Hardship: Lagos To Begin 3-Day Workweek, Distribute Palliatives To 300,000 Households

To cushion the effect of the current economic challenges, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated plans of the state to distribute palliatives to about 300,000 households.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Thursday during a live media chat with journalists.

“On the food palliatives, as we speak, I’m expecting over 200 trailers of rice coming from up north,” he said.

“Food purchase and distribution that will cover about 300,000 households that will have 10kg rice, 5kg garri, 5kg beans and have other small things like tomatoes in a combo bag.”

According to the governor, the state is also planning to open Sunday Markets where residents can buy food items at discounted rates in about 42 markets in the state.

He said: “We are going to be opening ‘Sunday Markets’ in about 42 markets in Lagos. This time you’ll be buying at a reduced cost. We’re going to cap what you can buy at not more than N25,000 and we’re going to be giving you a 25% rebate immediately there.

“Somebody that wants to buy N10,000. N15,000, which are the people that we want to take out from poverty, we will give you an immediate discount of about 25 per cent.

“The third level will be that we are doing what we call the Soup Bowl. We want to identify ‘Mama Put’, caterers and we want to be able to feed between 1,000 and 1,500 in every local government per day, at the first instance between the next 30 to 60 days.”

Sanwo-Olu also said the state will be introducing a 3-day work week for levels 1-13 civil servants, adding that this measure aims to provide relief and flexibility.

He also revealed that the state government will be implementing a 25 percent reduction on transport services for the State Public Transport system (BRT, Train, Ferry).

This, is expected to put back over N500 million monthly into the pockets of Lagosians.