Says “We’ll Leave OSOPADEC Better Than We Met It”
The Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye, has pledged full accountability for every kobo spent by the Commission, promising to restore transparency and effectiveness to its operations.
Poroye made this declaration on Wednesday during a familiarisation visit by the House of Assembly Committee on OSOPADEC to the agency’s headquarters in Oba-Ile.
Describing the lawmakers’ visit as both timely and strategic, Poroye emphasized that beyond performing oversight duties, the legislature must also serve as a compass for agencies like OSOPADEC, especially in the face of inherited challenges.
“Your assignment is not just about oversight,” he told the legislators. “It’s also about offering constructive guidance. I appreciate being corrected because no one has a monopoly on knowledge. Real development happens when we collaborate.”
The Chairman expressed confidence that reforms are already underway, stressing that his team is currently assessing existing projects before initiating sweeping changes aimed at repositioning the commission for efficiency and public trust.
“Since we came on board, we’ve seen things that need urgent attention. But as a professional, I believe in studying the terrain before acting. We will leave OSOPADEC better than we met it,” Poroye said.
In a move to strengthen the relationship between the legislature and OSOPADEC, Poroye also invited the committee to explore collaboration with Memphis Microfinance Bank, a financial institution owned by the Commission. According to him, the bank could serve as a tool for grassroots economic empowerment and regional development.
He said such partnerships would promote financial inclusion, drive economic growth in the oil-producing areas, and reinforce trust between all stakeholders.
Reacting on behalf of the committee, Hon. Primate Toyin Allen, Chairman of the House Committee on OSOPADEC, commended Poroye and his team for hitting the ground running with bold plans and a reform-minded agenda.
Allen pledged the Assembly’s support for OSOPADEC’s development initiatives and promised robust oversight, not as an adversarial tool, but as a means of ensuring that projects directly improve lives within the mandate areas.
“The committee is ready to partner with you to ensure delivery of quality projects and economic transformation in our oil-producing communities,” Allen said.
Other members of the committee present during the visit included Hon. Princess Olawunmi Fayemi-Obayelu (Vice Chairman, Ilaje II), Hon. Olatunji Ifabiyi (Odigbo I), Hon. Kolawole Ologede (Akure North), Hon. Raymond Daodu (Akoko Southwest I), and Hon. Tope Agbulu (Akoko Southwest II).
