Ondo LGs Launch N20,000 Monthly Stipends for Elderly

The 18 local government councils in Ondo State have begun distributing N20,000 monthly stipends to 5,400 elderly residents aged 70 and above, as part of a welfare initiative. Amidu Takuro, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, announced this program in Akure on Monday.

Each local government has identified at least 300 eligible senior citizens to benefit from this financial assistance, with plans to potentially increase the number of beneficiaries as the program evolves. In addition to the stipends for the elderly, the councils are implementing youth and women empowerment programs aimed at poverty alleviation and economic productivity.

The youth empowerment scheme is being executed monthly, targeting young individuals who can effectively utilize the financial support. Furthermore, the councils are enhancing agricultural support for farmers by distributing agricultural inputs such as cocoa and palm seedlings and fertilizers, with a coordinated system being developed to streamline agricultural assistance across the councils.