Category: South West

Kwara State Government said it has received N2.9 billion as its federal allocation for February.

It said the allocation comprises Statutory Revenue Allocation SRA (gross) of N1.7 billion deductions (loans) of N1.3 billion eight million Naira; SRA (net) of N699,457,683.87; Value Added Tax (VAT) of N1,665,520,784.67; Excess Bank charges of N33,391,774.95k and Non-oil Revenue of N488,261,483.95.

February allocation figure is higher by N291,079,653.10k when compared with last month, but still represents a worrisome downward trend in revenue.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance said the 16 local governments also received N2,546,039,717.27k (net) as federal allocation for the month of February.

According to the statement, the figures comprise SRA (Gross) N1,297,699,856.05k; Deductions N37,797,083.19k; SRA (Net) N1,259,902,772.86k and VAT N943, 514,314,.35; Excess Bank charges of N21,302,611.76k and

Non Oil Revenue of N321,320,018.30k

The statement said the figure is higher by N182,075,917.36k when compared with last month’s allocation, even though it means the local governments will need extra funds to pay 100 per cent salary.

Ile-Ife indigenes yesterday alleged that oath was administered on members of the Selection Committee to appoint Prof. Adebayo Bamire as the 12th Vice Chancellor (VC) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

The indigenes, through its union, Ife Progressive Forum, at a news conference held at the Community Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, addressed by the President, Dr. Famoriyo Gbolade, alleged that the process was schemed in favour of Prof. Bamire.

He alleged that there was a corrupt manipulation of the vital process of scoring and assessing aspirants to the VC position by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji, with the connivance of other members of the committee.

Gbolade added: “The secrecy surrounding the exercise is highly suspicious. There was oath administered on members of the Selection Committee before the interviews were conducted, after, and during the process of compiling the results. The report of the committee to the Council was slated for 2pm, while the announcement of the reports to the public was slated for 3pm of the same Thursday, March 17, 2022. Was the report expected to be automatically approved by the Council?

“Besides, the tradition in the academia is to frontload reports before consideration. Why were the Council members not given the reports at least 24 hours before the meeting, in accordance with academic and administrative practice? On entering the meeting and after necessary protocols, members were given palmtops containing the purported selection reports. They were allowed to hold the palmtops for about 10 minutes, after which the so-called reports were approved. Why will the university withdraw the palmtops from members? Is it that the chairman does not trust members? What is it that must be so guided in a public document? Where is it in our academic practice is Oath of Secrecy agreement from committee members?”

The indigenes appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to look into the process that led to the appointment of Bamire.

OAU spokesman Abiodun Olarewaju denied the allegation that members of the Selection Committee were made to take oath to scheme the process in favour of Bamire.

He said: “There are civilised ways of seeking justice, especially if a process is perceived unjust. We learnt that a petition has been written. So, let’s wait for the outcome. I am not aware there was any oath taking.”

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Oyo State Government is set to hand over Government College Ibadan (GCI) to the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association (GCIOBA), for management, operation and development.

The government made this disclosure following the signing of an agreement between it and the Incorporated Trustees of GCIOBA.

It said the handover followed the association’s request to manage, operate and develop the school, in order to maintain and sustain its legacy.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, and the Commissioner for Education, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, represented the government, while the Incorporated Trustees of GCIOBA led by the President of the association, Dr. Wale Babalakin, represented the school.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde at the agreement-signing ceremony, Mrs. Adeosun said the state, through the agreement, is initiating a process that will ensure it (the state) gets the best from the education sector.

She said a study conducted by the Makinde administration, upon assumption of office in 2019, indicated that the state government needed over N40 billion to develop the education sector.

Babalakin said the trustees were happy to pull through the ‘unusual agreement.’

He said: “I want to let you know that you will see a massive transformation of this institution. It will be what the governor wants it to be, the envy of schools in Nigeria.”

Lagos State Government has urged Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) to come out of their shells by embracing developmental policies and programmes, aimed at improving their standard of living.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs Adenike Oyetunde gave the advice yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja at this year’s Trade Expo and Talent Hunt Show for PLWDs, with the theme: “Ability in Disability”.

She enjoined more PLWDs to register with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), to showcase their talents and craftsmanship, thereby contributing their quota to the development of Lagos State.

LASODA General Manager Dare Dairo assured PWLDs of continuous platforms and programmes to celebrate their talents and craftsmanship and ensure they are included in the growth and development of the state.

Dairo, who said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration was committed to an inclusive government through the THEMES Agenda, hailed the private sector and Non-Government Organisations for their support towards the welfare of PLWDs.

