…Urges them to support Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda
By Editor
A workshop on implementation of Ekiti State Local Content Law 2024 was held on Thursday organized by the office of Ekiti State Bureau of Local Content.
The well attended stakeholders meeting was to further sensitize contractors handling various projects in Ekiti State on the benefits of the Local Content Law policy of the State.
The convener of the one-day workshop and the Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Local Content, Hon.Olalekan Ijidale in his opening address, called on contractors handling projects in the State to seize the opportunity to support the shared prosperity agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji by faithfully implementing the Ekiti State Local Content Law.
The DG explained that the Bureau of Local Content was established by the administration of Governor Oyebanji with the sole aim of achieving sustainable development through inclusion and optimal utilization of local workforce and resources in the State.
Ijidale, who delivered his address with the theme: ‘Roles of Contractors in the Implementation of Local Content Law in Ekiti State’ enjoined the contractors to ensure full compliance of environmental, ethica, human rights and economic responsibilities towards the development of their host communities.
He further urged the contractors to adhere to the strict Law of Local Content which includes; identify and develop local resources, create an enabling environment, promoting local procurement as well as developing local skills and capacity.
Others are; foster partnerships and collaborations, diversify the economy and monitor and evaluate progress.
Speaker after speakers spoke in support of the keynote address of the DG.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Dayo Apata, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, S.B.J Bamise who delivered a paper on the overview of Ekiti State Local Content Law noted that
the sole aim of the Ekiti State Local Content, which was signed into law by Governor Oyebanji stipulates that:
“A company must drive a certain
amount of the final value of a good or service from domestic firms, either by purchasing from local company or by manufacturing or developing the good or services locally.”
The Commissioner for Justice, who spoke extensively on the provisions of the Local Content Law said that the full implementation of the law will bring food to the table of people of the State and the shared prosperity agenda of the governor.
Speaking in similar vein, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun said that the full implementation of the law will bring about growth of the people that will in-turn signify economic growth of the State.
He noted that Governor Oyebanji is desirous in ensuring that he creates jobs for the people and provides opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers.
“The governor promised to make Ekiti more prosperous, economically buoyant and over all citizens posterity . He wants to be known as the people’s governor.
“Let us take advantage of this great opportunity provided by Governor Oyebanji through our individual and collective determination to support him to achieve individual and collective development of Ekiti State.”
The event attracted top government functionaries, contractors handling projects in the State, representatives of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, young indigenous contractors, among others.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akin Oyebode, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said his Ministry will collaborate with the Bureau to ensure strict compliance.
He added that a Compliance Certificate will be the compulsory document that will be issued by the Bureau of Local Content for contractors to access their payments through the Ministry.
In a related development, the Special Adviser/Director General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, OTSD, in the State, Dr.John Ekundayo insisted that local contractors must be duly patronized and the use of local resources and workforce to execute projects.
His words: “The local workforce is very key to this administration so that the local people can be patronized. You need to have an elaborate robust monitoring and learning team. If we don’t monitor and see compliance, there won’t be need for our gathering. We need to engage with the people to promote entrepreneurship.”
Also, the Commissioner for Works, Adesola Adebayo in his submission, emphasized the need for local content as a criteria for contract bidding saying that the certificate of local content will become a criteria for contract bidding in the state henceforth.
