RESIDENCY CARD NOW FUNCTIONING IN ONDO

This is part of planning.  Mimiko has taken us back to the Awolowo school of leadership, that leadership is not by permutation but good planning for the welfare of the people” .“That  was how human rights activist, Yinka Odumakin, summarized  the Residency Card initiated by Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at  the flag-off ceremony of its utilization phase.

On his part,  a  former Statistician General of the Federation, Prof. Doyin Akinyosoye, recommended the Residency Card, otherwise known as Kaadi Igbe Ayo, to the National Economic Council (NEC) for effective planning in Nigeria.“He said the card, which captures the data of each resident, if adopted nationally, will be useful as a platform for effective planning for the citizens, and consequently enhance the development of the country.“Perhaps,the usefulness of the multi-purpose smart card  was  better exposed to the audience at the launch by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr Segun Agbaje, who represented the Independent National Electoral Commission boss, Amina Zakari, who promised to recommend the scheme to the electoral body.“

According to him, the scheme would  be recommended to the Federal Government for adoption by the electoral body since the card would enable the owner vote in any part of the country, irrespective of place of residence without the risk of duplication of votes.“Chairman of Globalcom, Mike Adenuga Jnr, said a number of states have tried to adopt the smart card initiative without success. Represented at the event by Mr Olushola Ajayi, the Globalcom Chairman said: “We are part of the scheme because we are part of the Abiye project which has been used to successfully demonstrate the workability of the Residency Card.”

Governor Olusegun Mimiko (middle); Deputy Governor,“Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo (4th right); his wife, Alhaja Fatimat (3rd“right); the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan (2nd right); among “others, during the launch of the utilisation phase of the Residency Card

He thus implored other states to emulate Ondo and adopt the initiative.“Describing Mimiko as a trailblazer, the Secretary of the Yoruba delegates to the  National Confab, Dr.Kunle Olajide, who noted that no state can succeed without proper planning, maintained that the Kaadi IgbeAyo project is key in that regard and described the  introduction of the scheme  as  a  history making process. “”This is history making process. It is a clear planning process.  You  are a trailblazer in the country.  You have made the Yoruba proud, other states should come and learn from you. I am proud to be part of this,” he submitted.“If the disclosure of the Ondo governor concerning the initiative coming into being is anything to go by, the smart card idea came as a result of his  deep thought on how to make the difference in governance and give the people value for their mandate.“Speaking at the launch, he said, “You would recall that at the inception of this administration in 2009, a12- point programme, tagged ‘A CARING HEART’, was rolled out as a guiding paradigm of our people-oriented administration.

This underlying philosophy formed the platform for our mission to mobilize the people of Ondo State to harness all God-given resources, create and use wealth for the collective fulfilment,individual happiness, and peaceful co-habitation in an environment of transparent and honest leadership’’.“As a means of  transmuting this mission into reality therefore, Mimiko said  the government introduced the   Residency Card to facilitate the identification of all residents of Ondo  so as to deliver to them, directly, the inherent social and welfare programmes contained in the 12 –point programme.“Declaring that the  card will be the prerequisite for all residents of the state to access government facilities, the governor listed the facilities to include Abiye Safe Motherhood programme,  the micro-credit and economic empowerment project, the highly-subsidized agric input and supplies and free education. “

He explained that  Kaadi Igbe Ayo will not just be a new lexicon in the vocabulary but an integral part of life in the Sunshine State.“”Kaadi Igbe Ayo is a state-wide, dynamic, chip-based multi-purpose transaction card that contains the basic bio data as well as socio-economic data of holders and the state welfare package solutions and applications.  “”It is a smart card that serves as an interface between the state government and all residents.  It is the instrument of access to all democratic dividends of the present administration”, Mimiko submitted.“

He thus urged the people of the state to ensure prompt payment of their tax in order to help government execute and maintain the projects and other social facilities.“Following  the successful take off of the scheme, government has embarked on its full implementation with initial  focus on the health sector.“The choice of the sector for the enforcement  may not be far-fetched considering that  over 70% of beneficiaries of the state’s free healthcare are non-residents.“

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, during a visit to inspect health facilities in the capital city, Akure, as part of the measures to ensure the usage of the smart card, warned  that any pregnant woman who does not have her Residency Card may not have access to free healthcare programme of the Ondo government as it was determined to ensurethat the multitude that flock  to the state from other states to enjoy its healthservices pay for the services.“According to him, the essence of the visit was to ensure that peoplecomplied with the directive that everybody in the state should have ‘Kaadi Igbe Ayo’.