‘Over 2.4m Ogun residents benefit from palliatives distribution’

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said over 400,000 households representing about 2.4 million residents have benefitted from the distribution of its COVID- 19 palliatives.

Abiodun, who stated this during a virtual town hall meeting held in Abeokuta, said no fewer than four to five individuals per household have been touched through the strategic distribution of its palliatives in phases across local governments.

The governor said part of the socio-economic palliative measures put in place to give life to businesses include giving reliefs to business owners comprising “six- month extension of the 2019 income tax returns deadline for self-employed residents from March 31, 2020 to September 30, 2020, eight-month extension of filing of 2019 annual PAYE returns by PAYE operators/tax agents from January 31, 2020 to September 30, as well as complete waiver of interest and penalty for late filing for the extension period.”

He said: “In addition to businesses, our administration distributed palliative to over 400,000 vulnerable households to cushion the effect of the COVID-19. At an average of six per household, this translates to about 2.4 million individuals.”

“For us in Ogun State, we appreciate that only healthy people can contribute to development of the state.”

Abiodun, however, assured that priority would continue to be given to road infrastructure and agricultural revolution that would engender individual prosperity for all.

Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Olaoluwa Olabimtan said: “Since the inception of the current administration, the invaluable support, cooperation as well as assistance by the people have fuelled government’s aspirations with respect to moving the state forward.

He added: “It has experienced tremendous improvement in sectors and this is an attestation to the fact that the administration is working at eliminating poverty and underdevelopment in line with best global practices.”

The commissioner said the citizens’ engagement provides an opportunity for them to express their desires and opinions, ”as it has become our individual and collective responsibility to restore the status of our dear state beyond the setback experienced as a result of COVID-19.”