Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
As other states of the federation are looking for how they can make life bearable for its citizens due to the removal of fuel subsidy, the Edo State government has joined the bandwagon.
The state government in following same, announced the payment of N20 000 monthly to 314,000 poorest of the poor households in the state as part of its effort to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on its people.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after the state EXCO meeting, said the N20 000 payment would commenced next month.
He said the N20 000 payment was in fulfilment of the governor Godwin Obaseki, promise of commiting N5000 million monthly to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on the people during the organised Labour protest.
He said the state government has a data base register of the poorest of the poor in the state, adding that the data base was done in 2019 in collaboration with World Bank.
He said, “we have a database of about 314,000 households of the poorest of the poor with over one million people.
Chris said “we are going back to the local government areas to review and revalidate the data base and also capture new households that were not initially captured in 2019 and by next month we will commence payment”
He said during the revalidation, the people would be provided with the Edo State Residency Card while officials of the National Identity Management Commission [NIMC] would be available to capture the National Identification Number (NIN) biometrics of the people.
He said the fund for the palliatives would be sourced from the state’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), adding that government is supporting Edo people living below poverty line.
Nehikhare, however, disclosed that members of the state executive council condemned the legal suit the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu instituted against the state Governor Godwin Obaseki over alleged plot to impeach him.
“When you breach the oath of office you took, there are consequences of action, but as politicians, our doors are opened”
On security, Chris said the state government is training N1,500 vigilante to strengthen existing security architecture to ensure the state is safe for business.