Adeleke Flags off 3-Day Retreat For New State Officers | fecityblog News

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Monday declared open a 3-day retreat for newly appointed commissioners and special advisers in the state.

The Governor in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described the onboarding programme themed 'Setting a New Tone for Osun State' as a move to prepare the new political intakes and key stakeholders for the task ahead.

The Governor charged the new administrators to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and focus on policies that will help realise his five point developmental agenda for the state.

It reads, "Our first line charge is workers’ welfare, salaries, gratuities, and pensions. The above flows from the close link between formal and informal workforce in Osun State. When state workers are well treated, the informal sector booms as Osun is for now almost a civil service state. So in your policy framework, you must be mindful of the likely impact on workers, both within and out of government. Our policies and programmes must be workers’ friendly;

“Osun faces twin setbacks of poverty and unemployment. To change the narrative, we must deepen the state economy through incentives and an enabling environment for the business class. Here, the class covers the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the market operators across gender.

"We must introduce policies that will increase the state GDP through prosperity of the business community. In return, a booming state economy will employ more job seekers and enhance tax revenues to bridge the infrastructure deficit.

"Osun state has suffered multi-billion naira capital flight in the last 12 or so years. That unfortunate past is responsible for this agenda of localisation. This implies the government patronizing local suppliers and contractors. State fund thus revolves within the local economy, deepening state growth and ensuring local economy expansion.

“We are to address infrastructure gaps through local affordable options. Part of localisation is our direct labour policy, this reduces cost of projects, ensures standard monitoring, creates local jobs and empower local business class. You must therefore avoid exporting contracts and services outside the state except where there is no local alternative. We must not repeat the errors of the past which were responsible for the present precarious state.

“Osun was in the past a victim of fanciful policy designs which neglected the people and relegated their interests to the background. We must run a people-centric government. Have it at the back of your mind that the principal goal of government is the welfare of the people. So we must ensure reforms in education, health, women and youth sectors that positively impact on the people.

“As politicians, it makes sense for us to genuinely serve the people. They voted for us. Constitutionally, governments are set up for the welfare of the citizenry”.

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