The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWASO), Osun State chapter, yesterday disowned and called for the arrest of adherents, who invaded Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to protest non-appointment of an indigene as the vice chancellor.

A statement by the President of TRAWSO, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda and Secretary, Ifasola Onifade, expressed displeasure about the protest by traditional religious worshippers over the appointment of Prof. Adebayo Bamire as the V-C.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged his subjects not to take law into their hands over the appointment of Bamire.

In a statement by his Director of Media, Moses Olafare, the monarch said the indigenes and residents, who were aggrieved by the process that led to the emergence of Bamire, should take caution.

Former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) are among the personalities who will be conferred with honorary awards at the 25th and 26th convocations of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti on March 30.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, who disclosed this yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said the eminent people would be honoured with doctoral degrees for their contributions to the development of the country.

Others include human rights lawyer Femi Falana, BOVAS Managing Director Mrs. Victoria Samson, Air Vice Marshall Rufus Ojuawo (rtd), Tope Adebayo, award-winning singer Folarin Falana popularly called Falz and Prince Soji Ehinlawo.

Olanipekun said 133 graduates would be conferred with first class honours as the institution graduates 16,433 at its combined 25th and 26th convocations.

He added that 263; 7,023; 8,561;174, 252 and 160 graduates would get diploma, bachelor, post graduate diploma and master’s degrees.

The V-C said the institution had carved a niche for itself through the academic laurels won by its workers, students and alumni.

He said his team had worked to move the university from 157th to 14th in webometric ranking among ivory towers in the country due to the giant strides it recorded.

Listing the giant strides, Olanipekun said 67 of the 81 academic programmes being undertaken by the institution had been given full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“Besides the foregoing, our professional programmes have full accreditation from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Council of Legal Education of Nigeria, among others,” he said.

The V-C added that 166 medical students had been inducted into medicine by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCAN).

He said the university was improving on the development of ICT infrastructure, with WiFi transmission covering over 20 kilometres radius.

He hailed the government for enlisting EKSU as one of the institutions that would be covered under the Independent Power Plant project.

“At the moment, our university has a total of 580mbps. Of this, the university acquired directly 410mbps the Ekiti State Government allocated to the institution, 150mbps under Ekiti Research and Education Network (EKIREN), the balance of 20mbps was provided by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” Olanipekun said.

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has said his achievements in more than three years in office will speak for him and ensure his re-election in the July 16 governorship poll.

He spoke yesterday at Orita Elelede in Olorunda Local Government during an engagement programme with the Barbers Association.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the governor said with the available meagre resources, he had put smiles on people’s faces.

Oyetola, who hailed the people for the support given to his administration since inception, urged them not to allow greedy politicians to destroy the giant strides the state had made.

He said he would never be distracted by political machinations, but would focus on quality service delivery to the people, adding that the will of God would prevail through the support of the people, who had been the centrepiece of his administration.

The governor, who said he would not spare any effort in advancing the pace of good governance, which his administration had instituted for the masses, stressed that people remained behind him and would return him to office in the next election.

He said in the last three and a half years, his administration had been committed to human development and capacity building by empowering youths through schemes.

Oyetola said he had also executed social intervention programmes for the vulnerable groups as well as prompt payment of salaries and pensions.

He said other important sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism were being developed to give an appreciable level of boost to the state economic index.

The governor said his administration had improved the social well-being of the people through the revitalisation of general hospitals and over 300 primary health centres out of 332 in the state.

He said 120-bed ward and doctors’ quarters was built at the state Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro in addition to the execution of health insurance scheme, to give quality and affordable health care delivery to the people.

The association President, Mr. Sunday Obafemi, praised the governor for his people-oriented programmes and policies, “which are affecting the masses positively.”

He said Oyetola’s achievements in health, infrastructure, social intervention and empowerment were commendable.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, has described the death of Amb. Olusola Sanu as a great loss to Ibadan in particular and Nigeria in general.

Sanu, a retired diplomat, died on Tuesday at the age of 92. He was the Basorun Bobajiro of Ibadanland and the Chairman, Ibadan Elders’ Forum.

The renowned envoy, according to the Olubadan, would be greatly missed for his elderly disposition to issues as well as his unalloyed commitment to Ibadan cause.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lamented the reluctance of registered voters in Ogun State to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) lying at collection points across the state.

It said as at March 21, 651,551 PVCs remained uncollected and appealed to the owners to come and claim them.

The Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Niyi Ijalaye, who disclosed this at a meeting with leaders of political parties, expressed concern about voter apathy, saying the level of participation of voters in electoral process declined in each election year.