To cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government, the Edo State government has introduced some measures.

These were disclosed in a statement signed by the state Governor Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday.

Noting that the Edo State Government “shares the pains of our people and wants to assure everyone that we are standing with them in these very challenging times”, the governor said that “We want to reassure our people that we will do all within our powers as a subnational government to reduce the pains and ameliorate the sufferings our people are currently facing in the wake of the current realities.”

Listing the measures, Obaseki said: “As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30, 000 to N40, 000, the highest in the country today.

“We want to assure you that we will continue to pay this amount, while we hope to increase it even further, if more allocation accrues to our State from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“We know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has radically increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the State. Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their work places from five days a week to three days a week.

“Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as government is working on deepening the EdoBEST@Home initiative to create more virtual classes, thereby reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers and pupils. The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days.

“To lower the rising cost of energy on our people, we will continue to work with the electricity companies in the State to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

“Similarly, fibre optic connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation.

“While government intensifies these efforts to alleviate the burden of the fuel price increase on the people during this very challenging period, we want to call on everyone to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully.”

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to appoint 20 special advisers.

Tinubu’s request was read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

The president did not list the names of the prospective special advisers.

After the letter was read, the upper legislative chamber gave speedy approval to the request.

The senate president said it was of “utmost urgency” that the president has a team to work with.

“Because there is no name for special advisers we will just approve it from here,” Lawan said.

“We feel that that this is something of utmost urgency.”

The development came days after Tinubu announced the appointment of Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the house of representatives, as his chief of staff.

George Akume, former minister of special duties, was named the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former deputy governor of Jigawa state, was appointed deputy chief of staff.

Gunmen on Monday night killed a Professor at the University of Ibadan, Opeyemi Isaac Ajewole.

The don was killled while returning to his home at the Moniya area of Ibadan on Monday evening.

His corpse was said to have been deposited at UI Anatomy.

A source in the university said on Tuesday that Ajewole’s car was taken away after he was shot dead.

A friend of the deceased, Olukayode Ogunsanwo, also confirmed the death of the don, added that, “Yes. It is true. It is true.”

“But we are not sure if it is armed robbers or hired assassins,” he said.

Ajewole, until his death, was a lecturer in the Department of Forest Resources Management of the university.

Meanwhile, the Principal Assistant Registrar, Public Communications, at the university, Joke Akinpelu, when contacted, also confirmed the incident, saying, “He was killed yesterday. The incident happened yesterday.”