Reliance on FAAC No Longer Sustainable For Economic Growth – Gov. Mbah
By Adewale Owoade
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says reliance by state governments on the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), for economic growth is no longer sustainable.
Mba said this when he joined his Oyo State counterpart, Gov. Seyi Makinde, to officially commissioned a 12.5km Challenge- Odo Ona-Elewe-Elebu-Apata dualised road project under Ido Local Government Area.
Mba lauded Gov. Makinde for his brand of decisive and progressive governance in the collective interest of the people.
“For me this is not just an event to mark the cutting of a ribbon, it is a bold testament to the governor’s quest of leaving lasting legacies to humanity and that is what we are witnessing today.
“I want to salute you my brother, for your brand of decisiveness and progressiveness, which underscores what our great party, PDP, represent in governance.
“Which is essentially thinking about the people knowing that governance is all about the people not about narrow interest but about collective interest of the people
“Reliant on FAAC as a way of economic growth is no longer sustainable, it is hardly able to intervene in the critical sector of any state economy.
“Which means that as governors, we must think outside the box, we must create alternative financing modules to be able to execute project such as the one we are commissioning today.
“We can only grow our economy as state by attracting private sector investment, and that is what this road represents.
“Because one of the key indicators of the ease of doing business is provision of infrastructure, making it easy for people to move from one point to the other, and that is what we are witnessing today,” Mba said
Gov. Makinde in his address said that the greatness of the nation was a collective responsibility and all must work together to get Nigeria working again.
“To make Nigeria great is our collective responsibility and we all must work together to get Nigeria working again.
“I urge our people to remain open, the tough time will soon be over,” he said.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration towards improving the well-being of the people of Oyo regardless of the multifaceted challenges occasioned by the current state of the nation’s economy.
Makinde renamed the commissioned road Theophilus Akinyele Way.
“When this economic crisis started, we gave wage award to the workers for six months, I wanted that time to be able to sort out between the government and the workers, what the minimum wage should be.
“We have not been able to achieve that and I will announce today that the wage award would be extended by another six months,” Makinde said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, thanked Gov. Makinde for his vision and support towards completion of the project.
He said the 12.5km road project was started in 2008 under the late former governor Alao Akala and was consequently neglected by the late Abiola Ajimobi’s led government before Gov. Seyi Makinde revisited it and awarded it to KOPEK Construction Limited.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor of the State, Mr Bayo Lawal; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni.
Others include chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), traditional rulers and religious leaders. (NAN)
