Today makes it a year that the distinguished Senator Nicholas Tofowomo was inaugurated as the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District.
In a statement signed by Akinrinlola Olumide,
Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the distinguished senator. The Senator gave thanks to God for his grace and mercy to be alive to witness a year anniversary in the land of the living.
“I am very grateful to God and the good people of Ondo South for their unflinching support towards my election as a Senator. I am also grateful to the good people of Ondo South for their sincere cooperation ever since I became indisposed due to the accident I had on September 6, 2019.
2019 was a year I will never forget, one of the odd moments being the period I was involved in a ghastly motor accident which obviously took me away from the Senate for over 6months. But I thank God that I am still very much alive to recover all the lost grounds of over six months interregnum created by the accident.
Notwithstanding the interregnum, I am still able to achieve the following in tandem with my agenda for Ondo South tagged STREP – Security, Transportation, Resources, Employment/Empowerment and Power (Electricity)”.
Employment
From 2019 to 2020, I set an unprecedented record in the history of Ondo South and Nigeria at large as the first Senator in Nigeria who created over 92 jobs across the 6 Local Governments of my Senatorial District with the least appointee receiving a monthly salary of N50, 000 at a cost of 8 million naira per month from my monthly entitlement.
In a related development, being part of my promise to Ondo South, I scouted for jobs for my constituents and I can boldly say that about 21 persons got jobs through me in various sectors of government which I shared across the 6 local governments in Ondo South with fairness and equity. The agencies involved are Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Nigeria Correction Service (Defunct Prison Service), Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army and some private sectors especially the United Bank for Africa and Guaranty Trust Bank.
I will continue to support my constituents for jobs especially now that I am back to the Senate for skeletal work.
On Empowerment
I have been able to facilitate 150 slots of CBN/NIRSAL Loan ranging between 1 – 10million naira per person for the six local governments of Ondo South. It was shared for 25 persons per local government in Ondo South and it is at the completion stage after approval has been gotten. I also have a pending empowerment programme for my people which was hindered by COVID-19.
Power (Electricity)
I shared in the pains that many of our communities are backward economically and socially because of a power outage after being plunged into darkness for almost a decade. Immediately I was elected as the Senator representing Ondo South at the National Assembly, I visited the Omotosho Power Plant twice to ensure Ondo South get electricity supply directly from Omotosho, instead of Ondo town. I discussed with necessary parties to ensure the contractor handling the step-down project at Erinje road get reasonable amount to complete the job with timeliness before the accident.
I had joined other stakeholders in the struggle to lobby all the concerned parties to ensure that BEDC repairs the damaged electrical cables in affected communities and to also meter them.
My achievement on this
I was able to resolve the issues bordering on the metering challenges in Ondo South after several meetings with the management of BEDC and other stakeholders the moment I was discharged from the hospital. To God be the glory, many electricity consumers in Ode Aye town, Some electricity consumers in Igbokoda and few in Okitipupa are back to the national grid with the use of prepaid meters.
I also succeeded to prevail on the management of NDDC for the release of a substantial amount of money for the contractor handling the said step down at Ode Erinje.
Still, on electricity, the epileptic supply and candlelight by BEDC in my home town of Ileoluji have been resolved with BEDC.
Solar Street Lights
Recently, I facilitated the installation of Solar Street lights in Ode Irele and Ileoluji towns – an inherited project for immediate completion.
Also, before that unfortunate accident, I have been meeting with necessary stakeholders to advocate a sweeping reform of Electricity Power Generation and Supply Management in Nigeria. Now that I back to the Senate, I would continue my work on this.
On Infrastructure
I did the dredging of Owe river via golden line estate/Saint Francis high school and Aigo river via Ayeyemi Junction in Ile-Oluji in the central market which has been destroying the peoples’ houses continuously every year with massive flooding, especially during the raining season.
I have also advocated federal government intervention for the ecological project in Ondo South especially in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State where many houses have been destroyed by flood.
Ilaje Sea Incursion
I have a pending motion seeking federal government intervention, coupled with ongoing advocacy through the presidency to address the Sea Incursion at Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State.
On Rail Transport
As the Vice-Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport which covers railway and road, I have advocated for a review and urgent implementation of railways extension to Ore, in Odigbo Local Government of Ondo State and it has been in pipeline before that unfortunate accident. I am back on this advocacy as a follow-up on the timely implementation.
On Land Transport
I have concluded arrangement with FERMA which is under my committee (land transport) for the rehabilitation of Federal Roads in Ondo South. Work is expected to begin soon in Ondo South after mobilisation.
Security
Under security, recall that under a joint motion with my colleagues, I called for a security conference in Nigeria at the plenary of the Senate. Insecurity does not belong to a particular region. It’s a National problem. I am of the view that all organs of government must stop complaining. There is a need to hold a security conference if we must tackle security challenges. It is part of my priorities in the Senate as I give an account of my stewardship.
My good people of Ondo South, I am aware of the economic challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, I have done my bit irrespective of the little salary left for me after paying out N8M to over 92 Aides by distributing palliatives to less privileged in six local governments that made up Ondo South Senatorial district.
I wish to inform you again that my website is launched and ready, people now have access to information about my performance and can verify same. The website is aimed at giving the account of my stewardship, and to get responses, ideas and suggestions from my people as no one knows it all. I have given directive for the website to be updated from time to time.
We have also determined to start the implementation of driving youth development and empowerment programmes and to aggressively support our women to be self-reliant once funds are approved for the purpose through Zonal Intervention Project otherwise known as Constituency Project.
Once again, I thank you all for your patience and unrelenting support and I promise never to disappoint you all.
To
Leave a Reply