Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Monday unveiled a major accountability framework known as the Oyo State Performance Delivery Compact, aimed at strengthening service delivery and ensuring impactful governance in the final two years of his administration.

The initiative, launched at the 2025 Mid-Term Leadership Retreat held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, is designed to track measurable results across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and deliver on key legacy projects by 2027.

Governor Makinde explained that the compact mandates each MDA to outline three to five key legacy projects, broken into 6-month performance targets—clearly defined and measurable. These deliverables, he noted, will be publicly declared as each MDA’s Oyo Legacy Pledge, with outcomes reviewed quarterly and evaluated during the 2026 Legacy Retreat.

“Each agency will be able to say: ‘This is what we promised, and this is what we delivered,’” the governor said, stressing the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration, especially on cross-cutting issues like infrastructure, commerce, education, and tourism.

Under the theme “Reflecting on progress, refining priorities, and re-firing for maximum impact and legacy”, Makinde also used the occasion to take stock of achievements under Omituntun 2.0, and to outline what must be done to “finish strong.”

Key Achievements Highlighted:

Economic Development:
Oyo became the first African sub-national admitted into the World Union of Wholesale Markets, following a strategic partnership with Semmaris on the Ijaiye Food Wholesale Market.
The 11MW Independent Power Project now powers the State Secretariat round-the-clock — a first in 49 years.

Infrastructure:
Makinde pointed to ongoing flagship projects, including the Ibadan Circular Road (Phase I to be commissioned before 2025 ends), the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to international status, and rural road improvements under RAAMP.

Water and Sanitation:
“We brought water to our people,” Makinde said, acknowledging Elias Adeojo for leading water access interventions.

Education:
Over 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff recruited; 105 schools upgraded, with 36 more in progress. Emphasis is now also on curriculum reform, digital tools, and inclusivity.

Healthcare:
264 Primary Healthcare Centres upgraded. The Omituntun Free Health Mission reached 18,000 people this year. Several LGAs have eliminated neglected tropical diseases like Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis.

Security:
Amotekun Corps personnel strength has grown to about 2,500. Rural and forest security initiatives have helped improve safety and boost agricultural activities.

Tourism:
Following the 2024 Tourism Summit, a clearer vision is emerging, with a second summit scheduled for this year aimed at courting investors.

Remaining Challenges

Despite the successes, Makinde acknowledged several gaps, including:

Slow progress on major road and transport projects

Delays in the completion of Agribusiness Industrial Hubs (Eruwa, Akufo, Ijaiye)

Underperformance in Solid Minerals Development

Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) falling short of the projected N7.5 billion monthly benchmark

“These are not failures,” he said, “but reminders that big visions need coordinated action.”

The Road Ahead

Governor Makinde called for less focus on launching new initiatives and more effort on completing ongoing ones. He emphasized that a true legacy lies not in the start of projects, but in their successful delivery.

“No single ministry can build a legacy,” he said. “But together, they can.”

In her earlier remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, said the mid-term retreat was a moment for stakeholders to evaluate progress and realign towards the administration’s goals across key sectors — manpower, infrastructure, health, education, and institutional reforms.

“As we stand at this midpoint of Omituntun 2.0, we are reminded that the vision remains clear. Now is the time to push with precision, unity, and urgency,” she said.

Hon. Justice O. A. Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court has dismissed the suit filed by one Emmanuel Oyewole Oyekan and four others against the Nigerian Baptist Convention and the Convention President, Rev. Dr Israel Adelani Akanji.

The Suit No. 1/710/2024 was filed by Rev. Dr E. O. Oyekan, Rev. Dr C. D. Oluwabukola, Deacon

I. O. Akanmu, Mrs B. D. Oyewole and Sister Olajoke Akinyemi. for themselves and on behalf of members of Ajegunle Baptist Church (New Glory Chapel, Agbowo, Ibadan) as claimants; against the Registered Trustees of Nigerian Baptist Convention and Rev. Dr Israel Adelani Akanji.

The case was instituted by the claimants at the Ibadan Judicial Division of the Oyo State High Court of Justice sometime in June 2024. The claimants brought the action mainly to challenge the derobing of the Is claimant. Emmanuel Oyewole Oyekan and nine other pastors of the church and the disfellowshipping of Ajegunle Baptist Church by the Convention through the letter written by the Convention President dated June 10, 2024. The case was heard at Court 11 of the High Court Complex, Ring Road, Ibadan.

While the case was pending in court, members of Ajegunle Baptist Church who had refused to identify with the name “New Glory Baptist Church” and six pastors who are pastors in daughter-churches of Ajegunle Baptist Church wrote to disassociate themselves from the court action of the claimants who are leaders of “New Glory Baptist Church”, a parallel group within the church. Consequently, the decisions over Ajegunle Baptist Church and those six pastors were rescinded by the Convention.

