Governor Adeleke Issues Directives on Food Inflation, Fuel Price and Peoples’ Welfare
By The NewsPostage
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State yesterday issued a series of policy directives targeted of alleviating residents’ economic pains and hardship being witnessed in the state.
This was contained In a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson’s, Mallam Olawale Rasheed made available to Newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday.
Adeleke instructed government agencies to fast track implementation of programmes and policies on food security, internal security, minimum wage, fuel affordability among others.
“I am committed to implementing our commitments especially from the recent national protests as it affects issues within our mandate areas. We are passionate to push ahead with our welfare agenda which is number one on our governance programmes.
“It is in that line that I hereby direct the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Security Committee Action to commence the implementation process without any further delay. We must roll out action plans with timeliness for achieving the goals of food access, farm security and food affordability.
“By next week, I will be flagging off distribution of farm equipment, seedlings and farm inputs including fertilizers, tractors among others. We must hit the ground running.
“The Ministry is further directed to finalize plans on the multiple cultivation of hundreds of hectares of Land across the local governments under the Young Agropreneurs Incubation programme. We must implement a comprehensive back to farm project that includes state assistance for farm preparation, tractorization and off taking mechanisms”, the Governor was quoted as saying.
The State Governor who promised enlarged governance consultation with stakeholders such as civil societies, students and youths, equally tasked the Ministry of Science and Innovations to produce an implementation plan for the recently amended and approved State ICT Policy and State Innovation Policy to widen space for youth engagement.
“Our Government recognises deployment of ICT for job creation and youth engagement. Hence,we recently approved a state ICT and Tech Innovation policies. The relevant ministry is expected to prepare for implementation especially for job creation among our teeming youth.
“Our Government has started paying bursaries to students. The first phase is completed. We are working on the second phase.
“We are committed to supporting the education of youth in various institutions. We have a programme in the pipeline for students in tertiary institutions, a talent hunt programme to be implemented with the student leadership in the state.
“Meanwhile, we continue to pay the half salary and pension debts we inherited from the previous governments. We will continue to ease the pains of our senior citizens and workers.
“On minimum wage, we have set up an implementation committee. Relevant stakeholders are included to ensure an all inclusive process. We are committed to supporting our workers as a labour friendly government.
“Our labour leaders are aware and appreciative of our passion to improve the lives of workers and pensioners”, Governor Adeleke noted.
While acknowledging that inflation accounts for the high cost of food, the State Governor expressed optimism that the ongoing action of the food security action committee will ease the harsh impact of food inflation.
He further directed the state taskforce on petrol monitoring to engage marketers across the state , adding “ I urge petrol retailers and marketers not to hoard petrol products. They need to support the people by not exploiting the situation for personal gains.
“The State Task Force is to swing into action immediately. We must engage the fuel marketers. The pain of our people must not be compounded.”, the Governor posited.
Governor Adeleke said his government has looked into demands of various interest groups including the organizers of the recent national protest, assuring that his government is “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Our Government is an agent of good governance and democratic dividends. We will not relent in our public spirited service to our dear state”, Mr Governor concluded.
