Find below a summary of the performance of Ondo State through the recently released figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

• IGR

The Ondo State IGR in the last 4 years are as follows:

2015 - N10.09bn

2016 - N8.68bn

2017 - N10.92bn

2018 - N24.78 bn

The 2018 IGR figure corresponds to a massive 126.83% increase from the previous year (2017).

It is the Highest Year-on-Year IGR Growth among all the 36 states of Nigeria in 2018.

Obviously, the Ondo State Governor - Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) 'AKETI' - has the almighty formula of boosting the IGR of the state. Other State Governors must enrol in AKETI's School of IGR Performance.

It is no rocket science to deduce that the Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration has been able to achieve this initiative bold reforms aimed at blocking loopholes, sanitizing the Board of Internal Revenue, introduction of automation amongst others.

• UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

According to the figures just released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Ondo State is one of the 9 states in Nigeria that recorded a reduction in unemployment rates despite an increase in the National unemployment rate.

- Ondo State Unemployment in Q3 2017 was 15.4%

- Ondo State Unemployment rate in Q3 2018 is 14.2%

Ondo State is also one of the 6 states that recorded the highest gains in net full time employment in Nigeria between Q3 2017 and Q2 2018.

The increased IGR and optimal utilisation of state resources has enabled the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration to carry out its most basic duty in a civil service dominated state like Ondo State - payment salaries as and when due. He has not default in the payment of salaries since assumption of office about two years ago. He has also offset 6 months out of the 7 months arrears owed by the previous administration.

To cap it all, the Ondo State Government under AKETI is also partnering reputable private sector investors on his Industrialisation Agenda for Ondo State in a bid to make Ondo State the industrial and commercial nerve of the Southwest and possibly the nation.

Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu is doing well in Ondo State. We must commend him for these positive feats. We must also not forget to call him out when he errs.
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