The Nation Newspaper

Category: South West

  • AbdulRazaq takes N189.4b 2023 budget estimate to Assembly

    AbdulRazaq takes N189.4b 2023 budget estimate to Assembly

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq yesterday presented over N189.4billion as 2023 budget estimate to the House of Assembly.

    Tagged: “Budget of economic expansion and sustainable development”, the governor said it had 49.1 and 50.9 per cent as its recurrent and capital expenditure.

    AbdulRazaq, who only presented an executive summary of the budget, said: “The budget places more emphasis on continuous infrastructural development, completion of ongoing road projects, agribusinesses, irrigation and mechanisation, workers’ welfare, rural electrification and improved water reticulation, among others.”

    He said:  “This fiscal document is as significant in its provisions as it is in expanding the gains of the past three years for maximum socio-economic benefits of the state.

    Read Also: Oyetola signs Osun’s 2023 budget

    “Under us, Kwara has shed horrible indices and broken new positive grounds across development sectors. This is due to our commitment to inclusive growth.

    “In the outgoing fiscal year, we expanded economic opportunities for the people and executed impactful projects and programmes across sectors, while many are nearing completion.

    “Its key assumptions are oil price of 70 US Dollars per barrel; daily oil production estimate of 1.69m barrel per day; exchange rate of N435 to one United States Dollar; GDP growth of 3.75 per cent and inflation rate of 17.16 per cent.

    “Funding windows include federal allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), grants and other capital receipts.”

    Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu chaired the event.

  • Osun Assembly dares Adeleke over council administration

    Osun Assembly dares Adeleke over council administration

    • Governor’s panel to review Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan road  

    Crisis is brewing between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the legislative arm, as Osun House of Assembly has challenged the decision of the new government to direct career heads to take over local government administration.

    Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) conducted local government election on October 15. Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the seats. But the election was challenged by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ayoola Emmanuel.

    The court nullified the election, but the chairmen and councillors appealed the case.

    Read Also: Ade Dancer to Ade Emperor?

    The new government has disclosed its preparedness to review the 55.4 kilometres Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan and other contracts awarded by the past administration of Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The Nation gathered that the Contract Review Committee chaired by Mr. Niyi Ololade has begun sitting for the review of N11.3billion contract, among others.

    A source said the committee had invited heads of ministries related to contract and MOUs.

    Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary, Olawale Rasheed, speaking about the Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan road, said: “The committee has started sitting. They will make their finding public.”

  • Appeal Court affirms Ajayi as PDP candidate for Ondo South

    Appeal Court affirms Ajayi as PDP candidate for Ondo South

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has affirmed a former deputy governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi, as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ondo South Senatorial District.

    It threw out an appeal filed by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo.

    Senator Tofowomo had appealed a judgment of a Federal High Court, which dismissed his suit for failure to file within stipulated time.

    Ajayi polled 78 votes to defeat Senator Tofowomo, who garnered 74 votes at the PDP primary election.

    But Senator Tofowomo, in his suit, urged the court to declare him as the party’s candidate on the grounds that Ajayi committed acts of perjury.

    But Ajayi, through his lawyer, Prof Kayode Olatoke, SAN, argued that the allegation of perjury against him was unfounded and argued that the case was filed outside the time allowed by law.

    Justice Ayobode said the suit could not be heard on merit because the electoral act, practice direction and constitution stipulated the time within which such suit should be filed.

    He dismissed the appeal with N250.000.00 fine against Tofowomo.

  • Unions plan to ground OAU over registrar’s tenure extension

    Unions plan to ground OAU over registrar’s tenure extension

    Crisis is brewing at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, as Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) planned to ground activities over the planned extension of the registrar and bursar’s tenure.

    A letter obtained by The Nation, signed by the SSANU Chairman, OAU, Taiwo Arobadi, showed that the union had written the council not to approve the extension, saying if granted, it would create more problems for the management of the university.

    He said: “Any extension of this nature will create more problems for the current university management under the leadership of Prof. A. S. Bamire.

    Contacted, the university spokesman, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said he was not aware of the development.

    He added: “I am not around. I am away to Abuja for an important official assignment.”

  • LASUBEB conducts capacity building to optimise EKOEXCEL’s efficacy

    LASUBEB conducts capacity building to optimise EKOEXCEL’s efficacy

    Lagos State Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has conducted multi-faceted training sessions for its Basic Education Quality Assurance (BEQA) officers to strengthen their functions in mentoring and monitoring of government primary schools.

    This capacity building represents the kick off of a new system of bi-weekly capacity buildings for school management officers.

    The trainees were taken through data-driven technology-based model of instruction and school management being implemented in EKOEXCEL and equipped with technical expertise in driving improvement in the key performance indices (KPIs) of a strong school, which include teacher and pupil attendance, lesson completion, data entry into the EKOEXCEL server, pupil enrolment and learning outcomes.

