Governor Carlos Soludo of anambra state has announced a series of palliative measures to cushion the impacts of the elimination of the fuel subsidy on the residents of the state.
Soludo, in a post through his verified facebook page on Monday, he said that the state government has decided to implement immediate and medium-term palliative measures for residents.
“Our response recognizes that the removal of the subsidy affects all citizens, especially millions of unemployed and underemployed youth and vulnerable segments of the population,” he said.
The governor explained that the measures had a duration of four months, from September to December within the framework of the state budget framework for 2023.
“In our 2024 budget, we will implement a more comprehensive agenda to address medium- and long-term issues that will help pave the way for all of our residents and ensure that our broad agenda of building a prosperous and livable homeland is shared by all. ”, explained the governor.
short term measures
Soludo recalled that his administration had previously increased the salaries of civil servants in the state by 10 percent since January.
He added that he has also resolved to start paying all retirees and public servants in the state a “fixed non-taxable cash award of N12,000” monthly within the palliative period.
“This is to increase your monthly income at home,” the governor said.
He said his administration had resolved to begin the process of liquidating the four years of pension and arrears that he inherited upon taking office.
“The Anambra state government will distribute rice to more than 300,000 households in the coming weeks in the 326 Anambra districts,” the governor said.
Tax exemptions and reductions
Soludo also said his administration has exempted “highly vulnerable individuals” from all forms of taxes and levies in the state.
The Governor listed “highly vulnerable persons” to include hawkers, barrows and lorry pushers, vulcanizers, craftsmen, motorcyclists and small traders with capital of less than N100,000.
It also said that generation inland revenue payments imposed on all carriers, such as trike and minibus drivers, have been cut by 20 percent from September 1.
He stressed that the ongoing free basic education program (from elementary school to junior high school) would be maintained in all public schools in the state.
“We are reviewing the plethora of other assessments, fees and charges at these schools. Before schools resume in September 2023, we will make further announcements to sanitize the system and reduce the burden on our pupils/students and their patrons,” the Governor said.
Health care
Mr. Soludo also announced that from now on, the government will provide free antenatal services and free delivery services to pregnant mothers at state Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and general hospitals.
“We will announce a more comprehensive medical package for our residents, especially seniors and children in our 2024 budget,” he said.
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“We are implementing a very ambitious program to build and modernize PHC in all 326 wards so that everyone has access to quality healthcare.”
The governor called on landlords in the state to “show empathy for their tenants at this difficult time” and consider easier options for paying rent.
Transport
Soludo said that he approved the repair and renovation of all public servants’ staff buses in service to facilitate the movement of public servants.
The governor said that the government will request the purchase of many of the CNG-powered buses that will be provided by the federal government for transportation within the state.
“The goal is to reduce the cost of transportation within Anambra,” he said.
“We will immediately embark on repairing existing water boats and purchasing new ones to facilitate transportation for our citizens in local government waterfront areas.”
Medium-term measures: Farmer empowerment
Soludo said his administration recently distributed 1.1 million “high-yield seedlings” of oil palm and coconut to more than 100,000 households.
The governor said he would support the initiative by distributing one million seedlings per year for several years as a continuation of the state’s revolution to create a new industrial and green coconut palm ecosystem.
He said the initiative would “secure 500,000 to 1,000,000 households earning N1.5 million to N3 million per year, thereby lifting them out of poverty, creating wealth and earning foreign exchange for Nigeria.”
“We are determined to provide all assistance to farmers for the next planting season in 2024 to boost food and animal production,” Soludo said.
The governor listed other measures to include improving the impact of impending flooding on residents, providing grants and soft loans at reduced interest rates for youth, as well as further hiring thousands of young people as school teachers, street sweepers, streets and streets and public works. .
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