The Ondo State chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has issued a strongly worded press statement criticizing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration, describing its performance as “below zero” across key sectors.
In the statement dated April 24, 2024, and signed by State Publicity Secretary Owolola Adebola, the party argued that the government has failed to deliver on its early promises of renewal and progress since assuming office in December 2023.
According to the NDC, the administration inherited significant challenges, including infrastructural decay, declining education standards, and security concerns. However, more than two years into its tenure, the group claims there has been little improvement, asserting instead that conditions in many areas have worsened, reflecting what it termed a pattern of regression.
On the economy, the opposition accused the government of lacking fiscal direction and failing to improve internally generated revenue. The statement noted that Ondo State remains heavily dependent on federal allocations, with no clear strategy for diversification through agriculture, tourism, or industrial development. It also raised concerns about budget implementation, alleging that capital projects are underfunded while recurrent spending dominates.
The party further criticized the administration for what it described as the absence of a coherent economic vision. It argued that without clearly defined priorities or investment strategies, government policies appear fragmented and reactive rather than strategic, limiting the state’s prospects for sustainable growth and financial independence.
In the education sector, the NDC alleged continued deterioration, pointing to poor infrastructure, irregular teacher remuneration, and weak student outcomes. It cited examination results from national bodies like WAEC and NECO as evidence of declining performance, adding that government responses have been largely defensive without meaningful reforms.
The statement also highlighted challenges in agriculture, a key sector in the state’s economy. It claimed that government initiatives have produced little measurable impact, with farmers reportedly lacking access to improved inputs, extension services, and structured support. The group said there is no clear plan for developing value chains in major crops such as cocoa, cassava, and cashew.
On security, the NDC expressed concern over rising incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, and communal clashes in parts of the state. It criticized the government’s response as reactive, relying on temporary deployments rather than long-term strategies, and called for a more coordinated approach that addresses underlying causes such as unemployment and poverty.
The NDC also pointed to infrastructural deficits and a weak business environment, arguing that poor road networks, unreliable electricity, and inconsistent water supply continue to hinder economic activities. It added that regulatory bottlenecks and stalled initiatives, including industrial parks and SME support programs, have discouraged private sector investment.
Concluding, the NDC said the overall performance of the Aiyedatiwa administration reflects a lack of vision, coherence, and effective governance. It called for urgent reforms and greater accountability, warning that Ondo State’s trajectory must change to meet citizens’ expectations for security, economic opportunity, and improved public services.
Read full statement…
Below Zero: A Critical Assessment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Administration in Ondo State.
When Lucky Aiyedatiwa assumed office as Governor of Ondo State in December 2023, he inherited a state already burdened by infrastructural decay, declining educational standards, and persistent security challenges. His early rhetoric promised renewal and a decisive break from stagnation.
More than two years on, that promise remains largely unfulfilled. Across key sectors, the administration’s record suggests not just underperformance but regression—an outcome that can fairly be described as below zero.
Economic Drift and Fiscal Weakness
Effective governance rests on sound economic management, yet Ondo State under Aiyedatiwa has struggled to demonstrate fiscal clarity or direction. Internally generated revenue remains weak, with the state still heavily dependent on unpredictable federal allocations. Rather than pursuing diversification through agriculture, tourism, or industrial incentives, the administration appears to have settled into economic inertia.
Budget patterns deepen these concerns. Capital projects are consistently underfunded while recurrent expenditures dominate spending. Civil society monitoring groups have pointed to poor budget execution and limited transparency.
More troubling is the absence of a coherent economic vision. There is no clearly articulated plan identifying priority sectors, investment strategies, or pathways to financial independence. Without such direction, policy efforts appear fragmented and reactive.
Education in Continued Decline
Once a relative strength, Ondo’s education sector has deteriorated further. Public schools remain under-resourced, with dilapidated infrastructure and inconsistent teacher remuneration undermining morale and performance. Promised reforms—particularly in teacher training and curriculum modernization—have failed to materialize at scale.
