Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday restated his administration’s commitment to all-inclusive style of governance, promising to remain open, accountable, and allow citizens involvement in the decision-making process in the state.
Abiodun stated that his vision for Ogun State still centred on providing focused and qualitative governance and create an enabling environment for a public-private partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of enduring economic development and individual prosperity.
The Governor made this known at the Citizen’s Engagement on the 2024–2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2024 Budget, held at the Ijebu division of Ogun State.
He was represented by his deputy Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
Abiodun noted that the exercise is necessary for a multi-year public expenditure planning, that is then used to set out the future budget requirements for existing services and access the resource implications of future policy changes and programmes.
He stressed that medium-term expenditure framework enhances the transparency of the budget process and budget documentation so that policy goals and resource allocation are clearly set out, adding that it empowers the government to determine priorities and seamlessly deliver democratic deliverables without predilection or sentiment.
According to him, “we have perhaps the most conducive environment and adequate infrastructural development models that ensure that Ogun State is the safest place to live, work, and do business, and we are proud as a government to note that our commitment has continued to yield positive results that ensure that existing businesses are thriving while new investments are being attracted in multitude into our dear state’’.
He appreciated Royal Fathers, Community Leaders, and members of the neighbourhood watch and Hunters who have been supporting the states security architecture to ensure the safety of lives and property, while also strengthening peaceful co-existence as well as unity amongst their communities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Olu Olabimtan, said that the meeting was meant to cultivate response mechanism from the citizens, noting that the present administration believes in the feedback mechanism, so as to enable government know which sector needs urgent attention.
In his contribution, the Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local government, Hon. Emilola Gazal, appreciated the state government for fulfilling many of its ISEYA mantra, calling on Governor Abiodun for the execution of more road projects, especially Ondo and Ijebu- Ife to Ikangba roads.
Also speaking, the Chairman Governor’s Advisory Council, Chief Oluneye Okuboyejo, said as a matter of urgency, government needs to fix Ota, Ilobi to Eruwon, Ikangba to Lagos garage and Ilese roads, urging government to do more in term of Agriculture to boost food sufficiency.
In his remark, the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, represented by the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Jayeoba Adebajo, said there was need for government to open more rural roads in Ijebuland, so as to ease movement of farm produce by farmers, lamenting that most of the produce are wasting due to bad roads.
Speaking on behalf of all the Obas in Ijebuland the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Rasak Adenugba, commended the state governor for the developmental strides in Ijebuland, in the last four and half years, saying many of the promised made has been fulfilled, calling on government to execute more programmes and policies, that will boost agriculture, security, electricity and infrastructure all over the state.
Representatives of the league of Imams and Alfas in Ijebu, Muftau Rufai Soli and the representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Korede Awolesi thanked the state government for the development of the State through different projects, saying government should initiate policy that would make youths more productive and resuscitate rural allowance for teachers in rural schools for improved productivity.
