‘Unprecedented Milestones’ In Ilorin South LG As Mojeed Podo Presents 2-Year Scorecard

Chairman of Ilorin South Local Government, Kwara State, Hon Nuhu Mojeed Podo on Wednesday presented a comprehensive two-year scorecard submitting that his administration has initiated over 130 capital projects across the local government.

Recall that the current local government chairmen and vice chairmen in Kwara State were inaugurated in Ilorin by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on September 23, 2024.

Talking to journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com, Hon Mojeed Podo, who was flanked by Hon Mary Joel Abiodun, Vice Chairman, Hon Mohammed Hameed, Secretary and Hon Jimoh Taibat Tope, head of legislature, noted that the administrative landscape has evolved significantly saying ‘Ilorin South of today is different from that of yesterday’, while adding that the vast majority of the 130 projects have been taken to completion with the remaining one or two on track to be completed by the end of this month. He held the audience spellbound by listing the projects that have been taken to completion and their locations off the top of his head.

He asserted that his administration has successfully touched all critical sectors, including education, health and agriculture which are distributed across the 11 wards in the  local government and its two main districts; Balogun Fulani and Akanbi.

In a direct comparison to previous administrations, Hon. Mohjeeb highlighted an ‘unprecedented milestone’ in power infrastructure.

‘There is no chairman that has bought even one or two transformers during a three-year tenure. But in less than two years in office, I have procured and distributed 17 transformers across all the 11 wards’ he said.

He also said his administration’s infrastructure footprints spanning wards and communities in the local government include construction of two fully furnished classrooms in a school at Balogun Fulani junction a motorized borehole in front of Balogun Fulani compound, a borehole in front of Balogun Afin  where Abdul Motors is located, renovation of Asunara Health Center with provision of facilities, provision of a motorized borehole close to  Hon Ali Ahmad’s office, two classrooms with furniture at Okesuna Primary School, construction of culverts both left and right at Ile Dembo, construction of four toilets and motorized borehole in the same area and construction of two classrooms with furniture at Government Day Secondary School, Oke–Suna.

His administration, he added, also restored electricity in Gaa Osibi, Adunbarin community and other areas that had been left in darkness for many years.

He also said there has been a complete renovation of the previously abandoned local government headquarters, including the provision of a high-capacity generator to power the entire building.

Hon. Mojeed Podo commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his continued support for development of infrastructure at the grassroots level while noting that the state government has provided extensive interlocking road networks at the riyal residences of the Baloguns, starting with the Alanguas alongside simultaneous borehole repairs executed by the local government

Submitting that the local government has successfully revamped its gratuity distribution system to address years of unpaid gratuities, he added that a systematic approach has replaced older, arbitrary practices to ensure fairness for retirees who have waited up to 16 years for their entitlements.

‘We discovered a few months ago that many who retired have faced extreme hardships, with some tragically passing away due to inability to afford basic medications. When we examined the backlog, we found out that gratuities from 2011 had been left completely unpaid’ he submitted while adding that aggressive steps are being taken to liquidate these debts using improved statutory allocations.

‘About four months ago, we released 1.2 billion Naira to cover arrears for 2012 and 2013. Just last month, an additional 2 billion Naira was released to settle outstanding gratuities for 2014, 2015, and 2016. If our upcoming monthly allocation can accommodate it, we intend to move forward immediately with payments for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Our ultimate goal is to ensure every single retiree is fully paid before the next election cycle’ he said.

Hon. Podo also said his administration has adopted a strict ‘chronological queue’ format, clearing debts from the rear so that every pensioner eventually receives their due.

Turning to youth development, the LG Chairman talked about a skill acquisition initiative that is focused on tailoring and hairdressing emphasizing that the programme is structurally designed to guarantee long-term self-reliance rather than just short-term training.

‘We have secured a dedicated facility where these youths will undergo training. Crucially, we will also provide them with start-up materials. Training someone without equipping them with tools is a waste of time. We want to ensure that once they finish, they have the physical resources to start working immediately’ he added.

Drumming up support for the state APC gubernatorial candidate, Speaker Yakubu Danladi, Hon Mojeed Podo said the party took the decision to choose its candidate from Kwara North to demonstrate commitment to justice and fairness.

He also said Speaker Danladi has the required exposure and experience to effectively carry out governorshp duties and responsibilities.

He also described the approval of Oko –Olowo junction flyover project as a welcome development while commending President Bola Tinubu, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and Minister for Works, Mr Dave Umahi for ensuring that necessary steps are taken to ensure safety of people in that corridor.

The LG chairman noted that he got to Oko-Olowo junction at 8am alongside council officials to ensure that things did not go wrong and personally directed traffic a day after the approval of the project was announced.

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He also disclosed steps that are being taken to reduce emergency response times and minimize the loss of lives and property by bringing fire station closer to local communities.

Hon Podo said the local government is planning to have a fire station located in Oko Olowo axis adding that he has already visited  the state fire office and saw a dysfunctional fire vehicle that requires N10 million to fix. The fire vehicle, he added, will be repaired and stationed at the proposed fire office.

He also talked about being an effective leader adding that he usually inspects projects to see things for himself.

‘I was out of town for 19 years, I joined the Nigerian Army in 1998 and retired in 2017.

What has helped me most is that I do personally inspect projects to see things for myself, I do not go with the civil servants or rely only on their reports.

I do visit project sites unannounced and I do this for like three times before projects are taken to completion’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you