The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has opened up on his style and strategies in the governance of Osun State, noting that the approach is producing “a productive and pleasing outcome across the sectors”
Addressing the grand reception and induction night organised by the Osun Development Association in Lagos on Friday, Governor Adeleke who stressed the importance of non-governmental organisations said his passion to deliver within a short period of time compelled his current governance agenda.
According to the State chief executive, “our first focus was to craft an unorthodox governance agenda, the five point agenda namely workers’ welfare, financial inclusion, localisation, people centered infra upgrade, social sector upliftment and agro-industrialisation.
“To implement the above, we equally deviate from the many well known pontifications on governance delivery. We put people at the centre and cut most scraps that create deep gulf between the people and state policies. We deliver by upstaging the traditional structures without breaching state laws and due process.
“We enforce localisation in project design and implementation to enhance local skills and create jobs for our people. We effect drastic cuts in project costs to deliver more with little resources. Our projects and programmes also evolved from strict need assessment across the three Senatorial districts. Our vision is holistic in terms of addressing developmental challenges from people’s aspirations and needs.
“To drive these plans and agenda, we demonstrate a very high degree of transparency and accountability. As a man of means before coming into office, I ensure our contractors have no kickbacks to pay and they work with an eye to deliver the public good. The zero tolerance for corruption is combined with an ambitious infra agenda that is accompanied with a soft infra focus so that as we are building the roads, we are also building the people.
“Our government also adopted the mantra of government as a continuum. We live it and act it. I retained all contractors inherited from my predecessor. None of those contracts were terminated. No contractor was fired. My only insistence was that they must deliver on what they signed with the state.
“I am also completing most abandoned projects inherited from my predecessor. The Ikirun-Osogbo dualisation is completed and I am going to complete the road up to the border with Kwara state. The Osogbo ring road is being completed while the Osogbo-Iwo road is ongoing. In the infra sector, we insist on salvaging state assets without undue political considerations.
“Several external reviewers have rated our approach as highly successful. We also have our positive internal assessments. Within one and half years in office, we have achieved what the previous administration could not attain in four years. We have constructed over 90 kilometers of roads alongside several bridges and channelisation projects. Another 80 kilometers of roads are presently under construction. The multi billion naira infra projects which include four flyover bridges, dualisation of several roads, rehabilitation of several schools and health centers are currently ongoing. Osun is indeed a huge construction site as attested to by many visitors.
“Our fixation on soft and hard infrastructure stems from our belief that we cannot grow Osun economically unless we address the huge infra deficit. We inherited more than 80 percent infrastructure deficit when we took over in 2022. Hence, we target a quick reversal of that sad statistics before the end of our first tenure. The positive results are there for all to see.
“We then injected a huge dose of soft social focus by the gradual repayment of half salary and pension debt inherited from the previous government. We are paying back the diverted contributory pensions of our senior citizens. Our pensioners are registered for a health insurance scheme with the state paying the bills. We reform the public service and ensure regular payment of salaries, promotion arrears. In Osun, there is a nexus between the formal and informal workforce. For now, taking care of public servants boosts, enlivens and strengthens the informal workforce in the state.
“The state’s investment promotion agency moribund for a long time is now up and running. A one stop desk is being created to facilitate investment into the state. And of course, very soon, you can fly directly into Osun state as we are working to deliver a functional state airport”, the Governor told the gathering of eminent Osun indigenes at the event.
He told the audience that the state government is open to collaboration in the various forms of public private partnership” adding “we clearly need the indispensable collaboration with associations and groups like the Osun Development Association.
“Presently our government is working on the Alumni-Government partnership Board for school development. We are restrategising on partnership to grow the state digital economy, education, health and agriculture.
“I therefore extend hands of developmental partnership to the ODA and other related associations. Join hands with us to transform Osun for the better. Our doors are open”, the Governor told the ODA chaired by Dr Segun Aina.
