Relief Underway In Ekiti As Oyebanji Sets To Distribute N331 Million Worth Of Food Items

… Clears Arrears Of Outstanding Furniture Allowances For LGA’s, LCDA’s Political Appointees 

By Joseph Sunday

Advertisement

Great relief now on the way for the suffering people of Ekiti State as the Governor of the State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is set to distribute a total of N331 million worth of food items to the citizens of the State. This is in addition to the payment of all the outstanding political appointees allowances / arrears in all the 16 local government areas as well as that of the 22 local council development areas in the State.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji made the above  announcement as part of his economic relief package through his Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in the State, Mr Folorunso Olabode in Ado Ekiti on Thursday. 

The Local Government Affairs Commissioner, Mr Folorunso Olabode also added that, the Ekiti State Governor has given his nod to the payment of all outstanding furniture allowances of the political office holders who served between 2022 and 2023 in recognition of their contribution to the development of their LGAs and to also cushion the effect of hardship in the State. 

Folorunso Olabode identified the categories of the political office holders to be captured to include Vice Chairmen, Secretaries, Councilors, Supervisors and Special Advisers.

Advertisement

Olabode further explained that the latest decision was part of Government’s efforts to cushion the effect of the prevailing global economic hardship and the consequence of the removal of the fuel subsidy amongst others.

He revealed that each ward in Ekiti State  would receive 25 bags of rice each, and they would be distributed without bias to political affiliation or influence, adding that the entire process would be handled in collaboration with the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in each local government area in order to have real impact on the people.

He said that the move is also expected to curb the rising cost of food and serve as palliative for the communities at the grassroots.

Advertisement

The Commissioner advised Local Governments to encourage people, particularly the youths in their areas to engage in Agriculture, emphasizing the need to take advantage provided by the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture to move farmers in the State from subsistence farming to real agribusiness.

According to him, the Biodun Oyebanji administration has provided farm equipment at highly subsidized prices to young farmers, adding that Farm machinery such as ploughs, ridgers, tractors, cultivators, are offered at extremely low prices to encourage young people to get involved in agriculture and help avoid food shortage.

Advertisement