In his desperate move to alleviate hunger in Osun State, the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday directed the state Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Security Committee Action to commence with the implementation process of a series of his policies targeting the alleviation of residents’ economic pains and hardships without any further delay.
The governor, in a statement by his spokeswoman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed in Osogbo, remarked, “We must roll out action plans with timeliness for achieving the goals of food access, farm security, and food affordability.”
“By next week, I will be flagging off the distribution of farm equipment, seedlings, and farm inputs, including fertilisers and tractors, among others. We must hit the ground running.”
“The Ministry is further directed to finalise plans for the multiple cultivations of hundreds of hectares of land across the local governments under the Young Agropreneurs Incubation Programme.
“We must implement a comprehensive back-to-farm project that includes state assistance for farm preparation, tractorization, and off-farming mechanisms,” the governor was quoted as saying.
The State Governor, who promised enlarged governance consultation with stakeholders such as civil society, students, and youths, equally tasked the Ministry of Science and Innovations to produce an implementation plan for the recently amended and approved State ICT Policy and State Innovation Policy to widen space for youth engagement.
“Our government recognises the deployment of ICT for job creation and youth engagement. Hence, we recently approved state ICT and tech innovation policies. The relevant ministry is expected to prepare for implementation, especially for job creation among our teeming youth.
“Our government has started paying bursaries to students. The first phase is complete. We are working on the second phase.
“We are committed to supporting the education of youth in various institutions. We have a programme in the pipeline for students in tertiary institutions—a talent hunt programme to be implemented with the student leadership in the state.
“Meanwhile, we continue to pay the half-salary and pension debts we inherited from the previous governments. We will continue to ease the pain of our senior citizens and workers.
“On minimum wage, we have set up an implementation committee. Relevant stakeholders are included to ensure an all-inclusive process. We are committed to supporting our workers as a labour-friendly government.
“Our labour leaders are aware and appreciative of our passion to improve the lives of workers and pensioners,” G Governor Adeleke noted.
While acknowledging that inflation accounts for the high cost of food, the state governor expressed optimism that the ongoing action of the Food Security Action Committee will ease the harsh impact of food inflation.
He further directed the state task force on petrol monitoring to engage marketers across the state, adding, “I urge petrol retailers and marketers not to hoard petrol products. They need to support the people by not exploiting the situation for personal gain.
“The State Task Force is to swing into action immediately. We must engage the fuel marketers. The pain of our people must not be compounded,” the governor posited.
Governor Adeleke said his government has looked into the demands of various interest groups, including the organisers of the recent national protest, assuring that his government is “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
“Our government is an agent of good governance and democratic dividends. We will not relent in our public-spirited service to our dear state,” Mr. Governor concluded.
He, however, maintained that his administration issued a series of policies on economic pain in line with his promise during the national protest that his government would alleviate poverty in the state.
Governor Adeleke, who had assured protesters of ongoing steps to fulfil their demands as they affected the state government today, instructed government agencies to fast-track the implementation of programmes and policies on food security, internal security, the minimum wage, and fuel affordability, among others.
“I am committed to implementing our commitments, especially after the recent national protests, as they affect issues within our mandate areas. We are passionate about pushing ahead with our welfare agenda, which is number one on our governance programmes, he concluded.
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