The Ogun State Government has extended the payment of N10,000 transport palliative to all categories of civil servants and pensioners to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, while approving additional off-duty days for workers to ease commuting costs.
Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the extension during a meeting in Abeokuta with the state’s Permanent Secretaries. The allowance, which was part of various interventions adopted by the state government in the wake of the deregulation policy in July, was to have ended in September. “The extension would allow the state workers to continue to cope with the effects of the subsidy removal,” Governor Abiodun said.
The governor described the allowance as part of the temporary immediate-term interventions. “It was to allow the government to come up with appropriate medium and long-term intervention plans for all categories of people in the state. Apart from the N10,000, which also covers pensioners, the state government also approved hazard allowance for health and medical personnel. Also, there has been an immediate release of letters of promotion in respect of 2021 and 2022, payment of March and April 2023 leave bonuses for public servants and immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners,” he said.
To further reduce the financial burden on workers, the state has also declared weekly off-duty days. Governor Abiodun in July 2023 introduced a one-day off work policy for all grade levels. The State Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, said officers on Grade Levels 01 to 14 have now been approved for two days off duty per week, while officers on Grade Levels 15 to 17 are to maintain the weekly one-day off-duty arrangement in place earlier.
“The gesture is aimed at further easing the burden on workers who now face greater challenges commuting to work. It is expected to provide substantial relief while enhancing service delivery through a more motivated and energised workforce,” Onasanya said. He added that Governor Abiodun had introduced the one-day-off work policy in July 2023 for all grade levels, and the current extension to two days off for GL 01-14 is intended to further reduce financial strain and boost productivity.
Onasanya urged all accounting officers to immediately implement the policy in their respective ministries, departments and agencies by working out the modalities. “This is to ensure that the off-day system is scheduled in such a way that service delivery is not compromised,” the Head of Service said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the allowance was to help cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidies by the Federal Government. Labour leaders in the state have appreciated the governor for the implementation of the N10,000 transport allowance and other measures, including the 40% increment in workers’ basic salary.
