Agenda for Oyo’s development

WITH Governor Seyi Makinde in the saddle as the newly elected Chief Executive Officer of Oyo State, many people are curious about developments in the capital of the seat of power of the defunct Western Nigeria. The voters, without any prejudice, were not only deliberate but also methodical on who they wanted as the next Oyo State governor. This is in recognition of the majority votes for PDP lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly. Many people with numerous affiliations to Oyo State, either by birth or residency, would suggest a couple of things Mr. Governor could do to reposition Oyo State. Top on the agenda are issues relating to education and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, would readily come to mind. LAUTECH has been in the news for the right and wrong reasons. Makinde may want to sit with the new visitor from Osun State and decide what they both want for LAUTECH. We cannot forget in a hurry, the Supreme Court ruling that the ivory tower belongs to the two states.

There were observations raised about financial contributions and issues relating to equity. A quicker resolution of identified issues would deliver students from crazy school calendar and academic and non-academic staff from many months of unpaid salaries and allowances. According to the 2019 African University ranking, of the 200 top universities in Africa, LAUTECH occupies the 111th Position. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa is the first, while Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) occupies the 200th position. LAUTECH could move higher in the ranking if the many issues relating to ownership from the two states are resolved amicably. Organisations representing NLC, TUC and JNC should also allow for the audit of the accounts of LAUTECH and redress the injustice meted out to those wrongly posted, sacked or retired. The secondary school  is another level of education where some are strongly of the view that schools should be returned to their original owners. Some schools which belong to the Oyo State government are in the category of those that would enjoy the abolition of the N3,000 compulsory  levy announced at the inauguration of Governor Makinde.

Secondary school education in Oyo State in the current physical state and number cannot be administratively effective with the financial resources of the Oyo State government. Lagos is a case in point where private and faith-based schools were formally handed over to their original owners. The original owners of schools would expectedly upgrade infrastructure, employ and pay teachers who in turn should also deliver qualitative education to students. Rehabilitation of schools categorised as public would be provided for from within the capital expenditure of the Ministry of Education.

In consideration of the need to alleviate poverty, observers are of the view that mechanised farming should be considered alongside partnership with foreign partners with a higher technical knowhow. They could assist with radically utilising under-explored land in Shaki, Iseyin and the entire Oke Ogun communities. It will be recalled that Bukola Saraki, who at some point was the Kwara State governor, accommodated Zimbabwean white farmers driven away by Robert Mugabe. The white farmers have since taken cattle ranching and meat production to a higher pedestal in Kwara. Again, at the next meeting of the Oodua Group owner states, Governor Makinde should make bold to question the viability of companies in the group when compared with their counterparts quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Are these companies delivering on corporate objectives or they are still depending on the goodwill laid out by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1950’s? What is the revenue generation drive of the management teams of these companies?

Mr. Governor may want to invite investors who would revive the recreational facilities now dilapidated. Also, this is the right time for a staff audit in the bid to situate a true and fair view of the financial commitment of the Oyo State government. Consequently, the governor may choose to pay salaries in the next two months across the counter. This exercise will establish which officer is entitled to what pay package and the incidence of ghost working in Agodi and its environs will reduce if not totally eliminated. It is also time to re-examine the value chain in the income and expenditure profile of the State Government.

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Power outages are now monsters too difficult to defeat because of too many complications in the value chain. There are many unpatriotic Nigerians who do not want to see an end to outages in the bid to ensure sales for companies where they are shareholders. These are foreign companies importing generators from overseas. The question agitating the minds of stakeholders as Governor Makinde settles down in office is whether there is an alternative source of power for the people and residents of Oyo State. According to media reports, Governor Makinde inherited a debt of N91.516 billion. At the close of business in December 2018, Oyo internally generated revenue came up to N24.635 billion, while net Federal Allocation was N131.665 billion. In the bid to meet financial obligations, the top priority would imply eliminating wastages and blocking loopholes where the wicked ones siphon money out of the government coffers.

Entrepreneurs should be encouraged to take advantage of the rail service coming from Lagos through Ogun State, and also passing through the Oyo State communities all the way to Northern Nigeria. This is for the delight of those interested in commercial activities on a regional basis. In the area of sporting activities, it is football that readily comes to mind. Public Private Partnership is what will significantly lift up the head of 3SC Football Club. This is also the season of talent hunt. This would occur through identifying young talents in secondary and tertiary institutions. Sports veterans can be invited out of retirement to perform these tasks for the administration. Track and field events should also be attended to with partnership from corporate sponsors and veterans.

• Labiran writes in from Lagos.