Mogaji Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe has wonderful agenda for the sustainable growth of commerce, Industry and economy in Oyo state.
It is a real pity that the successive governments in the state including the present one have failed to harness the available resources to impart positively on the economic growth of the state.
Commerce and Industries enlivens the economy of an average state through the availability of jobs and mass production of essential goods and services for the benefits of the citizens. The present declining productivity causes economic hardships for the citizens and state.
But, Tegbe has contingent plans to create an enabling environment for the establishment of Agricultural based industries and revitalisation of the abandoned or moribund ones.
These shall thrive better in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso zones of the state. Of significance, mining industries can be suritably located in some parts of Oke-Ogun.
Furthermore, several dead industries like Exide, Trplex, Gas, Standard brewery and Leyland motors shall be resucitated to provide jobs for the able bodied citizens and earn revenue for the government. The operators of SMES, traders and Industrialists shall be empowered with low rate interest loans to strengthen their engagements.
Expanding the revenue base of Oyo-State government has always remained an arduous task. This teething problem is caused by serious leakages and other underhand dealings on the parts of the government officials. I make bold to state here that Tegbe has a permanent solution to this problem using his technical expertise as a finance expert. In the same vein, there is a formula to earn more revenue for the government through the exploration of new areas without inflicting injuries on the citizens and corporate business operators.
There is a need for the government to participate actively in some business ventures to earn more revenue for the implementation of programmes on social services like security, Sports, Clean environment, Education and Health, just to mention a few.
Hence, stock exchange or Brokerage services, Banking, transportation, real estates and trainings/ workshops respectively. Stimulating the interests and motivation of the citizens through the provision of essential services like good road networks, potable water, good and affordable education and health shall provoke the commitment of the citizens, most especially, the artisans towards paying their taxes regularly.
For quite sometime now, the citizens have lost the trust, hope and confidence in the abilities of the successive governments in Oyo state to change their lives for better. Keeping up with the promises and pledges shall be the ultimate goals of our God fearing man, Tegbe.
… to be continued
Akeem Adebiyi writes from Ibadan, Oyo state
