Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, a human rights activist, has requested that Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, start providing palliative payments to underprivileged families in the region in order to lessen the impact of gasoline subsidies.
In a statement that was available to OBASANJO NEWS24 and signed by Agberen, the call was made.
He claimed that since the termination of fuel subsidies, the population now lives in abject poverty. The cost of transportation has made it nearly hard to afford a full meal, and this has had an impact on market prices for goods as well.
House rents are rising due to landlords’/landladies’ actions. It would be nearly impossible for parents to provide their kids with a decent, affordable education if registration/tuition fees at higher schools inside and outside of Delta State increased by close to 100% to 200%. Another thing to think about is access to medical care.
Agberen noted that eradicating poverty and hardship and lowering the cost of governance are the fundamental goals of government, but he added that “the Delta State Government is capable enough to provide policies and programmes that will reduce hardship.”
“As a wealthy oil-producing State, the Delta State Government can do more and follow in the footsteps of states like Ebonyi, Edo, and Imo State Government, which increased the minimum wage of workers by N10,000.”
The Imo State Government has also released buses, he noted, easing mobility for residents and workers in the state.
The governments of Bayelsa and the River State have also made deluxe buses and taxis available to reduce transportation costs.
Due to difficulties and high transportation costs, “Kwara State has decreased working days from five (5) to three (3) working days. Other states, such as Oyo and Ondo states, have established committees to plan and develop solutions to mitigate the effects of the loss of the gasoline subsidy. While the Delta State Government has yet to announce any intentions or potential tactics to do the same, Osun State is providing free medical care as a palliative.
The Delta State Government, insisted Comrade Agberen, “can revive the Delta State Urban Mass Transit Scheme.” Families in Delta may get N20,000 per month in palliative care payments from the State Government. All medical and health services are available to Deltans for free, including free palliative drugs.
