By: AMAWU, Cletus Albert Amawu.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, in marking his 100 Days in Office and during a Media parley with Journalists, announced the constitution of the Palliative Distribution Committee, which is to be headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, to cushion the effect of the attendant removal of fuel subsidy.
The Committee according to the Governor is saddled with the responsibility for the equitable distribution of palliative across the length and breadth of the State, ensuring that justice is done.
And the following measures are put in place:
i. Payment of an allowance of NI0,000.00 each to all workers across the board for the next six months beginning from September 2023.
ii. The re-introduction of the mass transit system for inter-city travel at a fairly subsidized rate for all citizens.
iii. The Government will also continue with the free tuition in all Government-owned Primary and Secondary Schools across the State, and additionally, the Government will sustain the payment of Examination Fees for SSCE for State indigenes.
iv. The Government will also provide free Medical Care for children under 5 and pregnant women. This will be extended to include the elderly aged 60 years and above.
v. Our farmers will be granted soft-loan and provided with fertilizer and other inputs to boost food production in the State, the Governor states.
Members of the Committee are:
1. Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Secretary to the State Government (SSG)- Chairman
2. Hon. Emmanuel Irobar, Chief of Staff – Member.
3. Mr. Mike Odere, Commissioner for Finance – Member.
4. Dr. Helen Isamoh, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs – Member.
5. Bishop Margaret Ene-Ita, Commissioner for Social Welfare – Member
6. Hon. Erasmus Ekpang, Commissioner for Information-Member.
7. Maj. Gen. Obono Okoi Ubi (Rtd), State Security Adviser-Member.
8. Comrade Olayi Gregory, Chairman NLC –Member.
9. Comrade Monday Ogbodum, Chairman, TUC-Member.
10. Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Special Adviser, General Duties-Member.
11. Mrs. Angela Odey, DG SEMA-Member.
12. Mr Esoso Anah Esoso- Member.
13. Barr. John Orim-
14. Mr. Peter Akpere- Member.
15. NACRISS President- Member.
16. Representative of Traditional Rulers –Member.
17. Representative of the Religious Organisations- Member.