Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said his administration has successfully created strong institutions that will stand the test of time and make the state thrive across different sectors.
Engr. Muftau Open Salawu fnse, an Ogbomoso born Civil Engineer, will head the agency. The aim of the agency is to give people of Oyo state value for their money.
The governor noted that states do not need strong governors or administrators but strong institutions that can make them do well and add value in all ramifications.
Governor Makinde stated this on Thursday, when he signed the Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency Bill (2024) into Law, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He stated that though his administration met a Bureau of Public Procurement and Governor’s Monitoring Team on the ground when it came on board in 2019; there was no value for money paid on projects.
According to Governor Makinde, the major legacy of his administration will be the creation of institutions that will ensure that the state continues well into the future.
He said, “People ask me what will be my legacy? Our legacy will be the institutions that we are able to create to ensure that Oyo State will continue well into the future to enjoy good governance.
“We do not want strong men or strong governors but strong institutions that will stand the test of time. So, this is one of the institutions that are being created.”
Speaking about project monitoring, Governor Makinde said “We must extract value for the people of the state. So, this is one institution that will ensure that values are extracted for our projects in terms of schedule and quality.”
The governor lauded the House of Assembly for demonstrating togetherness and working hand in hand with the executive to ensure that the people of the state have value for their money.
“Let me use this opportunity to say thank you to the House. It is a demonstration of the togetherness between the legislature and executive arms of government. This is Oyo State and this is how we will continue to operate,” he added.
The Chairman of the Agency, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu holds Master Degree in Civil Engineering, Registered with COREN, Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineer (FNSE), Fellow Nigerian Institution of Civil engineers (FNICE), Fellow Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering (FNATE), Member Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Waste Management UK. (CIWM) and Justice of Peace.
The powers of the agency are Conduct Periodic inspection of All projects in the States, Undertake quality Control inspection, to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract, Issuance of Certificate of Completion on all Projects, Examine the book and other machineries used by a contractor in the performance of a contract.
Also where occasion demands, conduct an investigation into the award of any contract to ascertain the integrity of the process, Inspect and Enter any premises where a contract is being executed.
This Agency is Under the direct Supervision of the Executive Governor of Oyo State.