    The eight-day training was conducted between November 7 and 16 and involved 180 officials drawn from each Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).

    Speaking at the closing of the training, the LASUBEB permanent board member overseeing EKOEXCEL programme, Mr. Bayo Adefuye, urged the newly-inducted officers to be passionate about their new responsibilities and duties.

    He said: “This task ahead is a very important task. You already know your roles. You are the heart and soul of EKOEXCEL programme because you are the field officers. That is where most of EKOEXCEL’s work is done. As you are the ones to keep the teachers on their toes, to keep them working, to mentor them.”

  • Ekiti Assembly reinstates three suspended lawmakers

    Ekiti Assembly reinstates three suspended lawmakers

    •I can’t withdraw my case in palace, says Aribisogan

     

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has reinstated three lawmakers suspended from activities of the House following their roles in the stalling of the passage of the 2022 revised appropriation budget.

    The lawmakers are Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, Mr. Ajibade Raphael and Mr. Tope Ogunleye.

    Their reinstatement followed the adoption of a motion moved by Leader of the House, Mr. Bode Adeoye, at plenary yesterday.

    The motion, seconded by Mr. Biodun Fawekun, was unanimously adopted by members.

    The Speaker of the House, Mrs. Olubunmi Adelugba, had read the letters of apology written by the three lawmakers at the plenary.

    The lawmakers apologised for not following the directive of the party, the All Progressive Congress, on the choice of Speaker to replace the late Funminyi Afuye, who died on October 19 after a brief illness.

    One of the suspended lawmaker, Mrs. Kemi Balogun (Ado Constituency II), had apologised and was reinstated on Monday.

    With the lifting of the suspension, four of the suspended seven lawmakers have been reinstated.

    The house adjourned sitting thereafter to allow the committees of the House to scrutinise the 2023 Appropriation for eventual passage.

    The embattled Speaker, Gboyega Aribisogan, has said he could not withdraw his suit on his illegal and unconstitutional removal by the seven members of the Assembly and Olubunmi Adelugba, “the illegal occupant at the Assembly.”

    Speaking to reporters at the palace of Ewi Ado-Ekiti, after a truce meeting between him and other members of the Assembly, Aribisogan said he could not withdraw his suit “because it is a constitutional matter and it is only the court that can adjudicate on it.”

  • Adeleke reverses self on sack, dethronement, others

    Adeleke reverses self on sack, dethronement, others

    •Governor raises panel to review Oyetola’s govt
    •It’s an afterthought, says ex-governor’s aide

     

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke said yesterday his administration has not sacked any worker and dethroned three monarchs.

    Adeleke spoke against the earlier announced Executive Order 3, 4 and 5, which stated nullification of employment, appointment made by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola from July 17, 2022 till his inauguration and vacation of the throne of three monarchs appointed by past administration.

    The order states: “All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards and parastatals after July 17, 2022 are hereby nullified.

    “All appointments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in the ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards and parastatals after July 17, 2022 are hereby reversed.

    “All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after July 17, 2022 are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.”

    However, the governor through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, speaking yesterday on a private radio station, Rave FM, in Osogbo, during a talk show programme, ‘Frank Talk’, said Adeleke had not sacked any worker.

    He said the appointment and employment made by the Oyetola administration would be reviewed to ensure legality and due process, stressing that nobody had been sacked, the executive order was misquoted.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has described the setting up of review panels by Governor Adeleke as an afterthought designed to arrive at predetermined outcomes.

    The party urged the governor to settle down to study the handover notes, so as to prevent the blunders he was committing.

    In a statement signed by its Director of Operations, Sunday Akere, APC said: “We told you from day one that these people have nothing to offer. We can all see from their first action that they are even confused.

    “They had told us long time ago that they were coming to sack. They came and announced it. Why set up a panel after taking a decision? What they are doing can be likened to doing ablution after observing prayers. Who does that?”

    Governor Adeleke has ordered the dissolution of non-statutory boards.

    Spokesperson Malam Olawale Rasheed said in a statement that the directive was conveyed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies by Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, the Secretary to the State Government.

  • Withdraw your case from court, Ekiti Obas tell Aribisogan

    Withdraw your case from court, Ekiti Obas tell Aribisogan

    Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have urged the impeached Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan, to withdraw the suit he filed against his sack from office.

    The monarchs, at a peace meeting held at the Ewi’s Palace in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged Aribisogan to obey their resolution to withdraw the case, saying he should know he had a political future in the state.

    This was part of the five-point resolution arrived at during a peace meeting brokered by the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers to resolve the dispute brought about by change in leadership in the assembly.

    The Ekiti monarchs, led by their Chairman, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, in the resolution with the two sides in the dispute reasoned that 22 members in the assembly have supported the new Speaker, Olubunmi Adelugba.

    The traditional rulers called on Aribisogan to go back and join his colleagues and forget about laying claim to the position of Speaker, for the assembly to move forward and the state to enjoy peace.

