Being the Keynote Address by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, The Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the 2022 Budget, held at International Conference Centre, the University of Ibadan on Thursday, July 29, 2021
This is the third in the series of stakeholders’ meetings we have held since we came into office in 2019. Our meeting today is in keeping with our promise to always get the input of the people when we are producing the Oyo State budget.
For the first time last year, we had these stakeholders’ meetings in the seven geopolitical zones of Oyo State. This year, we are continuing with this inclusive practice. So, as we go around to the different zones in Oyo State, we want to again hear from you as we start off the budget planning for the 2022 fiscal year.
Last year, after our meetings with you, we again prioritised education and infrastructure. These two sectors have always been the two areas that you, the good people of Oyo State, have shown to be of paramount importance to you. The result is that we were able to complete over 500 education and infrastructure projects in the last year.
We have always stated that this government is your government. It is what you say we should do that we will do. Our job here is to give the needed direction and ensure the implementation of these things that you ask for.
Even while we were campaigning for office, our various interactions with you showed that the four areas that formed the four pillars of our Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023, namely, Education, Economy, Healthcare and Security were your priority.
Permit me to give you some updates on the performance of the 2021 budget.
As of the beginning of the Second Half of the Year 2021, the Oyo State Budget performance stood at 60%. Our target is to raise this to 75% before year-end as we aspire for improved revenue performance.
We continued to use the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) for capital project execution. Under this process, the contractor executes the entire project with their own resources and then the government repays over several budgeting cycles. With this system in place, we will continue to implement most of your requests at the previous stakeholder engagements.
I am happy to inform you that contracts have been awarded for the installation of Mini-Grid Energy Projects in Ogbomoso South, Atiba, Ona Ara and Iwajowa Local Government Areas. In addition, about N400 million was spent on the purchase of 1,194 Metric tonnes of Aluminium Sulphate to boost the production of potable water in the state. Let me also mention that we have also awarded contracts for the construction of two-bay permanent Fire Stations at Atiba and Ibarapa Central Local Government Areas.
A few weeks ago, we announced the reconstruction of selected roads such as the reconstruction of Isaba-Ogundoyin Road, Eruwa and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Oyo-Iseyin Road even though it is a federal road.
So, as we flag off these stakeholders’ meetings, it is my hope that as usual you will come out and participate in the process. The beauty of democracy is that we can all be part of the transformation that we want. As citizens, you have the power to steer the ship of governance in the direction that you want it to go.
I cannot end this speech without again mentioning that we all need to take an interest in the happenings in our state, especially in the area of security. As we always say, if you see something, say something, so that the authorities will do something.
We are indeed doing something by continuing to deploy state resources in ensuring that our state is secured. The members of the Amotekun Corps are putting their lives on the line to protect us. Let me at this juncture ask for a minute silence for the Amotekun Corps members we have lost (name all 6 of them) and more recently, the Amotekun Coordinator for Ibarapa Central, Murtala Aderenle. May their souls rest in peace.
So, let us keep praying for these officers, as I have said in the past, we may not have a perfect system but we will continue to perfect the system.
On that note, let me again encourage all stakeholders to participate in this process because this is how we will be able to contribute our quota in ensuring that Oyo State maintains its pacesetter role. Asiwaju ni wa, abi?
Thank you and God bless you.
~ Governor Seyi Makinde, July 29, 2021