Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, halted registration and consultation fees in all of the State government-run hospitals on Thursday.
The Governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, claimed that the action will help vulnerable residents who are currently experiencing financial hardship as a result of the elimination of fuel subsidies.
During a news conference, Akinterinwa—who is also the Chairman of the Palliative Strategy and Implementation Committee—announced that food supplies would be distributed to no less than one million homes throughout the State.
He insisted that the food supplies would be distributed fairly to ensure that everyone who needed it would receive it.
The Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Union Matters and Strategy, Dare Aragbaiye, as well as other cabinet members, flanked the Finance Commissioner, who added that students would be given free access to shuttle buses and boats to make it easier for them to get to and from their educational institutions.
He emphasized that pensioners will also receive help in the form of a N10,000 monthly stipend for a period of five months.
“Given the current economic realities based on the removal of subsidy on petroleum, the government of Ondo State wishes to announce these far-reaching palliative measures to address pocketbook issues affecting its citizens. Here is what we are rolling out based on sectors of the economy:
“The government will restore free shuttle buses for students starting from resumption in September until December 31. Thereafter, affordable rates will be charged starting in January 2024.
“We will immediately deploy all existing buses in all MDAs to serve as free shuttle buses to public servants until December 31.
“Additional CNG BUSES will be purchased to convey public servants to and from work at no cost to them until December 31,” he said.