Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has said that his administration had demonstrated commitment to Ekiti development by successfully implementing various infrastructure projects and human capital development in the last one year.
According to him, the commitment is aimed at improving the standard of living of the people and actualising the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.
Oyebanji disclosed this during the End of the Year Community Stakeholders Engagement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
He stated that his administration has demonstrated ability and commitment to workers and pensioners welfare as well as human capital development within resources available to the state.
A major highlight of the community engagement was a presentation by the Internal Revenue Service Chairman, Olatona on modernity for the collection and utilization of the Land Use Charges being reintroduced by the government and billed to commence in January, 2024.
Other highlights of the event was a presentation by the Director General, Bureau of Community Communications, Mary Oso Omotoso on the remarkable development in the local councils as well as testimonials from beneficiaries of the Governor’s empowerment programmes.
Governor Oyebanji said the Land Use Charges would boost the states IGR and would enable government do more in terms of tangible development.
Reassuring the people of his administration’s commitment and dedication to sustainable development, the Governor said the engagement was his own way of intimating the people who employed him with the progress made in government so far, get feedback from the people as well as reassure them of his commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reiterated that his government would prioritise the completion of ongoing projects. He also announced plans to modernize and extend development to all the Local Government Headquarters in the state to ensure equal access to development opportunities, provide balanced growth, boost economic activities and create better future for the communities.
Emphasizing the need for equitable development and reduction of regional disparities within the state, the Governor said government will soon come out with strategies for the development of the Local Government Headquarters through the Office of Capital and Urban Development Agency.
Governor Oyebanji, however said that since coming on board as Governor of Ekiti State, he has been very transparent with the local government funds . This, according to him has contributed immensely to the huge achievements recorded by the local government and LCDA Chairmen across the state.
While thanking the outgoing Local Government and LCDA Chairmen for raising the bar of government at the grass-roots level, the Governor said he would have to sit down with the in-coming Chairmen to fashion out ways to bring development to people in the grassroots.
He said his government would mandate the incoming Chairmen to henceforth prioritize local contractors for projects within their domains to further improve economic growth in the grassroots towards achieving his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.
Governor Oyebanji restated the resolve of his administration to fully implement the local content development law recently passed by Ekiti State House of Assembly.
His words: “In the last one year, we have shown Ekiti people that this government you elected is your government, in the last one year I can stand here and boldly say that we have demonstrated commitment to Ekiti course, we have also demonstrated capacity and ability to stay focused.
“If you look at our achievements in about one year and few months we took over government, either in respect to workers welfare, commitment to pensioners, it is built on one fact, we believe strongly that the people are the most important ingredient of development, if we develop the people and the workforce are happy anything we want to do as government will be very easy for us to do.
“The Local Government Chairmen here can attest to the fact that in the last one year, we have been transparent in the management of local government fund and I can also tell you that there is no Chairman that has not done well. They all tried within the resources available to each of them and am extremely grateful to them.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director General, Community Communications, Mary Oso-Omotoso said the engagement meeting was in fulfillment of the Governor’s campaign promises to truly run the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Omotoso explained that as part of efforts to ensure smooth engagement with the people at the grassroots, 177 persons were selected from each ward across the state to be focal person for their localities.
She maintained that Ekiti Communities in the last one year had witnessed unprecedented initiatives and transformative interventions which has made an enduring impact on the life of Ekiti people and has brought the dividends of democracy especially to the people at the grassroots.
Also at the event were the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, Speaker, state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Engr Sunday Komolafe, members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, market women, representatives of landlord associations, ethnic associations and people living with disabilities, among others.
