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Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has said his administration had been strategic and deliberate in its spending to ensure the coordinated development of all aspects of the state.
Oyebanji said that his administration had been ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable development without leaving anyone behind in its bid to achieve its six pillars which had the primary objective of ensuring a shared prosperity for all.
The governor, who spoke in a statewide broadcast on the occasion of the 28th creation anniversary of Ekiti and the 64th Independence anniversary of Nigeria, said that his government’s efforts “are already yielding fruits across all sectors. We are not only meeting targets, we have surpassed targets in many instances.”
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for his strong support which he said had provided the right atmosphere for the growth of Ekiti State since the President assumed office.
Oyebanji said, “We are deeply grateful for President Tinubu’s numerous interventions and approval of critical federal infrastructure in our state and in tackling security challenges that confronted us early in the year.”
He paid respect to the founding fathers of the state including Chief Deji Fasuan and Aare Afe Babalola for championing the struggles for the creation of the state and contributions to the actualization as well all former governors for their leadership roles and contributions to Ekiti development.
The governor also hailed the Ekiti State National Assembly Caucus under the leadership of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; members of Ekiti State House of Assembly; executive council members and other political appointees for their contributions which had resulted in the rapid development of the state.
He said, “Our government is very focused and strategic in our development drive. We want to ensure every policy and programme of government is connected to the chains of the Ekiti Development Master Plan and the Six Pillars of Administration to deliver the shared prosperity promise.
“We are also deliberate in our plan that every government spending must lead to job creation, inclusive growth and sustainable development. In the last two years since we came on board, we are glad to report that we have made some giant strides in different aspects of administration in accordance with our social contract with the Ekiti people.”
The governor said that some of the administration’s signature projects including the Ado-Ekiti fly-over, the first phase of the Ring Road and the Ifaki-Iworoko-Ado-Ekiti road among others were nearing completion.
He said, “Similarly, we have brought electricity supply to many communities which had not had electricity in decades, just as we continue to expand access to clean water across the state. The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project is now effective with the award of contracts for some rural roads, while others are being processed for award.
“The government is unrelenting in its commitment to agriculture and food security development to ensure abundant food production with many programmes and policies just as it has made security of life and property a topmost priority.
“As a state, we have, like many other parts of the country, had to contend with occasional opportunistic attacks of ‘hit-and-run” kidnappers, I am glad that we have been able to bring them to book while we continue to do our best to prevent future recurrence.”
The governor took pride in the achievements of his government in the education and health sectors and as well the way it had been keeping to its promise to always promptly attend to the welfare of workers.
He said, “We not only pay salaries as and when due but we have also cleared some outstanding salaries, leave bonuses and monetary benefits of previous promotion exercises. In addition, we have committed ourselves to an accelerated liquidation of outstanding gratuity to our pensioners.
“We are also supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through the provision of cheaper funds for business owners in collaboration with the Bank of Industry and other relevant financial institutions. This is with a view to achieving wealth creation and improving the state’s economy,” Oyebanji said.
