On Ogun 2008 budget
The Ogun State
government is
moving quickly to give practical expression to the implementation of its 2008 budget. Recently, the government organised a sensitisation campaign to create awareness on the prospects of the Kajola Railway Industrial Free Trade Zone, located in Ifo Local Government area of the state. The idea is to pave the way for the siting of the project by its Chinese partners, and also underscore the seriousness of government in the execution of its programmes.
The Kajola Railway Industrial Free Trade Zone is one of the four special development projects in the 2008 budget aimed at driving the economy of Ogun State forward. Other projects are the Agro-Cargo Airport, the Ok Free Trade Zone and the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, located in Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West Senatorial districts respectively. Presenting the budget to Ogun State House of Assembly recently, the State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, described those projects as “enduring legacies” that would provide sustainable development and secure the future of the citizens.
Dubbed “Budget of Transformation”, this is the first budget of the second term in office of the current administration in the state. Considering the success of previous budgets that were implemented during the first term, and the encouraging profile of the state’s development index, there could be no doubt that the 2008 budget would be successfully implemented. One is confident about this because the government uses no magic, but holds on to its core values of quality delivery, team work, excellence in governance, accountability and participatory decision-making in everything it does.
This year, the government has proposed to spend the sum of N77.3 billion, which is above last year’s provision of N50.8 billion. Though the increase in expenditure gives the government the leeway to expand the scope of its activities, this does not really matter. The factors that matter in budget implementation are the thrust, principles and features of the budget. As stated by Gorvernor Daniel in the presentation, the thrust of the 2008 budget is to “wage war on want, liberate our people from poverty and broaden the economic base of the state”.
This same thrust had been the underlying objective of previous budgets under him. Other policy thrusts of the 2008 budget include the development of key agricultural products with capacity to boost food production, turning of Ogun State into a regional hub in information and communication technology, transformation of Ogun State into an industrial hub that maximises the benefits of its unique location as gateway to Nigeria and ECOWAS sub-region, the development of new towns, and creation of employment opportunities.
One important feature of this budget is the plan by government to finance its 2008 re-current expenditure through the Internally Generated revenue (IGR). The effort of government in this regard is highly commendable. When the administration came into power in 2003, the average internally generated revenue was in the region of N150 million. Today, it has risen to N800 million.
Wole Elegbede,
Special Assistant on Media to Ogun State governor.
|
An appeal to President Yar’Adua
Before the judgment
of the Presidential
Election Petition Tribunal, I wish to appeal to you to reverse your decision not to submit yourself for re-election should the judgment go against you.
I can assure you and indeed majority of Nigerians that you will win overwhelmingly and shame your political enemies if you stand for re-election.You have performed wonderfully well since your assumption of office as president of our great nation.
You are in the same category with the late Papa Chief Obafemi Awolowo in deed and action. If Chief Awolowo had been given the opportunity to rule this nation during his life time, Nigeria would have become one of the world super powers. But the corrupt people (civilians and military) did not give him the chance. Even the Western imperialists teamed-up with these “rotten” people, to frustrate his (Awolowo’s) efforts to make Nigeria great. But when Papa Awolowo died, these same people started praising him, prominent among them is Chief Emeka Odumegwu - Ojukwu who described him as, “the best president Nigeria never had.”
Another ex-head of state that you can be compared with is General Yakubu Gowon. There are many qualities I admire in this “dashing” General. He is coolheaded and has got listening ears. He listened to the advice of Chief Awolowo. He also had respect for the rule of law and the dignity of man. Here was a man who prosecuted the Nigerian civil war without borrowing money from any quarter.
Oil was discovered during General Gowon’s era. He judiciously used the oil revenue to the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. He put in place many projects —houses, refineries, bridges, steel projects etc, majority of which have been privatised by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. We, however, thank God that you have deemed it fit to reverse some of the privatised projects.
So, President Yar’Adua, be rest assured that majority of Nigerians are solidly behind you.
Akinromade P.O.,
15, Idimu Road,
Ikotun,
Lagos.
|
