Oyo Governor promises local government autonomy

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has assured that he will work with the state House of Assembly to guarantee financial autonomy for the local government areas.

While speaking at a two-day induction programme for members-elect of the 9th Assembly of Oyo State, Makinde also declared that his administration will soon establish an anti-corruption agency in the state.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, it was explained that the move is part of the administration’s commitment to fighting corruption in the state.

He assured the lawmakers that he would get a bill seeking to establish the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency immediately after the inauguration.

The Governor stated that when the agency is established, it would be empowered to beam its searchlight on any individual or body in the state.

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Makinde said: “The first Executive Bill we are bringing to you is for us to set up an Anti-Corruption Agency for Oyo State. And I will waive my immunity, if I am found not to be above board, to face that agency.”

He also explained his government’s determination to make Oyo state one of the safest in Nigeria by coming up with measures to tame insecurity.

According to him, the decision to proscribe the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) a few days after taking office was borne out of the resolve to ensure that the state is not held to ransom by a few individuals.

Makinde also said his government has a blueprint on the security sector, with his governor-colleagues in the Southwest also working together in that regard.

He said: “We are going to take the security of lives and property seriously. Few days after I was sworn in as governor, we proscribed the NURTW. I told them that we were not interested in stopping them from running their union, because it is registered under the law.

“But we cannot allow a few people to hold the state to ransom in the name of running a union. I am talking to the security agencies in the state, we know the flashpoints and we know exactly what needs to be done.”

He told the members-elect that he was looking forward to a cordial relationship with them in the 9th Assembly, adding that he was also hopeful that the incoming Assembly would become the best Oyo Assembly ever.

The Governor also promised to work with the state Assembly to guarantee financial autonomy to the local government areas, while also promising to work with all political parties operating in the state.

“The task before all of us now is to make Oyo state better and I look forward to us working together. I want us to deemphasize party affiliations.

“I want this ninth Assembly to the best ever in the history of Oyo State. I know you can do it, because some of the qualities that you need to make that happen, you all have them: experience, youthful energy, and commitment. So, we won’t have any excuse not to deliver.”

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