AIYEDATIWA’S 2025 BUDGET OF RECOVERY: A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR A PROSPEROUS ONDO STATE

AIYEDATIWA’S BUDGET OF RECOVERY:  A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR A PROSPEROUS ONDO STATE              Sunday Olugbenga Abire

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is showing serious commitment to the promises made during the build-up to the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial election. As a matter of fact, he has turned pessimists to optimists by hitting the ground running.

At the declaration of his gubernatorial ambition in the city of Ondo, Governor Aiyedatiwa made it known that he wouldn’t pay 70,000 naira as minimum wage but that he would pay 73,000 naira instead to appreciate Ondo workers for their service and commitment to the state. As usual, tongues wagged. The opposition party raised the badge of pessimism. It must be a gimmick. Why is Aiyedatiwa just declaring this? They felt he could have determined that of Ondo State even before the Federal Government.

The unperturbed Aiyedatiwa unequivocally stated that the proposed 73,000 minimum wage would not come until the end of November. By this time, the Peoples Democratic Party threw a party. “We said it. Aiyedatiwa is playing games with the people of Ondo state”.

They forgot that there are always processes and procedures. Anyways, the honey has its sweetness from heaven and there is no conspiracy that can stop it. Aiyedatiwa won overwhelmingly. True to his words, Ondo workers smiled to the bank in November with their 73,000 naira minimum wage. End of mischief. Promise kept.

I watched the Governor at the palace of Olubaka of Oka Akoko when he promised the people of Owalusi, Iwaro Oka that the stool of their forebears would be raised and recognized by the Government of Ondo State. Today, Aiyedatiwa kept to that promise after the election.

There were many promises made by the Governor and these have been properly documented. Aiyedatiwa rarely speaks. He doesn’t speak at all when he’s not convinced. He is a master of silence. Such leader who shows fidelity to his words are rare in a world where everyone wants to impress and con the unsuspecting.

The Budget of Recovery underscores Aiyedatiwa’s genuine approach to fulfilling many of his promises. The six hundred and fifty-five billion, two hundred and thirty million naira Budget of Recovery for 2025 fiscal year holds great fortune for the people of Ondo state in all sectors.

Aiyedatiwa’s intentional drive to attract investors, build infrastructure, reduce economic inequality, enhance growth and development made him commit 62.01% of the total budget to capital expenditure. That is about 406.307 billion naira from a total budget of 655.230 billion naira. The import of this is that Aiyedatiwa will concentrate on massive infrastructural development in 2025 while delivering good governance to the people of Ondo state who God has raised him to lead at a critical time like this.

Undoubtedly, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s economic recovery plan for Ondo state is solid. With a focus on the transition from peasant subsistence to specialized commercial farming in order to enhance food security while directly making farming enjoyably lucrative in Ondo state, Aiyedatiwa’s 56.102 billion earmarked for agricultural development is a great booster. In the same manner, critical sectors like Education, Health, Justice, Trade and Investment have been dutifully touched by the Budget of Recovery, signaling a smooth sail to prosperity for the state, the citizens and the residents of the Sunshine state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa is redefining governance in Ondo state and 2025 will surely be a year of fulfilled promises in all sectors. The recently signed executive orders enhancing ease of doing business is a testament to the Governor’s purposeful leadership geared towards making Ondo state great. With your full chest, as citizens or residents of Ondo State, you can patiently anticipate a prosperous new year as Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa delivers on his campaign promises with ease.

*Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State*