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How l will transform Akure South—Fasua

  • Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Candidate for Akure South Local Government area of Ondo State in the forthcoming local government elections on January 18,2025, Hon. Gbenga Fasua speaks with JUBRIL BADA on his plans for the council. Excerpts:

    Q) What are your top three priorities for development in the local government area, and how do you plan to achieve them?

    If we talk about the top three priorities, number one is human infrastructure. We want to ensure that the technical aspects of human development are reviewed.

    Right now, we don’t have people who are willing to undergo training in various fields of work. Be it artisan work, building, or any form of vocational training, people are shying away from it.

    Many now prefer to do payday jobs, which has severely affected the system. What we aim to do is make training more attractive. We will send people back to human infrastructure development, focusing on vocational training for our people.

    This will be done in conjunction with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to train our people to meet WHO standards and global best practices. This will involve technical training so that we don’t need to import skilled workers for jobs like POP design, bricklaying, or mechanics. We will train and certify our own people to handle these tasks.

    Number two is physical infrastructure. If you look at the urbanization of Akure Local Government, it doesn’t depict a state capital. We need to address this and ensure proper urbanization.

    Three, the issue of environmental management has not been addressed 100 percent. We will invest heavily in this area to ensure a clean and hygienic environment that will improve public health. This will be done in conjunction with health initiatives.

    Q) What specific strategies do you have to improve and maintain critical infrastructure like roads, schools, and healthcare facilities?

    Personally, I have conducted research on the three tiers of government, and it revealed that 90 percent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) does not come to the local government. This, I believe, needs to change.

    We will focus on ensuring that the collection of IGR comes directly to the council. This will enable us to apply the revenue to projects like roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

    For instance, the state government is now using e-collection for revenue, but at the local government level, we are still using cash collection. We plan to introduce e-collection, which will significantly increase our IGR, allowing us to achieve our developmental goals.

    Q) How do you plan to create opportunities for youth employment, skill development, and entrepreneurship within the local government area?

    As I mentioned earlier, my focal point is human development. Entrepreneurship is key. Through technical training, we will equip our youths with skills.

    We want more skilled hands in various fields. We will establish technical training structures to develop entrepreneurs. This will involve e-training, physical training, and other forms of vocational training that cut across different sectors. This approach will not only create jobs but also promote self-reliance among our people.

    Q) What plans do you have for increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without overburdening residents with taxes and levies?

    Government has responsibilities to the people, and the people have responsibilities to the government. Taxes are a civic responsibility, but we need to make people understand their importance.

    One major reason people avoid paying taxes is that they don’t see the utilization of the taxes they’ve paid. When people see results, they are more encouraged to pay.

    We will create a friendly environment for tax compliance and educate residents on the benefits of paying taxes. This will ensure that we can generate revenue without overburdening the residents.

    Q) How will you ensure that community members are actively involved in decision-making and governance processes?

    This is a priority for us. When I served as a transitional chairman of Akure South Local Government, my first task was to organize a community engagement programme.

    We brought together over 500 communities and their leaders to bridge the gap between governance and the people. This initiative allowed us to hear their demands and address their concerns directly.

    This approach worked so well that during the nationwide protests that affected 36 states, Akure remained peaceful. This was because of the strong relationship we had built with the communities. We will build on this by maintaining regular engagement and collaboration with the people.

    Q) What measures will you take to address security challenges, including issues like theft, kidnapping, or communal conflicts in the local government area?

    Many people think that solving security challenges requires hiring more security personnel. That’s not entirely true. The real solution lies in engaging idle hands.

    As the Yoruba adage says, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” If we provide opportunities for those who are unemployed, they will naturally stay away from criminal activities.

    Through our technical training programmes, we will ensure that jobless individuals are engaged in meaningful activities. This will address the root causes of insecurity.

    I have served as the executive chairman of this local government before, and I have a thorough understanding of the security challenges and how to address them effectively.

    Q) How will you ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of public funds?

    Transparency is key to good governance. We will run an open system and encourage objective criticism.

    When I served as the transitional chairman, we made public all records of our IGR and grants. This practice will continue. By maintaining transparency, we will build trust and ensure that funds are used efficiently.

    Q) Considering the importance of agriculture in many local governments, what initiatives do you have to support farmers and improve agricultural activity?

    Mechanization is the way forward. We will provide incentives and create a conducive environment for farming.

    Many people are no longer interested in farming, but with the right incentives and security measures, more people will return to agriculture.

    During my time as transitional chairman, within three to four months, we started selling tomatoes and vegetables in the local government. If we achieved that in a short period, imagine what we can accomplish over several years.

    It is a transformative era, and we will ensure that agriculture becomes a viable and attractive sector.

    Any other comments?

    In summary, my two focal points are human infrastructure and capital infrastructure.

    If Akure is to compete with other state capitals, we must prioritize urbanization, human development, and infrastructure. Akure must truly reflect its status as a state capital, and that is our ultimate goal.
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How l will transform Akure South—Fasua

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