Ondo State Government has assured that the current Infrastructureal development going on in the State will spread across the nooks and crannies of the State for the benefit of the citizenry. The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, gave this assurance while playing host to the State Coalition of Civil Societies in his office, in Akure the State Capital. He said this could be attested to with the renovation of dilapidated public schools presently being carried out in all the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
Pastor Igbasan explained that government has embarked on construction/rehabilitation of roads brigdes/culvert across the state, while restoration of electricity to the Southern Senatorial District which have been without public power for the about ten years has commenced. He stated futher that the present state of the nation's economy has been responsible for the sub-optimal allocation of resources to government at the sub-national level.
According to him, nothwithstaning this situation, the present administration under the leadership of Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu SAN is determined to make difference in the life of the people through judicious application of the state resources.
Speaking on the budget preparation process, the Commissioner, said that budget should be an expression of the people's need and aspiration from government and not the other way round, promising that the present government has adopted an inclusive budget preparation process where all stakeholders across the three Senatorial Districts in the State would be carried along.
On the issue of Open Governance Partnership (OGP) the Commissioner assured the Civil Societies that the State would key into the program.
Pastor Igbasan described Arakurin Odunayo Akeredolu as a man of integrity, accountability and a visionary leader, who is poised to open up all the economic potentials of the State for development of its people. He said the signing into law and the implementation of the Public Procurement Law by the present government shows the integrity of the Governor, he added that government is building a solid and resilient foundation for investors from home and in the diaspora.
The Commissioner described the Civil Society Coalition as the mouth piece of the masses and enjoined them to always inform the public on the various programmes and achievements of the government and bring feedback to it.
He therefore solicited for continuous synergy and cooperation with the State government in its effort towards the social economic and infrastructural development of the State.
Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of the Coalition, Mr Franklin Oloniju, explained that the purpose of their visit was to interact with the State government on the to key into Open Governance Partnership (OGP).
According to him, OGP will not only enhance transparency and accountability in governance which the present administration is known for, but, would also help to block all loopholes in government finances.