Why States Should Be Allowed To Develop At Their Pace- Makinde

*Extends Workers’ Wage Awards By Six Months

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has called for true federalism in the country where states will be allowed to develop at their pace.

Makinde made the call at the commissioning of the dualized 12.5 kilometers Challenge – Odo-Ona-Elewe-Elebu-Apata road in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday.

The governor disclosed that the country’s system of federalism should allow for the diversity of Nigeria to be reflected in the development of its states.

He maintained that a one-size-fits-all approach to development will not work in a country as diverse as Nigeria.

Makinde said that each state has unique needs and resources, and that they should be allowed to use those resources to develop their own states.

He said that this would lead to more efficient and effective development, and would ultimately benefit the entire country.

He noted that this approach would encourage competition and innovation among states, and would lead to more effective use of resources.

“Let me use this opportunity to talk about the meeting we had a few days ago. We, the governors of the Peoples Democratic  Party including my brother, are here. We met in Abuja and one of the key issues we discussed is the economic hardship our people are facing.

“Our focus at this time is helping our people overcome the challenges of the times. Some people continue to play politics and tell lies about how things are. I read claims that FAC has doubled for states and local government areas.”

“I think it’s just a lazy way to situate things. We must be talking about baking a bigger cake. FAC is what everybody is talking about.”

“Why are we even going to Abuja in the first instance to share FAC? Were they doing that in the first republic?”

“Well, FAC has moved up from about 6 billion Naira per month to about 8 billion Naira per month, but so also the responsibilities of government,” Makinde said.

While announcing the extension of wage awards to workers in the state by another six months, Governor Seyi Makinde promised to increase the level of infrastructural development in the state

Recall that the governor had approved N25,000 wage award for the state workers from October, 2023 to March, 2024 to cushion the effects of the removal of oil subsidy by the federal government.

He, however, assured that he would work to bring more dividends of democracy to the people, ensuring that they have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

The governor, therefore, named the newly commissioned road after late Chief Theophilus Akinyele.

In his remarks, Enugu State governor, Peter Mba, lauded Makinde for his decisiveness and progressive mindedness, which he said, is essentially about the collective interest of the people.

Governor Mbah, then, called on political leaders to do more in building projects for the country.

“We can only expand our economy through critical infrastructure like this one done by my brother, Engr. Seyi Makinde,” the governor said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport in the state, Professor Dahud Sangodoyin, stated that the road, which used to be a single carriage, was initially awarded by late Governor Adebayo Alao Akala administration in 2008 and suffered neglect for eight years of the Abiola Ajimobi administration, before it was re-awarded to Messrs Kopek Construction Limited by the current administration.

Sangodoyin, who gave a breakdown of the roads constructed during Omituntun 1.0 as 144.37 and 2.0 as 76.25, said that with the completion of the project, the Makinde led administration has completed 220. 62  kilometres of road in less than five years.