- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that his administration has not reneged on the vision behind the establishment of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the existing 16 Local Government areas, which was chiefly to take governance closer to the grassroots.
Oyebanji said taking development near the doorsteps of the rural dwellers remained the strongest launchpad to fasttrack development in any agrarian environment like Ekiti, saying the LCDAs are living up to the realization of the lofty dream.
The governor said this in Ijesu Isu Ekiti, the headquarters of Kajola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), while commissioning some projects executed by the administration of the Acting Chairman, Hon. Adebayo Ajayi.
The projects commissioned include: a 16-lock up stalls at Ase Market, Ijesa Isu, renovation of Areta Health centre, construction of a linkage bridge at the General Hospital, Ijesa Isu, and a cenotaph built in honour of fallen soldiers.
Other programmes initiated are: empowerment for widows and youths, and laying of foundation for the construction of the Council’s Administrative Block.
Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, applauded the council chairmen for their impressive performances, promising to up the game and ensure free flow of finances to the councils to spur develolment across the state.
Oyebanji commended the Kajola LCDA chairman for instituting projects that could have direct impact in the lives of the populace, pledging more support for the council to witness radical development in all spheres.
“The philosophy behind the creation of the LCDAs is to serve as a veritable way of bringing development close to the people and this has largely been realised.
“On regular basis, several developmental projects are being executed and commissioned in all our local government areas as well as the LCDAs. This shows that we have not deviated from the vision.
Oyebanji said his government had within the last 300 days in office made remarkable impacts in the areas of agriculture and food security, through distribution of subsidised implements to farmers and construction of strategic roads across the state.
He added that his administration gave a whooping sum of N24 million to distressed rainstorm victims at Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area, while also distributing N50 million worth of palliatives received from the federal government to disaster victims.
Besides regular payment of salaries, Oyebanji stated that another set of state and local government pensioners will be paid their gratuities in no distant time, while health workers have had their salaries upgraded as part of the ways of improving their welfare and wellbeing .
“I encourage all the people of the Kajola LCDA to continue to support the present administration in its strides to put smiles on the faces of the citizens. The inauguration of these laudable projects is a clear testimony of Governor Oyebanji to make positive impacts on the citizens of this LCDA.
“I want you to take ownership these projects and ensure their effective utilisation and maintenance”.
Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Ajayi, appreciated Governor Oyebanji for granting financial autonomy to ease the operations of the LCDAs.
The LG boss stated that his administration built the market stalls to increase the revenue generation in the local government, and to give the LG the financial wherewithal to undertake more projects.
In the area of health, Hon Ajayi, added that he renovated the Areta Village Health Centre to attend to the health needs of the people for elongated life expectancy, as well as reduce morbidity and mortality rates.
He appealed to the youth to embrace the youth-friendly programmes of the Oyebanji-led government and refrain from nefarious activities that could tinker with the relative peace being enjoyed by the residents.
“Before, the Ase Market was in a state of disrepair. My administration viewed it that the Council might be losing a large chunk of revenue if the stalls were not repaired to stop the wastage .
“Our people say health is wealth, the fact that the administration of Governor Oyebanji is keen about the welfare and wellbeing of the people, especially their health needs and this prompted me to renovate the abandoned health centre at Areta Village. I know that our people will patronise the centre if well equipped and that we will do at the right time.
“The submerged iron culvert inside the General hospital links the hospital to the mortuary site. It has been in that state for three years. We thank God we have been able to do it due to financial autonomy that we enjoy under the present government of Governor Oyebanji.
”I want to appreciate Governor Oyebanji for giving the needed financial support to every council to operate. I want to assure his Excellency that the people of this LCDA will continue to support his administration because they are happy that he didn’t renege on his promise to make the local government financially strong”.
In his submission, a former Deputy Governor, Chief Paul Alabi, said the LCDA, known to be financially constrained, was paying a sum of N600,000 annually as a rent by a before the government released a primary School to site its Secretariat.
Alabi stated that the Council is very proud to have a place to be called its Secretariat, rather than operating in a rented apartment, adding that “with the support of all of you, our Council will progress and develop”.
Expressing elation over the landmark achievements recorded in the LCDA, the Obanla of Ijesa Isu, Oba Gabriel Oso Adeniyi, disclosed that Governor Oyebanji has done every Ekiti man proud by his penchant for good governance and financial independence for the local governments.
