By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has disclosed how his administration reduced the state’s debt profile by 82.6 percent within the last 18 months.
Besides, he noted how his government built 200 kilometres of roads across the state, and recorded other remarkable achievements within the same period.
Also, he disclosed that in the health sector, the administration has employed over 2,000 health professionals, apart from being the first state in the South-West to implement the enhanced CONMESS and CONHESS allowances for health workers.
He disclosed these and other achievements his administration recorded within the same period through his spokesman, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan at a press conference in Akure the state capital, at the weekend.
The governor stressed that the substantial achievements, cutting across all the various sectors of governance, were possible through strict adherence to what he described as prudent financial management and people-oriented policies.
Reeling out his administration’s performance scorecard in the last 18 months, he declared that he had delivered measurable outcomes in infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, security, youth and women empowerment, and public service reform.
According to him, the rare and remarkable feat in debt reduction reflects his government’s fiscal discipline and debt management strategies.
Through these, the Aiyedatiwa administration has been able to reduce the state’s domestic debt profile, which represents the highest percentage domestic debt decline among all state governments in the country.
He said this milestone was accompanied by the clearance of all outstanding salary arrears owed to civil servants and former political office holders, as well as the settlement of gratuities owed to pensioners across the state.
On health, he said,, “The University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital has been equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, including a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, a 160-slice CT scanner, 3D digital mammography equipment, and 4D ultrasound machines.
“More than 100 health centers have been renovated, while the Orange Health Insurance Scheme has been extended to cover pensioners and informal sector workers free of charge.
“These are not just statistics; they represent lives touched, families supported, and a government that truly listens to its people. When we say ‘put the people first,’ we mean it in every decision we make and every project we execute.”
“The latest Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey ranked Ondo State among those with the lowest maternal mortality ratio and improved under-five mortality indicators, leading to Governor Aiyedatiwa receiving the Best Governor in Health Transformation award.”
On road, the governor said that his administration has completed over 200 kilometers of roads within the last 18 months, while a 90-kilometer rehabilitation program is ongoing across all 18 Local Government Areas.
According to Adeniyan, “This week, the governor flagged off construction of the new Akure Flyover Bridge to end decades of gridlock in the state capital.
“For the first time in the state’s history, three major intercity dualization projects are progressing simultaneously in the three senatorial districts: Akungba-Ikare Akoko, Akure-Idanre, and Okitipupa-Igbokoda. The inherited Onyearugbulem-Irese road flyover has been completed and commissioned.”
He added, “The education sector has witnessed the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, the revival of free school shuttle services, and the expansion of scholarships and bursaries.”
