Ondo LGs launch N20,000 monthly stipend for 5,400 elderly residents

In Nigeria's Ondo State, all 18 local government councils have initiated a significant welfare program aimed at supporting elderly residents. Approximately 5,400 individuals aged 70 and above will now receive a monthly stipend of N20,000.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, announced the initiative, emphasizing its goal to enhance the well-being of vulnerable seniors. Each local government is tasked with identifying a minimum of 300 eligible residents, and there are plans to increase this number as the program progresses.

“

They (LGs) are providing a stipend to at least a minimum of 300 aged people between 70 years and above in their respective local governments. They are paying them a minimum of N20,000 monthly and they are planning to even increase that number.

Beyond the focus on the elderly, the local councils are actively pursuing broader economic development. They have launched youth and women empowerment initiatives designed to combat poverty and create economic opportunities across the state. Additionally, efforts are underway to bolster support for farmers through the distribution of essential agricultural inputs like cocoa and palm seedlings, and fertilizers. The aim is to create a coordinated system for agricultural aid while allowing individual councils to address the specific needs of their local farmers.

“

We are trying to bring ourselves together in a way that we agree that every local government, how many fertilisers are you providing for the farmer? How many of these, how many of that are you providing for the farmer?