As part of his readiness to compliment the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde, the deputy governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal on Monday inspected ministries assigned to his office including Housing Corporation.
Lawal, who began the inspection early in the morning, was first on a visit to the state’s Cultural centre at Mokola, where moribund facilities were inspected as well as the ministries of Establishments and Training; Special Duties including Simeon Adebo that lasted for more than 3 hours.
Addressing newsmen after the inspection, the deputy governor hinted that the inspection is to know the state of affairs regarding each ministry along with the Housing Corporation and how the government can step in as the Makinde administration has a lot to do with the level of neglect by previous administration.
Barr. Lawal emphasised that the Cultural Centre is in a deplorable state because it has been abandoned since 2007 and that no changes have been made to the structure, adding that the roofs are collapsing and surrounding are full of bushes.
While noting that under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, there is a firm commitment to resuscitate the building, he added that the governor is committed to making the workers happy as he seeks their support and cooperation as renovations begin in essence and to bring light into the building.
He equally said that the ministry will not be an appendage of the administration but a participant to what the governor is doing.
“On behalf of His Excellency, I bring a good tidings and I urge every staff to be on their toes to achieve success. Bear with us in course of months as we begin to make a transformation of the system.
“Nothing good come out of idleness and laziness, and as such, make use of this opportunity as you are the beneficiaries of whatever we are bringing on board”.
Lawal, who also paid visits to Simeon Adebo and the Ministry of Establishment, advised the staff to focus on the governor’s vision, which calls for all pensioner arrears to be resolved so that the administration can pay all gratuities by May 28, 2027.
He lamented situation where a Generator 100 KV set was abandoned for quite some time now on a flimsy excuse that the battery of just N25,000 was bad is unacceptable, as well as the abandonment of the building, saying that the issue were things agitating the mind of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde for supervision.
While inspecting the ministry of Special Duties, Barr. Lawal who said that the transaction plan at the fuel dump is completely opaque, however noted that a redress would be made for transparency.
He said: “There is a lot of rot in the fuel dump. The transaction has been very opaque. No one could actually pinpoint how much diesel and PMS is coming into the dump and the dispensation thereof. It is not transparent, not accountable and we must straighten the record in line with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde.
“We were looking at how to make this place self accounting and at the same time be automated in such a way that loopholes are blocked.”
He added that an outside auditor would also be made available at the fuel dump to audit their records while also inspecting the secretariat’s mechanic workshop for a complete overhaul, among others.
He equally urged the PS and other workers to be on their toes, saying that it won’t longer be a business as usual.
Barr. Lawal, who also inspected the Housing corporation, commended the workers for keeping the workplace tidy, stating that his on-spot inspection of the building serves as a renewed mandate to oversee the cooperation going forward.
He said: “We are delighted meeting the office neat and in spirit in which I have left it. But the corporation need to beef up the revenue pace and the cooperation have a lot to do moving forward.
“The labor leaders need to be hardworking. There is no room for laziness in Housing Corporation because the cooperation in generating money. There are estates to be turned into money in both Ibadan and other part of the state. So, the staff need to look for a way to make money for the cooperation.”
He reiterated that the era of labor leaders carrying placards is gone, urging them to work out to make money into the coffers of the cooperation rather than making unnecessary distraction.
This visit, according to Lawal, is just to re-access what I know on time, but you need to make money and also think outside the box, as you look for a way to drive the revenue to take care of the expenditure.
“Look for developers to drive your revenue, and I also charge everyone of you to bring developers to me for the progress of the corporation.
“I am happy this afternoon to come back to this place,” he said.
In his remarks, the coordinating director, Mr Lawal however thanked the deputy governor for his visit and inspection, and assured that the cooperation will key into the vision of the governor.
