Adeleke speaks on plan to move Osun economy from civil service status
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke has said the dream of his government is to gradually move Osun economy away from its civil service status to a modern agro-industrial based and creative industry focussed economy.
Adeleke disclosed this in his statewide address on Monday, saying that diversification with a functioning cargo/commercial airport will grow Osun as an export oriented economy as well as a global tourist destination, being the host of important Yoruba cultural assets.
He stated that the present government is in haste to achieve both human and capital growth, saying it is achievable and it is doable.
According to the Governor, “We remain firmly focussed on the Five Point Agenda under which you, Osun people, elected us into office. We reaffirm our faith in the principles guiding the five point agenda which are transparency and accountability, open government, localisation, responsive leadership and attunement to citizens’ aspirations.
“Our administration has big ambitions to develop our dear state. We seek to bridge the developmental gap, to combine human and physical development. We are in a hurry to achieve both human and capital growth. My people, it is achievable. It is doable.
“In the new year, we will refocus attention on cushioning current economic hardship while at the same time building the state economic base. Both goals are achievable as we hav
“We seek your continued support to achieve our common agenda for collective prosperity. We promise to continue to be a listening and responsive administration, a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” the Governor reassured the people of the state.
“We are implementing an ambitious state agenda which targets infrastructure upgrade, diversifying the state economic base and deepening the revenue structure of the state.
“For the infra upgrade, we are convinced that the state economy cannot attract required investment to realise its industrial potential unless the problem of infrastructure deficit is addressed. Hence, we have started the implementation of the multi-billion naira infra plan that I launched a few months ago.
“For economic diversification, we are growing the creative industry; we are opening up the industrial sector; we are attracting investors in key sectors; and we are re-skilling our youth through the soon to be unveiled Imole Youth Corps.
“To deepen the revenue base, we are tapping into the solid mineral sector; we are reforming the tax sector to eliminate multiple taxation while widening the tax base.
“Our dream is for an Osun economy that gradually moves away from its civil service status to a modern agro-industrial based, creative industry focussed economy. Such diversification with a functioning cargo/commercial airport will grow Osun as an export oriented economy as well as a global tourist destination being the host of important Yoruba cultural assets.”
While lamenting the harsh economic challenges facing the nation, Governor Adeleke commended President Bola Tinubu for his concerted efforts to solve the knotty questions of high inflation, high cost of living and general dislocation in the national economy, which he described as “macro and micro economic issues largely beyond the purview of the state governments.
“We, as a state government, commend President Bola Tinubu for his relentless actions towards economic restoration. But as we all know and as we are still experiencing, the economic crisis continues unabated despite the best of efforts. Osun, through the National Economic Council, is collaborating with the central government to support federal initiatives targeted at reducing inflation, cost of living and stabilising the national economy,” he stated
