The expansive premises of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) along Airport Road, Oba-Ile, in Akure North Local Government Area was in joyous mood as its new Governing Board marked its first anniversary a fortnight ago. .
The new Board was inaugurated on April 10, last year by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Many stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, students and dignitaries from the two mandate areas of Ilaje and Ese-Odo were in present.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Gbenga Edema said it was pertinent that the Board rendered an account to let people know its activities in the past one year.
He said: “We give gratitude to God Almighty for sustaining us thus far in our efforts at ameliorating the suffering of our people in the mandate areas and making life more meaningful to them by the provision of basic infrastructure required for good living.”
He particularly noted that there were low morale on the part of workers, decay infrastructure, non-availability of relevant work tools for members of staff, delayed payment of salaries, non-payment of gratuities, pensions and other emoluments. Abandonment of projects was the other of the day as certificates raised by contractors remained unpaid.
Edema said: “I am delighted to announce that, under our leadership, we now have a new rebranded OSOPADEC where things work. Instead of a lethargic, sluggish and impotent workforce, we now have virile, viable, purposeful, dedicated and result-oriented members of staff in the Commission.
“With proper motivation, training and other capacities, our members of staff now rank among the best anywhere in the world in terms of service delivery.”
The chairman said the Commission had paid the 2014/2015 bursary in which 5,237 students benefitted, adding that N221.24 million was disbursed to students from Ilaje and Eseodo local government areas in various tertiary institutions across the country.
Edema revealed that many projects such as Okitipupa-Ayeka-Irele Road would be completed in the next two months, while Aboto water project and the reticulation to Igbokoda has been completed.
He said the internal road network at the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa which hitherto had been abandoned was adopted by the commission and completed within the year. The road has since been inaugurated by the governor as part of the activities marking the administration’s one year in office.
In the socio-economic sector, Edema said the commission also intervened in the medical challenges facing the people through the health intervention programme which saw the commission collaborating with some selected government-owned health establishments in the state.
He commended Governor Akeredolu for the supervision, direction and approvals granted the Commission.
The chairman also thanked stakeholders, the youth, women, royal fathers, community, opinion leaders and the people of the mandate areas for their co-operation and patience.