We’ve taken bold, deliberate steps to reduce hardship, suffering of Edo people, says Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government has undertaken several bold and deliberate steps, implementing several people-oriented programmes to reduce the hardship and suffering of Edo people in the wake of the difficult living conditions which the people have had to endure, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, listed some of the programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of the people including raising the minimum wage for workers to N70,000 to boost their purchasing power, introducing a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), extending free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-starting a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions, among others.

He expressed concerns that even though the well-intended measures yielded positive results and brought some relief, the people are still burdened by the worsening prevailing macroeconomic conditions in the country.

The governor said the deteriorating and difficult socio-economic circumstances faced by Nigerians including citizens of Edo State was what led the people to take to the streets to express their displeasure with their current living conditions through the ongoing nationwide protests.

According to him, “The protest is obviously the result of the difficult living conditions which Nigerians have had to endure particularly over the last one year, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.

“These policies have taken a severe toll on citizens who have had to endure astronomic high food prices, high transportation costs, galloping inflation and loss of operating capital by small business owners across the country.”

He added, “In Edo State, we have taken several actions within our constitutional authority to reduce the suffering and hardship of our people by showing empathy and supporting our people to weather and survive this trying time despite the challenges witnessed across the nation.

“Some of these measures include raising the minimum wage for workers to N70,000 to boost their purchasing power – the first state in the country to do so. We also introduced a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS). We extended free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-started a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions.”