Charting a new development agenda for Ogun

THE popular saying that, “he who  fails to plan, plans to fail”, is incontrovertible. The Almighty Himself, according to the Scriptures, embarked on creation after adequate planning. There is no doubting the place of planning in human endeavours as no meaningful venture with anticipated success, can be embark upon without careful plans. The successful stories recorded by individuals, organisations, corporate entities and even government resolved around planning. It is also a fact that the sole responsibility of government, the world over, is to see to the welfare of the citizens. Apart from guaranteeing the security of live and property, government has the responsibility to make good road network, qualitative education, healthcare, clean water, power, among other things available to the people. Of course, these cannot be achieved without first of all planning and having a comprehensive road map to realising the objective. For the incumbent administration led by a tested and accomplished man who has made a name for himself in the private sector, there is no room for haphazard way of doing, as things most be done according to plan to achieve the desired results.

Having inaugurated his Executive Council, made up of people who have achieved milestones in their chosen careers and which Prince Abiodun himself tagged, “the best anyone can gather”, it was time to settle down to work, because as the American writer, humorist and entrepreneur, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, popularly known as Mark Twain, put it, “the secret of getting ahead, is getting started”. To achieve the desired results, it was imperative that all political appointees and Permanent Secretaries, who are accounting Officers in the Ministries Departments and Agencies, be well grounded on the mission and vision of the administration, hence the Executive Council Strategic Session Retreat, with theme, “Building our Future Together; From Strategy to Execution”, held at the TCC Resort Centre, Ogere-Remo Ikenne Local Government Area. The two day session which started on Friday 17 January, was also meant to take a look at the key sectors, identified problems and fashion out ways of solving them to make lives more meaningful to the people.

Setting the ball rolling in a gathering which had eminent Scholars, financial experts, renowned economist, astute administrators etc. in attendance, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the parley was meant to brainstorm on the policy framework of the administration and come up workable and practicable ways of achieving them. For Governor Abiodun who came to governance through popular mandate, he has said on many fora that his coming to government is to better the lot of the people and leave the State better than he met it. The retreat whoever provided him another opportunity, this time, to let his team members know that there is a great task ahead and no time to waste. “It is time to work. It is also important that we gather to explore and formalise the various opportunities in the implementation of our building our future together agenda and take the advantage of the abundant resources in our dear State.”

He acknowledged that even with just few days after the inauguration of the commissioners and special advisers, “your creativity and experience have started to manifest positively in your various ministries, departments and agencies. You are to partner and ensure the development of the State and increase prosperity for our people irrespective of age, gender, political afiliations and locations”. The governor said as a government that was committed to collectiveness and inclusiveness, it was imperative that all parts of the State was represented in decision making and process as it concern the people. The retreat, Prince Abiodun said, would serve as a platform for exchanging ideas and come up with improved and more practical approaches towards the discharge of good governance. The governor did not stop there, he used the gathering to inform participants, particularly those who are just joining the team of some modest achievements recorded in the last seven months and the plans of the administration in the coming years, the State and Lagos State was in verge of obtaining approval from the Federal government for the construction of the Abeokuta-Ifo-Lagos road, adding the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road would be constructed to provide alternative route to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Ogun State, according to Prince Abiodun, has keyed into and benefited from the various intervention programmes of the Central Bank of Nigeria, including the Anchor Borrowers and Artisans training, saying that the state had been made the headquarters of Southwest Anchor Borrower’s programme, while two educational institutions have been designated to serve as centre for the training of artisans. He noted that some interventions had been carried out in the health and education sectors with the provision of modern medical facilities at the General Hospital, Ilaro, recruitment of medical personnel and upgrading of facilities at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the rehabilitation of 236 primary schools in each ward across the State as well as setting up OGUNTECHUP, rehabilitation of township roads, among others. Guest speaker and Executive Vice Chairman Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, speaking on, “Effective Governance and Policies in a Subnational”, suggested that for meaningful development to take place in the State, the administration must develop a change management programmes to deliver its vision and strategy indicating programme points, sequences and phases.

He opined that it was important the administration build multi stakeholders, improve on ease of doing business, get the Civil Service on a performance mode, by using productivity and reward system, result based Budgeting and evis the based performance, adding that it was also important to engage citizens participation in Governance, especially the youths, through the social media, as the constitute the larger segment of the population.

Taking a look at the “Overview of the Nigerian Macro-Economic Environment- Key Implications for Ogun State”, the Chairman, Nigeria Economic Advisory Council, Dr Doyin Salami and renowned financial expert, Mr. Bismarch Rewane, observed that lack of funds has contributed to the slow pace development in the country as a palty sum of N60bn was the combine yearly Budget of  the Federal, States and Local Governments.

