*THE LUCKY STRIDES*
300 Days of Laying Solid Foundation for Development In Ondo State (1)
PREAMBLE
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was sworn into office as Governor and since that moment inside the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office to this day, the Governor has been working day and night to confront the challenges of governance occasioned by the sudden change in leadership and to lead the Sunshine State forward.
On assumption of office, Governor Aiyedatiwa was confronted with very serious economic challenges and uncertainties. Top among these was the economic downturn occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy earlier in the year by the federal government, with its attendant rising cost of living.
Barely four days after assuming office, the Governor presented before the State House of Assembly the 2024 budget, which he then signed into law with the following policy thrusts: 1. invest in human capital development with renewed vigour; 2. rejig Independent Revenue collection for attainment of financial resilience and sustainability; 3. optimize resource inflow and expand fiscal space locally and globally; 4. expand the scope and reach of social safety nets and economic support programmes to the deserving citizens of the State; 5. develop agricultural value chain and promote expansion of agricultural productivity to enhance food security; 6. stimulate rural economy; 7. ensure effective transportation system for economic growth and development; 8. address environmental degradation occasioned by climate change; 9. adhere to development policy and ensure fiscal discipline; and safeguard lives and livelihood in a secure environment.
According to the Governor, the above objectives are to be achieved through the following strategies: ensuring full automation of all forms of revenue collection and expansion of the tax net with data-driven tax administration; leveraging on Donor and Development Partners’ Support in funding key intervention programmes; creating employment and jobs in Agric-Business and tech-related enterprises; ensuring increase in and proper administration of funds allocated to social safety nets programmes; providing subsidized inputs and grants/soft loans to farmers; consolidating on the current road and waterway infrastructural development across the State; prioritizing massive construction of rural amenities and community-based infrastructure; consolidating the on-going river path channelization and encouraging reforestation and tree planting system across the State; setting up achievable key performance indicators for all sectors of the State and making available resources and enabling environment needed to achieve them; ensuring efficient Public Financial Management through timely and effective prioritization, to achieve development goals; increasing essential support to security agencies for crime prevention and control; and reducing the State’s recurrent expenditure/cost of governance in order to mop up funds for capital projects.
The implementation of the budget has been centred on promoting infrastructural development and prioritizing the welfare of workers in the State. There have been several crucial projects embarked upon across the three senatorial districts of the State, with the governor insisting that the provision of social amenities is the responsibility of government; and enjoyment of it remains the entitlement and inalienable right of the people.
As we count down to the 300 days of the Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa administration, and in preparation for the coming gubernatorial election, we will be showcasing the achievements of the Governor since assuming office.
…to be continued
Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
