By Comrade Olabode Akinwale
THE DEBT Management Office (DMO) in its latest published data ranks Ondo State as the most financially disciplined state government in Nigeria.
This development is not a mean achievement, and it has not gone unnoticed by some of us who are critical of government’s performance.
The state governor, Hon (Dr) Lucky Aiyedatiwa who effectively took control of government in December 2023 has set a new record in financial discipline and public sector management that has resonated across the country.
Like King Midas who received the gift of turning anything into gold that he touched from god Dionysos, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appears ordained for a mission to set unparalleled standards of achievement in Ondo State.
Through cost control measures across boards, DMO records show that Ondo State reduced it’s domestic debt from N74billion in 2023 to N12billion in 2024 which represent about 83 percent reduction!
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his team of financial experts led by Mrs Omowunmi Isaac, the Honorable Commissioner for Finance deserves some commendations.
The financial reengineering endeavors, prudence and professionalism displayed by the team is second to none.
The Team’s expertise and devotion paved way for the successes recorded without necessarily disrupting essential services or putting workers welfare in abeyance.
For the record, Ondo State Government has not gone into any external borrowing since the advent of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
It’s also a verifiable fact that workers salary has always been paid on or before the last week of each month.
In fact, all accumulated salary arrears in tertiary institutions across the state are being attended to as appropriate.
Ondo State is now witnessing a new dawn. The hope, optimism and potential for positive change is in the air.
Despite the huge debt servicing efforts by the state government of a debt not incurred by it, the administration has not abandoned work at the sites of all projects initiated by the past administration and in addition, the Governor is also embarking on fresh and massive infrastructural projects within the state.
Even the worst of detractors will agree that there is a world of difference between an administration that incurred debts and the one that cleared or offset it.
From the onset, the state Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa left no one in doubt as to his fiscal and monetary management direction and plan for the state by bringing a financial and accounting expert to his cabinet to head the finance ministry.
Although some who would rather have preferred the state government to continue to service their private pockets instead of servicing the people of the state waged “wars of attrition” against the Governor and the Honorable Commissioner for Finance.
Thank God the Governor did not give in to the evil merchants and today, through financial prudence and professional sagaciousness that encapsulate strategic planning, fiscal discipline, proper budget and resources allocation, risk and debt management, investment and diversification, expertise and skills, integrity and ethical conduct, transparency and accountability, communication and collaboration, etc Ondo State is on its way to financial prosperity such as have not been witnessed before in history.
Now, stakeholders and investors’ trust and confidence in the government of the state have increased and the dividends will surely come in the areas of investment, job opportunities and more money in the pocket of the citizens.
Since you cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, the people of Ondo State can now see and appreciate their Governor, the head of the finance team and other cabinet members for the good work they are doing.
As a stakeholder myself, I have done due diligence and fact check on the fiscal and monetary policy direction and execution of the government and the supervisory ministry and I make bold to say that Ondo State is on the ascendancy and all the people will forever rejoice at the outpouring of dividends of democracy that will be obvious for all to behold.
Comrade Olabode Akinwale writes from Akure, Ondo State.
