…..Says Tinubu is worried about masses’ welfare.
…..Says Ondo Govt received 3,000 out of 81,000 bags of rice promised by FG.
Citizens of Ondo State, particularly the vulnerable and pensioners in Ondo State can now heave a sigh of relief as the Ondo State Government on Tuesday confirmed that it has received 3,000 out of 81,000 bags of rice expecting from the Federal Government as part of fuel subsidy removal palliatives.
The State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the State Palliatives Committee, Mr Wale Akinterinwa stated this today in Akure while speaking at the “Ondo Media Agenda” organized by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Report says the remaining tranches of the rice will be delivered by the Federal Government to the 36states.
Akinterinwa said the state is actually expecting 81,000 bags of rice from the federal government but only 3,000 bags were so far delivered, noting that the Ondo State Government had ordered the purchase of additional 3,000 bags of rice, making 6,000 bags that are ready for distribution to vulnerable residents of the state.
The Commissioner who is also the Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance, noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is worried and concerned about the welfare of the masses, hence he decision that the poor would not be over burdened with tax.
Akinterinwa assured that pensioners and the vulnerable in the state would receive the N10,000 set aside for them as from the end of this month, August.
The commissioner assured that besides rice, other local food items would be procured and distributed to the poor people in the state using the existing data in the communities in the state.
“From this month, apart from Transportation, the pensioners would get their #10, 000, the Vulnerables would also get the same, some of this promises would definitely take time, we have to ensure transperency and accountability too.
“Free Transportation for School children would commence next month, transportation for civil servant has also commenced to ease movement, and we intend to buy more vehicles, we would have purchased more vehicles but we don’t want the one using petrol, we want to buy CNG buses because they are bigger, but all the States are going for this purpose because of the fuel cost, we are also on the queue for it.”
Akinterinwa noted that “Ondo State had gotten 3,000 bags of rice contrary to the 81,000 bags of rice that was promised by the federal government, but rice is not the only food we consume, we would provide other foods, the State would also purchase more additional 3,000 bags of rice.
“The government would help the famers get their food stuff get to town because we had realized that transportation has been the major difficulties, the farmer do complain of access, we would provide tricycle for easy access when these crops get to Town, it would be sold in a subsidized price,” Akinterinwa said.
“As a member of the Tinubu tax committee, I am sure by the time the committee is done with their plans, you would see that we have come up with policies that would favour the masses, we would ensure tax payment, the developed nations are developed because they pay their taxes as and when due, we have followed suit in Ondo State in the enforcement of tax payment, we don’t have to suffocate the poor with it as President Tinubu had said, ‘let the poor breath’. He is concerned about the welfare of the masses,” Akinterinwa who is a member of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform said.
In a remark, the State Chairman of the NUJ, Prince Leke Adegbite said journalists in the state would continue to engage those in public and private sectors to make them accountable to the masses.
