We’ve Demonstrated Commitment to Ekiti Cause, Says Oyebanji

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

TEiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has said his administration in the last one year had demonstrated commitment to the state development by successfully implementing various infrastructure projects and human capital development aimed at improving the standard of living of the people and actualising the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.

Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed this during the End-of-the-year Community Stakeholders Engagement in Ado Ekiti, yesterday said 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, Mr. Olatona, on the modernity for the collection and utilisation of the Land Use Charges being reintroduced by the government and billed to commence in January next year.

Other highlights of the event was the presentation by the Director-General, Bureau of Community Communications, Mrs. Mary Oso Omotoso, on the remarkable development in the local councils as well as testimonials from beneficiaries of the governor’s empowerment programmes.

Oyebanji said the Land Use Charges would boost the states IGR and would enable the 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, as he announced plans to modernise 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.

Emphasising the need for equitable development and reduction of regional disparities within the state, the governor said government would soon come out with strategies for the development of the local government headquarters through the Office of Capital and Urban Development Agency.

Oyebanji, however, said since coming on board as the 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 area and LCDA chairmen across the state.

He restated the resolve of his administration to fully implement the local content development law recently passed by Ekiti State House of Assembly.

According to him, “In the last one year, we have shown the 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 State cause, and 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 that we believe strongly that the people are the most important ingredient of development, if we develop the people, and the workforce is happy, anything we want to do as a government will be very easy for us to do.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Director-General, Community Communications, Mrs. 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.