2023 Has Been Tough Economically, Says Makinde

 Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that the outgoing year 2023 has been a tough year economically.

 Makinde who stated this  on Sunday night at the 2023 Christmas Carol Service with the theme “Unto Us A Child Is Born” held at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, promised to renovate the entire Agodi Government House building including its Church and Mosque and other structures in the premises in the coming year.

 Makinde said, “There is a vision from one of you about the renovation of Government House church and mosque as a matter of top priority so that Oyo State can even become more prosperous.

 “I have reflected on it and I want to say it publicly that work will start on the church and mosque as soon as we resume from the holidays.

 “Not only that, the entire Government House will be rebuilt. As we have been doing every year since 2019, we will again pay the 13th month salary before the end of this year,” he said.

 The governor who expressed concern over the plights of the masses on the current economic conditions occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy and the dollarisation of the economy, however expressed optimism that the challenges will fizzle out with the year 2023.

 “It has been a challenging period for us as a country , the high price of fuel and also the floating of the dollar has adversely affected the country’s economy.

 “I assure civil servants in Oyo State that as we have been doing every year since 2019, we will again pay the 13th month salary before the end of this year.

 “The theme of this year’s Carol Service was, ‘Unto us a child is born. We held the 2023 Festival of Carols and Nine Lessons, themed ‘Unto Us a Child is Born’ tonight.’’