Besides the statement of defence filed by the Convention’s lawyers, the law firm of Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN & Co., a preliminary objection was also filed on behalf of the defendants, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case. The main ground for the objection was that the claimants are not known members of the Convention, particularly in view of the fact that New Glory Baptist Church had registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a separate legal entity. It was submitted that the claimants therefore lacked the locus standi to institute the court action.

The claimants responded to the defendants’ preliminary objection and the lawyers on both sides argued for and against the preliminary objection on March 18, 2025. The ruling of the court dismissing the case of the claimants, based on the preliminary objection raised, was delivered on Thursday, 19th of June, 2025.

Thus, all the controversies over Ajegunle Baptist Church have been resolved in favour of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

The South West Guild of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) has urged the newly inaugurated management of the South West Development Commission (SWDC) to swiftly initiate visionary and transformative programmes that emphasise quality execution and timely delivery.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Bisi Oladele, and Public Relations Officer, Remi Oladoye, the guild congratulated the commission’s leadership team and encouraged them to focus on projects that will accelerate economic and infrastructural development across the South West region.

The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has pledged its support and collaboration with the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as ‘Wolekanle’.

The Union said the pledge was in support of Akinwale’s quest to transform the Local Government system in the state.

Oyo state NULGE President, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun, made this known on Saturday morning in a statement forwarded to Westernmirror.com.ng.

This follows a special reception organized by ‘Ogo Ogbomoso’, a group of Ogbomoso indigenes serving in the Local Government Service.

Comrade Adeogun commended Governor Seyi Makinde for appointing Bashorun Akinwale, describing the move as “timely, well-deserved, and placing a round peg in a round hole.”

He emphasized that the LGSC Chairman’s early achievements have already begun yielding visible results across the service.

Comrade Adeogun expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for prioritizing competence and merit in his administration’s appointments and welfare programs for local government staff.

“All the benevolence extended to our members by this administration are unprecedented, remarkable, and truly appreciated,” Adeogun said.

The NULGE President highlighted key milestones under Bashorun Akinwale’s leadership, particularly the elevation of over 20 Acting Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to substantive roles; a move he described as a demonstration of fairness, growth, and structural progress within the system.

“This is a commendable gesture and a testament to the Chairman’s commitment to fairness, merit, and accelerated development within the service,” he noted.

The event doubled as a celebration of Ogbomoso pride, with Bashorun Akinwale recognized as the youngest and 12th Chairman of the Commission since inception, an achievement described as a symbol of trust in youth leadership and competence.

In his closing remarks, Comrade Adeogun called on union members to remain hopeful, resilient, and united.

“Bountiful joys and good tidings will soon begin to roll in our midst. Let us remain united and focused on building a stronger and more progressive Local Government system,” he urged.

The occasion was graced by numerous dignitaries and stakeholders, including religious leaders, political officeholders, and senior civil servants.

Among them were Bishop David Moradeyo of the Methodist Diocese of Ogbomoso; Vice Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government, Hon. Mujidat Kareem (representing the LG Chairman); Hon. George Ogunlade, Chairman, Ogbomoso North LG; Hon. Isaiah Alaba Adegbite, Chairman, Surulere LG; Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale, Permanent Secretary, LGSC; Mr. Thomas Oguntona, Permanent Secretary, LGSC, Ogbomoso Zone; Dr. Dapo Atoyebi, Permanent Secretary, LGSC, Oke-Ogun Zone 2; Mr. A. A. Adeniran, Chairman of Ogo Ogbomoso and HLGA of Ogbomoso South LG, as well as several Acting HLGAs and Principal Officers in the Local Government Service of Oyo State from the Ogbomoso zone.

Comrade Segun Abatan, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State branch, has said that Governor SeyiMakinde ended the frustration of pensioners in the state and wiped away their tears.

Abatan, who stated this during an interaction with The People’s Verdict, said before the advent of Makinde, pensioners were regarded as persona non grata and treated with disdain in Oyo State.

He continued, “When Seyi came we were afraid; whether he was going to toe the line of former governors. Lo and behold, he disappointed us by first of all announcing and placing his salary for the payment of pensioners. That was a masterstroke. Then, he stopped the payment of pensions in percentages. It was so bad, before he came, that pensions were paid maybe three times in a year. One month pension was always paid in three installments. So, if you calculate it, it would be payment of three or four months’ pensions in a year.

“We endured that for eight years before Seyi Makinde came on board. Since he came on board, Seyi Makinde has not defaulted for one month. Rather, he has increased the N250million he started with to about N1billion now. So, Seyi Makinde pays N1bn every month in gratuity.

