The quest for more funds to carry out developmental projects is driving the Ondo State government’s drive to fully institutionalise its REDEEMED agenda, writes OSAGIE OTABOR
As Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu looks forward to his fifth anniversary in office on February 24, he is not happy that there are not enough funds to achieve his REDEEMED agenda and meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
The REDEEMED agenda, according to Akeredolu, is the developmental policy thrust of his second term which focused on eight key areas of development such as Rural and Agricultural Development; Educational and Human Capital Development; Development through massive infrastructure; Efficient service delivery, Development and Policy Implementation; Effective Health care and Social Welfare Services; Maintenance of law and order for adequate security; Energy, Mining and Sustainable Industries; Digital Revolution and Entrepreneurship.
It was the quest to ensure that political officer holders and Accounting Officers keyed into his dream that Akeredolu organised a three-day retreat for them at Owo, Owo Local Government Area. The theme of the retreat was “One Administration; improved service delivery leads to improved revenue generation.”
Akeredolu lamented that the civil service as presently structured was too heavy. He stated that government could not continue to run in the usual old way am canvassed that there must be a way that those who have stayed too long in a position in the civil service must leave to allow younger ones to come in.
He told participants at the retreat that he was determined to recalibrate government for effective and efficient service delivery but warned that the development goals would only be achieved with improved revenue generation.
“We have a duty. Whatever it is going to cost, we must build up. Our REDEEMED agenda is built around sustainable development goals. If we are able to improve revenue generation, we will be able to meet development goals. Everything must be geared towards revenue generation. It can be done if all of us work together as a team.
“We inherited schools that were just created without any equipment. We have developed schools and equipped them. We have done massive infrastructure in this state and we are proud of our work.
“In UNIMED, We facilitated TETFUND to develop buildings there. Also, Our 250 bed- facility has gone to an advanced stage. We have better beds and facilities in our hospitals now. I have been informed that a number of our facilities are under-utilised. We are proud to have facilitated a lab in Owo, Akure and Ondo,” the governor said.
He went on: “On security, we must pride ourselves on what we have done about security in this state. There is nowhere I go that we have not been singled out that we have championed a good cause. We will not stop. Security is crucial to us. That’s why we are elected to protect lives and property.
“Our youths must be interested in self-employment. They must be employers of labour. They can become entrepreneurs and agropreneur.
“This state is the land of the brave and the virtuous. Wherever we go, we are people imbued with an indomitable spirit. We cannot be subdued. It is our collective haven. Remain bold. Resist all attempts by impetuous and naive people.
“We crave collaboration. But, that we crave collaboration and needed progress of the country does not make us weak. We must speak truth to power. I want us to remain consistent and resilient in the defence of our collective heritage.”
Several presentations were made by speakers on how to redefine governance and ensure effective service delivery to the people.
The Coordinator of Transition Strategy and Implementation Committee, Dr. Patrick Tolani, spoke on “Building a collaborative culture and setting SMART goals”.
Dr. Tolani noted that the common purpose of the retreat was aimed at achieving ‘ONE ADMINISTRATION”. He said the Governor needs maximum collaboration of the political appointees and accounting officers to achieve this purpose.
A former Vice President Secretary General, Africa Development Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Akintomide, who spoke on the topic “Understanding the donor and multilateral funding space and unlocking opportunities for the states said it was important for political office holders to think out of the box towards ensuring that multilateral industries, bilateral engagements and foundations such as Gates, Dangote, Rockteller among others invested in the state economy.
The former Group Managing Director of Access Bank and founder of Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, identified structural weaknesses as the cause of failure of governance in the country.
Aig-Imoukhuede, who spoke on the topic “Achieving success against all odds (Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa”, said Nigeria’s future successes depend on its ability to address existing market failures.
He listed digitisation of governance, creating an enabling environment and transformational leadership as key steps for leaders to think and act the same way.
Aig-Imoukhuede praised Akeredolu for demonstrating enlightened leadership by continuing with some projects and programmes of the past administration. He said the Ondo Governor has shown simplicity and transparency in handling government business.
Ondo Commissioner for Youth and Sports Bamidele Ologun promised to apply the knowledge gained from the programme to improve his performance.
Ologun said he would work with other MDAs, Accounting Officers, other career officers within and outside the state for improved service delivery to the people of the state.
“I can assure you that the retreat is going to have a lot of positive impacts. For me, in my ministry, I’m more prepared, more ready, and I’m good to go to contribute to the REDEEMED agenda to ensure we achieve the needed results”.
The General Manager, Ondo State Development and Property Corporation, Mr. Nasiru Oseni, said the retreat was about governance and the people.
“Therefore, as a component of Ondo State government, all our plans and objectives in Ondo State Development and Property Corporation must be directed towards impacting the lives of the people.
“We must also see the administration of the State as one administration, focusing on fulfilling the REDEEMED agenda. So we must give our best at all times and be ready to share our ideas, challenges, and experiences with other agencies of government and give and seek assistance where necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the mandate of government,” Oseni stressed.
Akeredolu vowed to commence the construction of a seaport known as Port Ondo even as he blamed the federal government bureaucratic bottleneck as a reason for the delay in kicking off the project.
He said: “There is a contradiction in our federalism. We have a system where there must be a port declaration by the federal executive council before you proceed.
“I have always wondered; the port is in my state and I have people who are prepared to invest. But the federal government is holding on to the port declaration. I believe that states should be left to determine their deep seaport and the investors.
“For us as a state, we have been at this since our first day in government. We found out that we have the deepest draft in Ondo State.
“Our port, we will go ahead. Nothing will stop it; it is a matter of time. It is a port, not only for Nigeria for West Africa because of its deepest draft.
“How do we finance it? I travelled, I spoke to Dubai port. I spoke to China Habour. Dubai port has even written that they are interested.
“Our dream for this port in Ondo State is to serve as a conduit for our goods, agricultural produce and very soon, our bitumen.
“It is the goal of this administration to ensure that the potential of Ondo State is maximised and that all necessary infrastructure required to make this a reality is put in place to achieve this.”