How Governor Adeleke Is Steadying The Ship Of Osun By Olalekan Badmus

Olalekan. S. Badmus (Phoenix)

So far, His Excellency, Governor Adeleke has kept faith with his promise in careful and considerable implementation of his administration’s 5 points agenda. With full priority given to workers’ welfare as the first line charge and catalyst for developmental agenda of the current administration, Governor Adeleke has not only fulfilled his promise to the workers and pensioners, he has surpassed them.

In the past 20 Months, Governor Adeleke has paid over 20 Billion Naira as pension and gratuities debt inherited from past administration to pensioners both at the state and the local governments, he has also continue the phase payment of inherited half salary debts with seven months paid in compliance with one ‘month per quarter’ payment arrangement adopted in the beginning of this administration. In addition to these, the regularization of civil service operation with the return of the position of Permanent Secretary as Ministry heads has brought a sense of responsibility and a new level of commitment from the civil servants.

This administration has regularized promotion of civil servants with corresponding financial benefits unlike the practice under the past administration which only gives ‘on the paper promotion’ to our revered workforce. Cooperative deductions that were made under the past administration running into billions of Naira has also been paid by the current administration.

To revitalize agriculture and ensure food security in Osun state, this administration has commenced the full implementation of the food security committee with the recent purchase of farm equipment like tractors, planters etc. This is to actualize Governor Adeleke’s vision of ensuring food sufficiency to the people of Osun State through mechanized farming.

“Mr Project”, as fondly called by the people of Osun State, Governor Adeleke has left people jaw dropped at the sight of the different road infrastructure development completed and ongoing across Osun State. In less than two years, this administration has completed over 100KM roads with another 100 KM ongoing including dualisation of major roads in the 3 different senatorial districts of Osun State. In addition, four different flyovers are currently undergoing construction with three already at an advanced stage of completion in strategic locations across the state. Indeed, Osun State has turned into construction site.

The ongoing teacher’s recruitment exercise embarked upon by this administration after careful consideration and assessment of the current state of public schools personnel across the state is expected to be concluded soon. The ongoing rehabilitation of over 300 Primary Healthcare Centers across the state will ensure people of Osun have assess to quality health care wherever they are.

Following the free enrollment of all pensioners into the Health Insurance Scheme of the state, few days ago, the Governor also approved free enrollment of all Persons Living with Disabilities into the scheme. This further underscores the Governor’s passion for running an all inclusive administration that ensure the wellbeing of the people regardless of social status.

The youth sector is also receiving considerable attention with the ongoing payment of bursary to over 3500 indigent students and about 300 law students. Also, with the soon to be commenced Imole Youth Corps initiative that will provide employment to over 5,000 youths across the state in different sector of the economy, Governor Adeleke is showing firm commitment to reducing the number of unemployed youth and raise the productivity level of the young population.

To revitalize the business and informal sector in the state, the current administration has dedicated significant resources to the corporative society and association. With over 4 Billion Naira released so far to different corporative societies, registered business owners in each of the political wards across the state can now assess this revolving loan and upscale their business thereby improving the economy of the state and her people.

It is somewhat incredible that all these are being achieved without plunging the state to needless borrowing. One of the main challenges that the current administration faced upon assumption of office is how to balance performance with the financial reality of the state in delivering its numerous campaign promises. Through blocking of income leakage channels and strict adherence to fiscal responsibility techniques, the current administration has significantly increased the Internally Generated Revenue of the state and ensure judicious application of public funds to its various projects and programmes.

Olalekan S. Badmus (Phoenix) writes from Osogbo and can be reached on basletp2@gmail.com.