Ondo residency card utilisation takes off today

TOTAL implementation of Ondo State government’s residency card initiative, otherwise known as Kaadi Igbeayo, begins today.
 
Speaking with newsmen in Akure yesterday, Information Commissioner Kayode Akinmade said the take-off ceremony for the total utilisation of the scheme will be presided over by Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the Adegbamile House in the state capital.

The implementation, he stated, would take off in four key sectors, stressing that the utilisation of the smart card would begin with initial focus on the health, education, agriculture and micro-credit areas.

According to him, from today when the utilisation phase begins, school pupils and students who enjoy government’s school shuttle scheme would have to present their parents’ smart card to access the facility.

He also mentioned that those who want to benefit from the government’s subsidised agricultural input and draw from its micro- finance scheme would need to present their smart card before their application could be considered.

He added that though the smart card had been operational in the health sector, especially with patrons of the mother and child hospitals, the commissioner informed that its utilisation would now be extended to those who will be seeking to use the government facilities at the medical village and other government health facilities.

“Most of the state’s health initiatives are accessed on subsidised basis and for the facilities to be accessed, beneficiaries must possess proof that they are resident in the state and pay tax to the state and the smart card will make this possible.

“For instance, 40% of those who enjoy our mother and child hospital’s facilities are from neighbouring states and this is a programme designed only for residents in the state irrespective of their state of origin. So for people from other states to continue to enjoy the facility, they would have to pay a premium.”

Imploring every resident to ensure they secure their cards, the commissioner said from today government will begin the enforcement of the usage of the card as it will become a condition for residents of the state to access government services.

He listed other advantages of the cards to include: facilitation of efficient record keeping, anti-corruption solution in the public service to enable higher level of qualitative and quantitative service delivery in people oriented sub-sector such as health, education, transportation and agriculture.

Others, he said, were facilitating the systematic development of database for efficient security and surveillance purpose, facilitating the use and management of government facilities such as public transportation among others.

He thus directed those who have not obtained their cards to visit the Civic Data Centres in their respective local governments to enable them obtain the card.