They argued that for Ogun State to witness any meaningful economic development in the coming years, there must be converted efforts by government to reduce of governance to about 15 percent, rehabilitate existing bad roads and construct new ones, refurbish and build modern Heath facilities, develop Partnership with the private sector, encourage vocational and technical training.

The two experts advised the administration to get more fund to carry out its developmental programmes by taking Bond, refinance existing debts with cheaper and longer maturities, source for cheaper funds as well as focus on what the State gas comparative advantage, enjoining the government to, “spend much, but  spend smarty”.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olatokunbo Talabi, while taking participants on “Understanding Key Roles and Responsibilities”, intimated political Office holders of their roles and functions and reminded them of the need to work as a team and shun acts that would embarrass the administration.

The State Head of Service, Mrs Amope Chokor while, “introducing the Civil Service Structure”, delved into the difference between a civil servants and public servants, functions and different cadres in the civil service. She said for the State to develop, there most be synergy and mutual respect as both political appointees and civil servants who impement government policies and programmes, all work towards the same goal.

The State Commissioner for Finance who also doubles as the Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, spoke on the administration’s agenda,  “Building our Future Together; Our overall Ambition, Development pillars and Key Priorities for the next four years”, saying the Public and Private organizations have to work harmoniously in building the future of the State. He assuring the people that feedbacks from them would receive government attention, while private organizations would also be part of programmes implementation and execution, in line with the Public Private Partnership mantra of the administration.

If the first day of the retreat was interesting owing to the Calibre of people who made presentations and the richness of their papers, than day two was even more interesting has break out groups who had brainstorm throughout the night on their various priority key areas, had the opportunity to make their presentations. Unlike what obtained in the past, the session was interactive and lively as participants had the opportunity to air their opinions. Even the State helmsman, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had to take a back sit  and intermittently joined other participants to air his views.

Presenting the priority areas and the overall ambition, prioritized interventions, key enablers and measures of success, the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Jamiu Omoniyi, said the State’s housing needs was in the deficit of more than two million, noting that government was working to meet its 5,000 housing target.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Waste Management, Mr. Ola Oresanya in his contribution, disclosed that five public toilets would be built in each of the 20 Local Government Areas, encouraging the private sector to build public toilets for commercial purpose and also enjoined filling stations to make their toilet facilities available for People’s use.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker in her presentation, said the State would work towards reducing the infant maternal mortality rate, increase life expectancy, upgrade Primary Health Centres in each of the 236 Wards, make operational, the 250 bedded hospital at Oke-Mosan and achieve 100 percent rehabilitation of the State’s Hospitals in the next 24 months.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, who briefed participants on government’s plans for the sector, informed that school curriculum would be broadened to include entrepreneurship skills training, redevelopment of government Schools, encouraging inter schools competitions, such as debate and quiz, among others.

Mrs. Soyombo, expressed worry over the neglect of the Senior Secondary School in the last 12 years, as special attention was only on bbasic and junior secondary, saying that to change the narratives, Student Loan Board would be reintroduced, e-learning, e-library and research centres would be made available, while the general condition of school environment would be made attractive to both Learners and their teachers.

Other participants in their contributions, stressed the need for schools to be provided with science laboratories, workshops, functional libraries and ICT centres, provision of staff quarters within the school premises, adding that total value orientation for students would go a long way in reducing social vices and improve performance in both internal and external examinations.

Contributing, GovernorAbiodun  assured potential investors, willing to invest in the State, that land would be made available to them within 28 days of application.

According to him, “We are working to ensure that land title deeds do not exceed 28 days, to eliminate the trouble of assessing land and improve our ease of doing business ranking”.

Abiodun lamented the inability of the previous administrations to implement the Geographic Information System (GIS), noting that this would be put into operation during his tenure, to enable proper planning and administration of land resources.

The Governor who described land as “Oil of Ogun State”, reiterated that his administration was poised to deliver 5,000 affordable housing units to the people, charging those saddled with the project to work towards bequeathing the State with smart cities that would incorporate basic needs, like good road network, shopping malls, health facilities, adequate security and provision for laying of fibre cables.

The Goverrnor later brought the retreat to a close with a charge on all participants to put what they have learnt into action so that the State would be a better place for all.

No doubt, development entails adequate planning and the two day retreat, I strongly believe, has given those in the saddle the opportunity to plan, strategize and come up a roadmap that would turn the socio-economic fortune of the State around for better

It is hoped these roadmaps would be properly implemented so that the words of Walt l courage to pursue them”, would be a reality in Ogun State.

• Udofia writes in from Ogun State