Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state has approved among other palliatives the sum of N10,000 for every public civil servant in the state to neutralise effects of recent removal of fuel subsidy on residents, cutting across different sectors and demographics of the state.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that the cash support would begin this month (July) and last until a new minimum wage is introduced to enable workers cope with the economic shocks created by the subsidy removal.
The governor’s aide also said that the governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule — not exceeding three days a week — to reduce transportation expenses for workers, “in deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their own independent responses to the development.
Kwara had earlier introduced a three-day work schedule for its civil servants, but suspended it in deference to an earlier advisory of the NEC for states to await a more holistic response to the development.
“The staggered work plan will not cover ‘essential workers’, the governor’s spokesman clarified.
“The governor has similarly approved the payment, from this month, July, of new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under the government’s payroll. He also approved a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government. The whole essence is to check attrition rate in the health sector, and attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare services for the people of the state.
The governor has also endorsed immediate cash-backing of 2019 and 2020 promotion for Teaching Service Commission workers. The administration had earlier cash-backed arrears of promotion for TESCOM for years 2015-2018.
“In the same vein, he has approved cash-backing for 2021 promotion exercise of teaching and non-teaching staff of SUBEB and restoration of steps to all of them. This is a policy response to the yearnings of SUBEB workers since 2016 when SUBEB workers no longer had steps.
