Aiyedatiwa Approves ₦33.8 Billion Budget for OSOPADEC
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved a ₦33.8 billion budget for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for the 2025 fiscal year.
The governor gave the approval on Monday during the inauguration of the newly reconstituted board of the commission in Akure, describing the budget as the largest ever allocated to OSOPADEC since its inception.
He said the funds will be channelled into projects that will directly impact the oil-producing communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the budget will prioritise infrastructure development including roads, schools, healthcare centres, potable water systems, and housing projects.
He added that a substantial portion of the funds will also support empowerment initiatives, including youth and women development, skill acquisition programmes, and scholarships for indigent students from the region.
The governor expressed confidence that the newly appointed board members would deliver results in line with the commission’s core mandate. He charged them to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to service, stating that the success of the budget depends on efficient implementation and public trust.
Aiyedatiwa also highlighted the importance of the recently amended OSOPADEC law, which, he said, has strengthened the legal and operational framework of the commission.
He noted that with the reforms, OSOPADEC is now better equipped to respond to the needs of its mandate areas and attract greater public confidence.
Responding on behalf of the board, Chairman Prince Biyi Poroye thanked the governor for the trust placed in them and assured that the board would work diligently to meet expectations.
He pledged that the team would focus on sustainable development and ensure that projects are implemented in a way that benefits the grassroots.
The inauguration marks the beginning of what stakeholders hope will be a new era of performance-driven leadership and development in the oil-producing areas of the state.