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Makinde wiped away our tears, says Oyo Pensioners Union secretary, Abatan

“Seyi Makinde stopped our frustration; he wiped away our tears and made us live. We were being described as the living dead before Seyi Makinde became the governor. He has not only met our aspirations, he has made us happy. Oyo State pensioners are better than any state pensioners in the whole of the federation.”

Talking about the impact of Makinde’s administration, Comrade Abatan said, “Before Seyi Makinde came, we knew how Ibadan streets were, there was a great disorder. But now, there is order. Then, when you talk about infrastructure development, the roads are now better tarred. He has made the roads leading to the state capital more attractive. He is not concentrating road development in Ibadan alone, it is everywhere in the state; in Oyo, Ogbomoso, Iseyin, Saki, etc. Oyo State is having a better look.”

The union leader also lauded the governor for his policy on agriculture which, he said, has turned Fasola Agric Industrial Hub into a model.

He said, “Makinde has done well in agric. Look at Fasola; in those days Fasola used to be a rural settlement. But see what he has done now. He has turned it into an agric industrial hub. He is assisting farmers with fertilizers and other agricultural input. And he has also improved the health sector.”

Abatan continued, “If it were possible to have a third term, let Seyi go ahead and ride on. Some are even saying that he should be made a life governor in Oyo State because we have never had it so good. Since January 2025 when he increased our pension, life has not been the same for us.”

The NUP scribe, who described Governor Makinde as a very compassionate leader, counseled him to look beyond the National Assembly for his next aspiration.

According to him, “We pensioners don’t want him in the Senate, he is too useful to go and be sleeping in the Senate or the House of Representatives. We want him at the presidency level. If his party can nominate him to vie for the presidency, they will see that he will move mountains. I personally will lead pensioners throughout the federation because pensioners throughout the federation are endangered. If they now see somebody who has done well for pensioners in his state and he is now coming to the federal level, all pensioners will rally round him.”

The Oyo State government is actively working towards creating more resilient cities, focusing on sustainable urban development and improving quality of life for residents.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban development, Mr. Williams Akin- funmilayo stated this at an International Conference on a sustainable built environment, held at the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management University of Ibadan.

He added that the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration is proud to be at the forefront of integrating resilience into urban planning.

The commissioner explained that across Africa and especially in Nigeria, our cities are under tremendous pressure, Urban populations are growing rapidly often faster than the planning framework can handle, saying by 2050, it is projected that over 70% of Nigeria’s population will live in urban areas.

He maintained that, resilience is not optional but necessity and Oyo State is not immune to these challenges from the ever- expanding Ibadan metropolitan area to the rural – urban migration.

Akin-funmilayo added that pressures in towns like Ogbomoso and Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, Ibarapa are witnessing increasing demand for housing services and land, noting that challenges have presented the State Government opportunities to innovate, reform and to build more resilient cities.

According to him, “On Urban Renewal policy framework, the Lands Commissioner explained that in 2021, the State Government under the present administration launched a renewed Urban Renewal Strategy aimed at making the cities in Oyo State more livable, inclusive and future – proof and this includes: Comprehensive upgrading of both major and inner-city roads and drainage systems; Revitalization of public facilities/infrastructure such as schools, health centers.

He explained further that Digitization and GIS- Based Land administration one of most transformation initiatives has been the Digitization of land records and planing approvals through the Oyo State Geographic information System (OYOGIS)
He said that (OYOGIS)
have mapped over 45% of Ibadan’s metropolitan land and the Ministry of lands, housing and urban development are now able to issue Certificates of Occupancy within weeks not years which enhances tenure security, reduces land disputes and encourages planned development.

He noted that following the devastating floods in Ibadan in 2011 and recent extreme weather events the State Government embedded climate adaptation into planning in the area of massive channelization of rivers and streams across Ibadan including the construction of drainages, culverts and bridges guided by international best practices through the Ibadan Urban flood Management project (IUFMP) in collaboration with the World Bank.

Akin- Funmilayo added that since the inception of this administration,the Ministry has evolved a better and sustainable approach to provision of land for housing development through what we called ” Land swap” under this arrangement, the Government through the Ministry of lands housing and urban development provide lands as equity while the private sector ( infrastructure partners) provide infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water, electricity.

He hinted that the Ministry in collaboration with the private sector have embarked on provision of affordable housing schemes in other major towns in the state such as Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki, Iseyin with Real-time property search and tracking ( AWARI app).

“Through this Journey Oyo State Government has learned a few key lessons to share, Resilience is local Global framework are helpful but Urban planning must be grounded in local realities social, environment and cultural.

“We have benefited immensely from collaboration with the private sector ( developers, infrastructure partners, investors, consultants) other government agencies, international organization and grassroots communities.

“We also hope to foster collaboration with academia such as the University of Ibadan.

“I want to extend an open invitation to all of you researchers, students, and private sector partners to work with the Oyo State Government to co- create the resilient futures.”