Subsidy: Ebonyi sets to share 100,000 bags of rice as palliative

From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Goverment has said it has purchased a total of 100,000 bags of rice and other valuables to be shared with citizens of the state as palliative to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Jude Okpor, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday.

He stated that the distribution was part of the decisions reached during the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday.

“Council received a progress report from the State Palliative Committee which assured that plans have reached advanced stage for the distribution of over 100, 000 bags of rice and other materials to vulnerable households in the State. Council charged the committee to hasten arrangements for immediate distribution of the palliatives”

Speaking further on the civil service recruitment recently embarked upon by the state government, Mr. Okpor said “Council received a report that a total of 17, 834 applications were received by the State Civil Service Commission, out of which only 5,352 met the requirement of submitting Original Certificates, with their application while the rest submitted their statements of results.

The council resolved to uphold the above criteria for eligibility for shortlisting with a proviso that opportunities should be given to those who did not attach their certificates but are able to provide theirs before the screening date.

“Addressing the Council, the Chairman of the Council emphasized that the recruitment should be merit-based so as to give all applicants equal opportunity to compete for the job. Council further urged the Commission to fast-track the process to ensure that the exercise is concluded as soon as possible.

“Progress report on the payment of gratuity was received by Council from the Head of Service.
Council approved the immediate commencement of payment from tomorrow (Thursday), September 21, 2023 with a release of the the sum of N3,851,763,617.65. Recall that EXCO had earlier received a preliminary report on this matter during which the sum of about N4.3 billion was earmarked for the exercise. However, following the actual compilation and computation by the Gratuity Committee and other relevant organs of government with actual available data, it was found out that the total of eligible beneficiaries (retirees) at present are 1,715 which amounted to the approved sum at council deliberations” he said.