    They said the majority members of the house (22), must accept Aribisogan back, lift his suspension and drop other punitive measures against him after fulfilling the conditions spelt out for others.

    All the 16 members present with Adelugba unanimously agreed that she was the validly elected Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Read Also: Intrigues, power tussle tear Ekiti Assembly apart

    The Obas resolved that the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Paul Omotoso, should go back to the party caucus and decide about what to do with Aribisogan’s matter with a view to accommodating him as a member of the party.

    The monarchs noted that the party should know that some of its members were aggrieved, which might have been the reason why some of the lawmakers disobeyed the party in the first place.

    They enjoined the party leadership to do the needful by serving the interest of members.

    The resolution was arrived at after the traditional rulers took excuse and met for about 30 minutes. They later invited the lawmakers for the adoption of the resolution.

    Responding, Aribisogan said he had heard what the Obas said, but he decided to go to court and clear his name and not to come back to the house.

    He added: “Once somebody is impeached, he cannot be elected until after 10 years.”

    Aribisogan said the court case was filed to enforce his human rights, noting that he would go back to his lawyers and feed them back with the resolution of the Ekiti Obas.

    Other monarchs at the meeting included Ogoga Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu; Oloye of Oye, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi; Owa Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adebayo Adewole; Olojudo of Ido, Oba Ilori Faboro; Olomuo of Omuo, Oba Noah Omonigbehin and Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

  • EKOEXCEL pupils shine at JETS competition

    EKOEXCEL pupils shine at JETS competition

    EKOEXCEL, the innovative digital initiative launched in 2019 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to transform primary schools, recorded another milestone recently when Lagos State pupils emerged second and third at the National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) competition.

    At the competition, which was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Education, held at the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja recently, three pupils of the EKOEXCEL initiative overseen by the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) shone brightly in the two categories they competed in.

    John Daniel from St. Francis Primary School, Maryland, came second in the quiz competition, two girls, Unique Emmanuel and Sarah Adeyemi of Monsuru Agoro Primary School, Mafoluku, took the third position in the project competition.

    Read Also: Lagos announce competition for SDGs

    Affirming the inclusive education pupils are receiving with EKOEXCEL, the two girls presented an air and temperature monitoring system they developed using an embedded approach.

    Speaking about their feat, Emmanuel and Adeyemi attributed it to the quality instruction they received under EKOEXCEL, noting that it had tremendously improved their education.

    Commenting on Lagos’ excellent showing, LASUBEB Chairman Wahab Alawiye-King said: “This achievement excites all of us about EKOEXCEL programme, especially because of the participation by females in this cohort. One of the core principles of EKOEXCEL is inclusion, and we are happy that our female pupils are proving their mettle on the national stage. Our pupils’ achievements also reassure us that we are on the right track, and we will not relent.”

  • Supreme Court plans special panel on dispute over Ekiti APC governorship ticket

    Supreme Court plans special panel on dispute over Ekiti APC governorship ticket

    Supreme Court has decided to constitute a special panel of seven members to determine the dispute arising from the January 27, 2022 governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.

    The apex court took the decision last Thursday at the mention of an appeal filed by Kayode Ojo, an aspirant in the primary, who claimed to have won the primary election and insisted that he is the authentic candidate of the APC for the last governorship election.

    A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Okoro, directed Ojo’s legal team led by Alex Izinyon (SAN) to write the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to constitute the seven-member panel to consider the constitutional issues thrown up by the appeal.

    The court’s directive to the appellant to apply for the constitution of a full panel to hear the appeal was sequel to an application by Izinyon.

    Read Also: Appeal Court overturns judgment on fresh primaries, reinstates Ogun PDP candidates

    In reaction to the court’s observation that the 180 days stipulated for the hearing of such pre-elections cases had lapsed, Izinyon noted that there were constitutional issues raised in the appeal, requiring a formal determination.

    He then applied that a full panel of the court be constituted to enable the Supreme Court make a departure from its position on Section 285 of the Constitution.

    Counsel for the respondents in the appeal marked: SC/CV/1312/2022, did not oppose the appellant’s request for the constitution of a full panel.

    Ruling, Justice Okoro ordered the appellant to make a formal application to the CJN for the constitution of the full panel.

    He adjourned sine die (indefinitely), pending when the CJN would constitute the full panel to decide the matter as requested by the appellant.

    Ojo’s appeal is against the October 7, 2022 judgment by the Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti, which, though found that the trial court was wrong not to have determined the case on its merit, as required under Section 285(8) of the Constitution, failed to invoke its powers under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to re-hear the appellant’s case on the merit.

    Justice Moore Adumein, in the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal, held among others, that “it is ludicrous that the trial court abandoned the consideration and resolution of the main dispute between the parties and aborted, terminated or truncated an important judicial exercise or process at an elementary or interlocutory stage.