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APC, PDP disagree over Ondo residence card

 

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

The All Progressives Congress has faulted the Ondo State residence card scheme.

The Ondo State chapter of the party accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of exploiting unpaid civil servants and residents of the state to the tune of N2,000 as a condition to obtain the card.

The residence card, otherwise known as Kaadi Igbe Ayo, is a social security card inaugurated by Mimiko last week.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the APC claimed that over N5bn had been spent on the scheme without corresponding benefits to the people.

The party said, “This card is a duplication of effort and a waste of resources as the card carries almost the same information as the National Identity Card and the National Driving Licence.

“The governor should know that what the people of Ondo State desire are: better life, good road network, job opportunities for the youths, revamping of our moribund industries, accountability, urbanisation of our towns and villages, provision of potable water, affordable and accessible health care services, prompt payment of salaries and entitlements of workers and pensioners.

“Governor Mimiko and his team should realise that in countries where residency card is operational, it is the benefit attached to the card that really matters, not the card itself.”

But the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, defended the scheme in a statement last week, saying that it was initiated to advance the state.

He said, “The advantages of the card include the facilitation of efficient record keeping. It aids anti-corruption in the public service to enhance a higher level of qualitative and quantitative service delivery.

“It will also facilitate the systematic development of a database for efficient security and surveillance purpose as well as facilitating the use and management of government facilities such as public transportation, among others.”