Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has said public welfare in form of continuous cash award to workers and other palliatives and support for different segments of the state remains a top priority for the government, acknowledging the impact of inflation on the living standard of the people and provision of public services.
The Governor said the administration has consistently supported and will continue to support the people as inflation erodes purchasing power across the world.
Outside of the standard wage commitment before the subsidy removal last year, the government now commits nearly N1bn extra every month to pay cash award to different categories of workers and pensioners across the state — aside from the payment of 100% CONHESS, COMES and COMESC, which has raised monthly commitment of the government by 54.01% in the health subsector alone, the Governor added.
AbdulRazaq was speaking during a cabinet meeting on Friday evening during which the state executive council approved inflation-induced upward reviews of contract sums for some road projects across the state, including the Banni township road (Kaiama); Ora township road (Ifelodun); Saint Claire’s Junction-Ikotun Road, Offa; Secretriat Road-New Market Road Lafiagi; and Igbaja Town Hall Road.
That comes as the state government again begins (from today) fresh distribution of rice worth N2bn to the people through different clerics (Muslims and Christians), community based groups, and other stakeholders across the state — while different agricultural initiatives are at work to achieve sustainable food security.
“The government will continue to support the people at this time and always, as we have been doing. More initiatives are also in the work, including food support. It is true that allocation rose following subsidy removal. But so has our wage bill and commitments. We have recorded a rise in monthly allocation (FAAC), which is an average of N1.5bn. But it may interest you that, as a state, we spend a little below N1bn on the wage award alone every month. What about the implementation of 100% CONHESS and others, apart from other interventions and support for the people? Our wage bill has risen. A lot more is being planned, including at the federal level. We definitely do not deny the impact of inflation, which also affects even the cost of providing public services to the people. Together, we will get over this time,” the governor said.
He said the administration on its own — at different times — has spent a lot of money to procure and distribute rice to the public in a show of support for the masses.
Between May 2023 and now, the government has implemented different layers of social safety programmes which benefitted at least 124,170 people, 368 SMEs that got support through Kwapreneur, and 20 groups that were supported through the state-funded empowerment initiatives, according to the Governor.
The cabinet, meanwhile, has approved the award of rehabilitation and upgrade of the long dilapidated indoor sports complex at the Kwara State Stadium Complex at N2,069,425,371.55k to Messr Disscom Ltd. 3
The Governor commended the former military administrator George Innih for the historic investments that made the facility one of the best in Nigeria at the
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