…..Demands regular engagement
By Tolulope Eniola
The Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has commended the management of the Commission for its efforts towards improving workers’ welfare and promoting development across the oil-producing mandate areas, while calling for greater transparency, accountability and sustained engagement with the legislature.
The Committee gave the commendation during an oversight visit to OSOPADEC in Akure, led by its Chairman, Hon. Primate Oluwatoyin Allen.
Other members of the Committee included the Vice Chairman, Hon. Princess Olawunmi Fayemi; Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju, Hon. Tope Agbulu, Hon. Daodu Oluwatoyin, Hon. Chris Ayebusiwa, Hon. Olatunji Ifabiyi and Hon. Ologede Kolawole.
Speaking during the engagement with the Management and Staff of the Commission, Hon. Allen said the exercise was part of the constitutional responsibility of the Assembly to assess the activities, programmes and projects of government agencies and ensure accountability and effective service delivery.
He explained that the Committee was particularly interested in examining projects and programmes executed by OSOPADEC in previous years, as well as those proposed.
He stressed the need for the Committee to embark on inspection visits to all ongoing projects to verify the level of work done.
The lawmakers consequently sought clarification on the level of implementation and completion of projects being handled by the Commission, requesting detailed information on projects awarded, completed and ongoing, as well as those at various stages of procurement.
The Committee also requested a comprehensive list of projects, their locations and current status to enable members properly assess their impact on communities within the oil-producing mandate areas.
Members of the Committee stressed the need for closer collaboration between OSOPADEC and the legislature, noting that regular communication would promote transparency and enable lawmakers to effectively carry out their oversight and representative responsibilities.
The lawmakers, however, clarified that the oversight responsibility of the Assembly was not intended to hinder the activities of the Commission but to ensure the prudent utilisation of public resources and meaningful development for the people of the mandate areas.
They also commended the Commission’s management for efforts to improve workers’ welfare and create opportunities for career progression, describing a motivated workforce as essential to effective service delivery.
The Committee also encouraged the Commission to continue exploring alternative sources of revenue, particularly opportunities in investments, climate change and environmental sustainability initiatives.
Earlier,the management of OSOPADEC reeled out its achievements and ongoing interventions before the Committee, highlighting efforts to strengthen the Commission’s revenue base, recover and secure its landed properties,oil well, complete abandoned projects and improve staff welfare.
The Chairman of OSOPADEC , Prince Olabiyi Poroye said the present management was exploring various avenues to expand the Commission’s financial resources rather than relying solely on statutory allocations.
He disclosed that the Commission was strengthening its investments and internally generated revenue through its subsidiary, Coastville, a registered company with interests in landed property and real estate.
According to him, the management had taken steps to recover and secure some of the Commission’s properties allegedly affected by encroachment, including the fencing of a recovered estate.
Poroye noted that the Commission has continued to manage issues in the riverine communities through dialogue and peaceful engagement, rather than confrontation.
The OSOPADEC Chairman also disclosed that Coastville, the Commission’s subsidiary, had acquired a permanent property for OSOPADEC’s Microfinance Bank from proceeds generated by the company, ending the bank’s operation from a rented apartment. He added that plans were underway to recapitalise the bank to about ₦1 billion to enable it to expand its operations and extend its services across Ondo State.
He informed that the Commission had secured and paid for a pavilion to participate in an international climate-related engagement in Turkey, where it would showcase the environmental opportunities and challenges within its mandate areas and engage donors, grant-giving organisations, development partners and investors in order to attract additional resources and development opportunities for the oil-producing communities.
According to him, the Commission has continued to collaborate with relevant development partners and organisations to attract funding, technical support and other development opportunities to its mandate areas.
On infrastructure development, the Chairman said the present management inherited several abandoned projects across the mandate areas and deliberately decided to prioritise their completion before embarking on numerous new projects.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of the inherited abandoned projects had been attended to, while the projects contained in the Commission’s budget had received the approval of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
He disclosed that about 51 projects were undergoing the contract award process and would soon be mobilised for execution.
He also assured the Committee of the Commission’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the Lawmakers.According to him, quarterly meetings would henceforth be held to improve communication, understanding and cooperation between OSOPADEC and the House Committee.
On staff welfare, the Chairman said the management had prioritised career progression and improved working conditions since assuming office.
He explained that the organisational structure of the Commission had been reviewed and some departments and units expanded to create opportunities for qualified staff to advance in their careers.
He disclosed that the number of directors in the Commission had increased to 24, while several other workers had been promoted to the ranks of deputy directors, assistant directors and other positions.
The Chairman expressed appreciation to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his support, assuring the House Committee that the management would remain committed to prudent resource management, staff welfare, project completion and the sustainable development of communities within the OSOPADEC mandate areas.
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