VAM NEWS UPDATE

THE Ondo state executive council has constituted a nine-man committee that will work out strategies to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.

This was disclosed after the council meeting presided by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state’s acting governor, on Thursday.

The committee is headed by Olugbenga Ale, chief of staff to the governor.

Other members of the committee are; Kayode Ogundele, the head of service; Wale Akinterinwa, the commissioner of finance; Emmanuel Igbasan; Wunmi Ilawole, the special adviser on education; Dare Aragbaye, the special adviser on union matters and special duties; Tobi Ogunleye, special adviser on transport; and Tolu Adegbie, the chairman of ondo state internal revenue service (ODIRS).

Femi Agagu, the commissioner of education, science and technology, said the government will continue to develop infrastructure.

He said the council also approved the award of a contract for the construction of 4.75 km of select roads in Igbobini and Agadagba, in Ese-Odo LGA.

He added that the construction of a 1000m concrete walkway at Obe-Nla in Ilaje LGA was also approved by the council.

The Nigerian senate on Thursday gave accelerated approval to an $800 million loan request by President Bola Tinubu.

The president had said the loan would be used to scale up the national social safety net programme and cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on petrol.