Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, has lauded governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for touching residents’ lives through the developments going on in different sectors and areas of the state.
Akinlosotu said, “Even the members of opposition parties cannot hide their admiration for what the governor is doing and the steps he is taking to better the people’s lives. That is why the governing party in the state, All Progressives Congress, has been receiving defectors across parties particularly from the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the November governorship election”.
The commissioner, who said the developmental efforts have given people of the state a new lease of life, explained that “the state and as well citizens are better off for the governor’s interventions”.
The commissioner, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that Aiyedatiwa’s initiative of involving people in his government had also yielded good results for the state and earned him accolades within the short time he has spent in office as governor.
“On infrastructures, Governor Aiyedatiwa has been constructing roads with a view to saving lives on the roads, giving people comfort, ensuring easy movement of food from rural areas and as well attracting investors to the state. New roads are coming up in different areas and contractors are back to site where they had erstwhile abandoned projects”.
Akinlosotu said that Aiyedatiwa has continued to give education priority attention in a bid to improve the standard of education in the state and has as well made more buses available for the free shuttle bus programme for students.
He said, “With eyes of improved and conducive learning environment for the school children, school buildings are being rehabilitated or constructed at different levels, necessary amenities are being provided for schools just as teachers are being employed to strengthen capacity and level of instruction”.
The commissioner said that the Aiyedatiwa government has demonstrated worker-friendliness through meeting their welfare and sundry needs including promotion and clearing of their backlog of unpaid salaries and pension arrears, adding, “The governor also approved monthly palliative allowance for all public workers in the wake of the hardship occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy.
“Those in the informal sector including struggling entrepreneurs, petty traders, artisans and peasant farmers are not left out as Governor Aiyedatiwa approved over N2 billion as soft loans which they can assess to grow their ventures.
“It is in the same manner that the government is prioritising the needs of the rural areas. He has commissioned the sinking of 54 boreholes in rural communities for potable water and as well approved installation of 1600 solar-powered streetlight for illumination and security.
“The governor is addressing the recent high prices of foodstuffs and the attendant effect on the people the desired attention. He acted promptly with immediate palliative measures and as well lasting solutions through taking steps to ensure food sufficiency in the state.
“The Thursday Market at the Ministry of Agriculture where affordable foodstuffs are available and the ongoing test-running of purchase of grains like rice, beans, garri to sell directly to the masses ahead of full-time commencement are part of efforts,” he said.
Akinlosotu said that government was giving necessary support to farmers in the areas of land cultivation and distribution of farm tools/equipment and inputs to boost food production and as well serve as attraction to others including youths to farming.
He reiterated the Aiyedatiwa administration’s commitment to the health of Ondo State people through “revamping and upgrading of the state’s healthcare infrastructure including the ongoing construction of 250-bed hospitals in Akure and Ondo, the recent recruitment of health workers for PHCs in the 203 wards and the secondary health facilities in the 18 local government areas in the state and enhancement of doctors’ salaries to retain medical personnel.
“On Monday, Mr Governor rolled out the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) to ensure access of all residents including artisans, market women, farmers, commercial transport operators, and private sector workers to affordable healthcare for all.
“The essence of ORANGHIS is that it lowers the financial barriers for residents, i.e., reduces the healthcare cost of our people, through a sustainable source of funding created by the state government.
“Other ongoing healthcare initiatives under Aiyedatiwa administration included the Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme, which covers antenatal care, delivery, and other essential services for pregnant women and children under five. The goal of all these is to enhance service delivery to residents,” he said.
The commissioner also hailed the appointment last week by the governor of 344 Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants in fulfillment of his promise of involving everybody in government, saying “Aiyedatiwa’s all-inclusive government style has continued to be a reference point”.
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