*says in 4yrs, they didn’t take any bank loans
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The immediate past governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola has disclosed that his administration is ” leaving behind cash of over N14 billion” in the coffers of the state.
Alhaji Oyetola in his farewell address to the people of Osun State on Saturday, disclosed that, ” in addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR”.
The immediate past governor stressed that his administration among others, “also restored the lost glory of our civil service and ensured that workers’ salaries are not only promptly paid but continued to pay minimum wage despite the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR”, he said.
Alhaji Oyetola added, ” also, another seventy-two million Dollars will come to the state soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business. These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them.
” For four years, we did not take any bank loan facility. But we benefitted from the N3 billion monthly intervention from the federal government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailout accessed by the previous administration, just as we have paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018′.
Alhaji Oyetola stressed, ” however, by the latest ranking in 2021, we have climbed to the 19th place on the index, as we are now ranked 13th out of 36 states of the federation”, adding, ” as we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.
” From a little above N10billion in 2018, we have been able to grow the State IGR N20billion, just as our performance in the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) has continued to earn us accolades and financial benefits. In 2018 before we came into office, Osun was placed 32nd on the fiscal sustainability index, finishing just ahead of Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, and Kogi states”.
Speaking further, Alhaji Oyetola said ” we also resolutely defended and prioritised the welfare of workers and pensioners”, adding, ” for this first term, we expended over N50 billion to cater for our senior citizens to settle their pensions and gratuities.
” We remitted the contributory pension as and when due, and we were at the same time reducing the backlog we inherited from the previous administration. By and large, we were able to stabilise the economy of the State under our leadership.
” We never toyed with the security of our people as we cooperated with other States in South-West to set up Amotekun to support the conventional security agencies in order to further secure our state.We also launched the Osun Youth Policy Document to take care of the present and future of our younger generation, just as we injected over N2billion into the economy through the Osun Microcredit Agency to empower our market men and women”.
He however expressed optimism that his sustainable development and participatory governance ” shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing”, saying, ” we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future”.
” We are confident that this period of temporary political eclipse shall pass. The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which have been applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.
” As we draw the curtain on this first tenure, We are convinced that we neither reneged on our promises nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcome of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.”
Alhaji Oyetola emphasized, ” as a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law take its course.However, we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the judiciary to do justice in the case before it”.
