliatives, including rice and other food items, will be provided to approximately 300,000 households across the state.

Civil Service:

1. We will start clearing the backlog of inherited deductions in the civil service. For this purpose, ₦500 million will be allocated monthly towards outstanding deductions.

2. It is important to note that we have been consistently paying a ₦10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants for the past 8 months.

These immediate interventions across all sectors of the state economy amount to approximately ₦5 billion. We are confident that we will overcome this temporary economic situation. The sacrifices we make now are necessary for a better future.

We would like to express our gratitude to our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his continuous efforts in navigating the complexities of our nation’s economy. We acknowledge his dedication to steering the ship through difficult times, and we appreciate his leadership.

Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON
Governor, Ogun State.”