‘Reforms: Greatest Legacy of Gov. Ahmed’s administration’

The various reforms carried out by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed are some of the greatest legacies of his administration in Kwara State.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communications to the Governor, Dr Muideen Akorede, who said this during a radio programme on Monday, noted that these reforms have placed Kwara on a sustainable pedestal.

He stated that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) reform, SME Intervention Fund, Kwara Infrastructural Development Fund (IF-K), Digitisation of Land Administration and the Off-takers Demand Driven Agriculture (ODDA) scheme are some of the key reforms of the present administration.

Akorede explained that the IGR reform, which led to the establishment of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), was effected through a change in people, process and technology involved in revenue collection and management.

He added that this resulted into a substantial increase in the State’s IGR, without increment or introduction of new taxes. The Media aide also revealed that the recent digitization of land administration by the State government would enhance revolutionize land administration, improve ease of doing business and boost commerce.

Speaking further, Akorede said that the IF-K established by Governor Ahmed in 2016 was an offshoot of the IGR reforms and had boosted the capacity of the State government to implement infrastructural projects on a sustainable basis. He said the scheme guarantees funding of projects to completion level as contractors are provided funds on a quarterly basis through out the project pipeline.

The SSA Media maintained that the micro-credit intervention scheme launched in 2012 to provide financial support for Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the State had boosted the informal sector and equally promoted inclusive banking.

Continuing, Akorede explained that the intervention of Governor Ahmed in the State’s agricultural sector through the ODDA scheme, provides support to farmers in the State and ensure they have ready markets for their farm produce, thereby boosting their livelihood and eliminating post-harvest losses.

He said that besides the current impact of the reforms on the people, the changes have put structures in place to make the state financially stable and economically viable as Governor Ahmed had laid the foundation for the sustainable development of Kwara.

Akorede has assured that all the ongoing projects in the State such as the Geri-Alimi Diamond underpass, dualisation of Sango-UITH road, KWASU campuses, among others will be funded to completion by the Ahmed administration under IF-K.