Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved a cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker in the state, from this month till a new minimum wage is introduced, to enable workers to cope with the economic shocks caused by the removal of petrol subsidy, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a briefing, yesterday.
also approved palliatives worth billions of naira, across different sectors and demographics of the state.
In deference to the new advisory of National Economic Council (NEC) for states to design their own independent responses to the development, the governor, he added, directed the civil service leadership to continue a staggered work schedule, not exceeding three days a week, to reduce transportation expenses for workers.
Kwara had earlier introduced a three-day work schedule for civil servants, but suspended it in deference to an earlier advisory of NEC for states to await a more holistic response to the development.
The staggered work plan will not cover “essential workers”, the CPS clarified.
“The governor has similarly approved the payment, from this month, of new hazard and skipping allowances, as well as 100 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for consultants and medical doctors in 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, as well as attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare for the people of the state,” he added.
According to Ajakaye, the governor has also endorsed immediate cash-backing of 2019 and 2020 promotion for Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) workers.
“The administration had earlier cash-backed arrears of TESCOM promotion for years 2015 to 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.”
The Guardian gathered that the governor also approved for the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to activate a N500 million worth of conditional support for petty traders and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
