Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Nigerians, particularly the people of Ogun state, to take the challenges of the current economic slow – down buffetting the country as stepping stones to greatness.
Amosun charged Nigerians to gird their loins and prepare for the challenges ahead, adding that with collective prayer, sense of purpose and dogged determination, Ogun state and Nigeria would be lifted to the league of developed economies.
The Governor who made this known in his New Year broadcast on Friday, said preparedness for the challenges ahead is imperative to ensure that nobody is caught unaware of the present economic slow-down.
According to him, the only way to continue to be good partners in progress is for every citizen to play his or her own part through cooperation with government and payment of necessary taxes and levies.
Amosun also noted that the current economic climate neither exempt Ogun from the imperative of financial sustainability as a state nor his administration’s responsibility to create wealth and employment for the citizenry, particularly the youths.
He said that the administration is working diligently to increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) so that it can be self sustaining and reduce over-reliance on the federal allocation.
Amosun added: “No doubt, in the just ended year, the nation and States witnessed significant economic slow-down which expectedly took its toll on the States of the federation such that many States could not meet up with the primary purpose of governance and payment of salaries for their various workforce.
“We have cause to thank God that the same year brought us an exceptional change, especially at the Federal level where we now have a new Government in place.
“It is worthwhile to say that while the State is directly affected by the challenge of reduced fund allocation from the centre, our Government has been striving not to disappoint the good people of Ogun State, as we have ensured regular payment of salaries as well as continued with our developmental projects.
“For our Civil Servants to have a fun-filled yuletide celebration we have not only paid December Salary before the Christmas celebrations, we equally paid ten (10) percent of their salary as bonus.
” We cannot but thank the good people of Ogun State for the support given to us that contributed to the immense achievements recorded during the first term of our Administration. You all are indeed good partners in progress and this is continually evident in this first year of our second term.
“Truly, the first year of our second term is very important to us as a Government as it will dictate and set the tone for our second term which to us is indeed a period of “optimisation”.
“Towards this end, the task of rebuilding our dear State and repositioning our workforce as the best in the country remains sacrosanct.
” It is as a result of these genuine people-oriented projects and developmental strides that our State has soared to a higher pedestal making it the envy of many and the pride of her citizens, both at home and in the Diaspora. Even, the most ardent of our critics have come to the conclusion that Ogun State is now carving a niche for itself among the comity of States.
“I enjoin us all to continue to gird our loins and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead. As a State, we must ensure that we are not caught unaware of the present economic slow-down, knowing fully well that challenges like these are veritable tools to be used as stepping stones for greatness.
“With our collective prayer, sense of purpose and dogged determination, we will no doubt lift our State to the league of developed economies. Needless to say that the only way to continue to be good partners in progress is for every citizen to play his or her own part through cooperation with government and payment of necessary taxes and levies.
“This begins from doing the right things and at the right time. Dear people of Ogun State let me assure you all that this New Year will bring us greater development.
“This means we must be further prepared, more than ever before. As trustees of your mandate, you can be rest assured of our unreserved commitment and unalloyed dedication to the successful accomplishment of the “Mission to Rebuild” Ogun Statte.
“We will no doubt leave no stone unturned in improving the lives of our people. As you all know, the New Year brings us into another milestone as our dear State turns 40, come 3rd February, 2016. It is imperative to thank God because truly, we are not the same as we were at inception 40years ago.
” In the same vein, we cannot but be grateful to our founding fathers, and particularly those that served before us whose efforts contributed to the development of the State and improvement in the lives of our people.
“We have not reached the Promised Land and for us as Government, we will remain resolute and unwavering in our “Mission to Rebuild” Ogun State and consolidate on our present achievements.
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