The Ondo State House of Assembly has charged the State Ministry of Commerce and lndustry to look inward and be more proactive in generating revenue for the state.
The House Committee on Commerce and Industry said this during an interface with the management and top officials of the ministry at the Assembly complex in Akure on Monday.
According to the committee, the ministry’s revenue performance is too low, hence the need for all hands to be on deck.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rasheed Elegbeleye, hoped that the system would be strengthened with the recent appointment of a female commissioner and secretary to the ministry.
Elegbeleye commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his initiatives in creating an enabling environment to attract and support investors willing to do business in the state.
He noted that the meeting became necessary to know how best they could collaborate with the ministry and how its challenges could be jointly tackled.
The chairman advised the state government to equally ensure that the ministry is well funded for it to perform more efficiently.
He expressed the belief that if some ailing industries in the state are revitalised, it would boost the revenue of the state and by extension, generate more employment.
He urged the management to carry the committee along in their activities.
Elegbeleye assured of legislative backing to strengthen the system.
Other lawmakers affirmed that the ministry was very important to the economic development of the state, hence the need to buckle up.
The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Funmi Akinola, said that the ministry was working on how to renovate some parks, ensure artisans’ development, amongst others.
Akinola said the ministry would stick to all the advice given and promised the lawmakers better performance.
