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| Governor Gboyega Oyetola |
The Osun State government is planning to stop payment of workers’ salary deductions directly into the account of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Supervisor for Finance Mr. Bola Oyebamiji gave this indication during the weekly finance meeting.
He said Governor Gboyega Oyetola has given a directive for the beginning of automation of salary deductions to cooperatives, banks and other financial institutions being patronized by civil servants.
He said the governor, through the automation system, planned to check fraud and improve fiscal transparency in government financial transactions.
Oyebamiji also said the measure would go a long way in strengthening cooperative societies within the civil service, where the deductions are expected to go.
According to the Supervisor for Finance, the deductions include civil servants’ funds for cooperative societies, loan repayment funds to banks and funds meant for the Osun Health Insurance Scheme among others.
He maintained that the measure would aid efficiency, remove the bottlenecks involved in the payment of salary deductions and go a long way in checking fraud as well as the irregularities involved in such payments.
Oyebamiji said the old method of paying funds into the accounts of MDAs before it gets to the beneficiaries was slow, clumsy and not devoid of fraud.
He added that the Oyetola administration would continue to priorities the welfare of civil servants “because they remain the heartbeat of government that support the informal sector of the economy”.
He advised civil servants to go and open bank accounts for the purpose.
Also on Wednesday, Oyetola has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the transformation of the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the 2019 Osun Farmers Field Day, Oyetola promised to promote mechanised farming to achieve food security.
The governor said his administration would partner with farm tools manufacturing firms to ensure that farmers get access to modern machines for processing their farm produce.
He said: “Our vision is to make agriculture profitable and ensure food security as part of our eight-point agenda designed to wholly transform the agriculture sector in this state.
“We have the will as an administration and your turnout today is proof that you are ready to partner with us to transform our dream of food sufficiency, poverty eradication and job creation into reality.
“Our farmers are allies in the march towards food sufficiency, poverty eradication and job creation.
“Agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy of this state and it serves as the backbone of our economy as the sector has vast potential for critical infrastructural development that is reminiscent of the glorious days of Cocoa economy in the old western region.”
“In line with my campaign promises, the government has embarked on a number of projects to enhance the economic base of farmers and the state.
“Under the partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the state government has provided 205.5 hectares of land in Ago-Owu for the purpose of conducting researches and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices.”
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, said the state government had been working assiduously to make life abundant and meaningful for the farmers.
Akinola said over 20,000 hectares of land will be provided for farmers to expand the scope of farming in the state.
He said the state had partnered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other donor agencies to ensure the availability of funds for farmers and as well as enhance easy access to loans.
The Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Alfred Dixon, commended the administration of Governor Oyetola for prioritising the agriculture sector.
Chairman, Osun State Chapter of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria Alhaji Sulaiman Araokanmi applauded the government for being committed to the welfare of the citizens and general well-being of farmers since assumption of office.
