Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has issued a series of policy directives targeted at alleviating residents’ economic pains and hardship following the food inflation plaguing the country amid a hike in the pump price of petrol.

Adeleke, who had assured the #EndBadGovernance protesters of steps to fulfill their demands, instructed government agencies to fast-track implementation of programmes and policies on food security, internal security, minimum wage, and fuel affordability, among others.

Spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed this, yesterday, in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo.

The statement reads in part: “I am committed to implementing our commitments, especially from the recent national protests as it affects issues within our mandate areas. We are passionate to push ahead with our welfare agenda which is number one on our governance programmes.

“It is in that line that I hereby direct the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Security Committee Action to commence the implementation process without any further delay. We must roll out action plans with time lines to achieve the goals of food access, farm security and food affordability.

“By next week, I will be flagging off the distribution of farm equipment, seedlings and farm inputs, including fertilisers, tractors, among others. We must hit the ground running.

“The ministry is further directed to finalise plans on the multiple cultivation of hundreds of hectares of land across the local councils under the Young Agropreneurs Incubation programme. We must implement a comprehensive back-to-farm project that includes state assistance for farm preparation, tractorisation and off-taking mechanisms.”

Adeleke, who promised enlarged governance consultation with stakeholders, tasked the Ministry of Science and Innovations to produce an implementation plan for the recently amended and approved ICT policy and innovation policy to widen space for youths’ engagement.

He said: “Our government recognises deployment of ICT for job creation and youth engagement. Hence, we recently approved state ICT and tech innovation policies. The relevant ministry is expected to prepare for implementation, especially for job creation among the teeming youths.

“Our government has started paying bursaries to students. The first phase is completed. We are working on the second phase.

“Meanwhile, we will continue to pay the half salary and pension debts inherited from the previous governments. We will continue to ease the pains of our senior citizens and workers.

“On minimum wage, we have set up an implementation committee. Relevant stakeholders are included to ensure an all-inclusive process.”