Student outcomes reflect these shortcomings.
Recent examination results from national bodies such as WAEC and NECO reveal persistently poor performance across many schools. Yet the government’s response has been largely defensive, with little evidence of a systematic effort to diagnose root causes or implement targeted interventions.
Infrastructure upgrades have been uneven, often limited to symbolic commissioning of incomplete projects. In many rural areas, schools still lack electricity, proper seating, and sanitation facilities. Digital learning initiatives, though announced, remain largely unimplemented. Recruitment practices also raise concerns, as many newly hired teachers appear insufficiently trained and inadequately supervised.
Agriculture: Promise Without Delivery
Agriculture remains central to Ondo State’s economy, yet the administration has not translated this importance into effective policy. Programs such as the Agricultural Development initiative have yielded little measurable impact. Farmers report limited access to improved inputs, weak extension services, and minimal government support.
Cooperative structures remain fragile, with little effort to strengthen them as vehicles for growth. Equally absent is a clear strategy for developing value chains in key crops such as cocoa, cassava, and cashew. Irrigation systems are underdeveloped, and dry-season farming initiatives—critical for boosting productivity—have received insufficient attention.
The result is a sector sustained more by tradition than transformation. Despite repeated assurances, there is little evidence of increased yields, expanded market access, or meaningful rural economic growth.
Security: Reactive, Not Strategic
Security remains one of the administration’s most visible failures. Incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, and communal conflict have increased in several areas. Government responses have been largely reactive—short-term deployments rather than sustained strategies.
The state’s security apparatus lacks clear coordination, measurable objectives, and effective intelligence systems. Community policing initiatives, which could strengthen grassroots security, have not been meaningfully developed. Residents in affected areas often report a sense of abandonment, with government interventions perceived as inconsistent and insufficient.
More fundamentally, there is no comprehensive strategy addressing the underlying drivers of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, and weak local governance. Without tackling these root causes, security interventions remain superficial.
Private Sector and Infrastructure Gaps
A vibrant private sector is essential for long-term growth, yet businesses in Ondo State continue to face structural barriers. Regulatory processes remain cumbersome, and policy inconsistency discourages investment. Promised initiatives—such as industrial parks and SME support schemes—have either stalled or failed to take shape.
Infrastructure challenges compound these issues. Roads in many parts of the state are in poor condition, limiting trade and mobility. Water supply systems are unreliable, and access to potable water remains far from universal. Electricity supply is inconsistent, with minimal progress on alternative energy solutions. Public services, including waste management and healthcare maintenance, suffer from chronic underfunding and weak execution.
Governance and Accountability Concerns
Transparent governance and civic engagement are essential to democratic accountability, yet both remain limited under the current administration. Budget processes lack openness, and meaningful public participation is minimal. Civil society organizations report difficulty accessing information and engaging with policy development.
Equally concerning is the administration’s posture toward criticism, which has at times appeared dismissive rather than responsive. This reluctance to engage constructively undermines trust and weakens democratic oversight.
Conclusion
A State Moving Backward
Measured against basic standards of governance, the Aiyedatiwa administration has fallen short across nearly every sector. The economy shows little growth, education continues to decline, agriculture lacks direction, and insecurity persists. Infrastructure and public services remain inadequate, while governance practices limit accountability.
What elevates this record from poor to “below zero” is the sense of regression. Conditions in many areas appear worse than they were at the start of the administration. Opportunities have not expanded; in some cases, they have diminished.
This is not simply a question of limited resources. Comparable states with similar constraints have achieved better outcomes through strategic planning and disciplined execution. The central issue in Ondo State is a deficit of vision, coherence, and administrative effectiveness.
Ondo’s citizens deserve better: a government capable of delivering security, economic opportunity, and functional public services. Whether through reform, political pressure, or civic action, the imperative now is clear. The trajectory must change—because continued decline is no longer an option.
*Owolola Adebola
State Publicity Secretary, NDC, Ondo State.
