Oyo State Government has expressed hope that all the seeds it planted in 2020 will yield fruits in the New Year 2021.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who stated this during the inter-faith programme organised by the Office of the Head of Service to usher in the New Year 2021, charged the citizens to be grateful to God despite all the challenges they faced last year.
“2020 has been described in many quarters as a tough year. We did not survive last year because we are tougher, we survived only by God’s grace and that is why it is good we are holding this inter-faith in gratitude. Gratitude is something a lot of us take for granted. Somehow, a lot of us feel that we can only express gratitude when everything is fine but the way God creates the world, everything can not be great all the times. So we must be grateful for what we have.”
The Governor expressed confidence that the new year will yield good fruits as the state government is ready to commission many projects started last year in 2021.
He recalled that Covid-19 pandemic crippled many government activities in 2020 as there was global lockdown. He said he only left the country to celebrate the New Year in the US on the 30th of December only for the opposition to cry foul of his absence.
“On the 30th of December, I decided to spend the New Year in the US, but before I returned, the opposition parties had started to say the Governor went to enjoy abroad while the state is burning. I think they are jobless. Well I’m back and well shall continue to serve the people of Oyo State.”
Governor Makinde listed the projects to be commissioned this year to include: the 65-kilometer Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin Road, the 21-kilometer Airport-Ajia-New Ife Express Road with a spot to Amuloko, the 12-kilometer Apete-Awotan-Akufo Concrete Road, the three-kilometer Under-G-Stadium Lautech Second Gate Road, the five-kilometre Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Ashipa Road, the 12.5-kilometer Dualization of Challenge-Odo-Ona-Elewe-Apata Road, 10-kilometer Saki Township Road Dualization, the remodelled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, four bus terminals in Iwo Road, New Ife Road, Challenge and Ojoo, Agodi Gate and Akesan Market, among others.
The governor said some people were wondering if the state government would continue paying salaries promptly given the hardships occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic and the economic meltdown.
“By the Grace of God we are not owing salary and we even surprised them by paying 13th month salary for the second time running. We did this at a time when other state are owing their workers, even states in the South West. In fact, we have spent N9.3bn to pay pensions and gratuity owed by the previous administration.” The governor stated.
“Also as you may be aware, there’s a backlog of promotion from 2016. All the outstanding promotions from 2017 to 2020 shall be done this year. Furthermore, under our watch, deserving civil servants will have the opportunity to get up to grade level 17. And let me give you this reassurance that we will continue to prioritize the welfare of the civil servants in the state.”
Governor Makinde said his government expects that 2021 will come with its challenges but the state is ready to face it, according to him, as God has promised that the state will safely get to its destination. He stressed that there might be turbulence, but with God, the state is ready.
Talking about security, the Governor said the government will continue to deal with the reports that come in concerning Amotekun, assuring people that the state government will do everything within its power to ensure a safe Oyo State.
Reacting on the accusation that he has been running populist government, the Governor said democracy is for the general populace and not a narrow section of the society. He vowed to continue serving the interests of the larger society.
He thanked civil servants for the support for his administration and also thanked the state residents for their support during the burial of his late mum.
He charged people in government not to forget the promises to the people of Oyo State, stressing that they should do self appraisal in order to make 2021 a great year for the state.