Ondo State has emerged as Nigeria’s most fiscally disciplined sub-national government, having reduced its domestic debt by 82.6 percent within a year, making it the highest debt reduction among all 36 states.
Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) on states’ debt comparison between 2023 and 2024 showed the state at the top in reducing domestic debt in one year.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Leke Adegbite, the achievement is attributed to the strategic economic reforms and financial prudence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration since its inception.
According to him, the record shows that the state under Aiyedatiwa reduced its domestic debt from billion in 2023 to billion in 2024, a difference of billion and a percentage of 82.6.
Ebony State occupies the second position with 76.21 percent.
He said, “Since coming into office in December 2023, Governor Aiyedatiwa has made a top priority of payment of the backlog of salaries, gratuities and contractual obligations owed by the state government.
“This unprecedented development has made a significant impact on the economy of the state and restored investors’ and residents’ confidence in government.
“In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Ondo State recorded a 77 per cent domestic debt reduction, amounting to ₦55.11 billion. The state’s debt profile dropped from ₦71.5 billion in December 2023 to just ₦16.4 billion by March 2024. This feat placed Ondo second only to Jigawa State in terms of domestic debt reduction during the period under review.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration accomplished this by implementing sweeping cost-control measures without halting public services or sacrificing workers’ welfare.
“Ondo State’s impressive debt reduction under Governor Aiyedatiwa is not merely a statistic but a reflection of deliberate policy choices, strong leadership, and responsible governance.
“With this achievement, Ondo State stands out as a model for fiscal discipline, financial resilience, and strategic planning in Nigeria’s public sector.”(Guardian)
