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Tag: Adegboyega Oyetola

  • Oyetola reiterates commitment to workers’ welfare

    Osun State Government is committed to workers’ welfare, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said on Thursday.

    He also spoke on his administration’s strategy to sustain the tempo of mutual relationship between the government and the workers.

    The governor at the delegates’ conference of the Osun State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Osogbo, the state capital.

    State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, expressed confidence in the ability of the governor to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens.

    Oyetola who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, said in spite of the economic reality, his administration had consistently enjoyed hands of fellowship from the workforce hence the need to continue to ensure a high standard of living for all categories of workers, saying Osun workers are a model in contemporary labour relations.

    The Conference, which will elect a new leadership was attended by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by Comrade Lateef Idowu Oyelekan; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige represented by Dr F.O Fakunle; Osun Head of Service, Dr Oyebade Olowogboyega; Chairman Osun State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Adebowale Adekola; Chairman State Joint Negotiation Council, Comrade Bayo Adejumo, among others.

    While declaring the conference open, Governor Oyetola said: “If, despite the crushing financial storm the state is experiencing as a result of the national financial meltdown, the relationship between the state and Labour is still strong and intact as it is today, we can confidently say that the State of Osun Labour is a model in contemporary labour relations, which emphasizes dialogue and constructive engagement over and above confrontation.

    “I regard the character and nature of State of Osun Labour as a reflection and extension of the State’s Omoluabi ethos and I am proud of them.

    Read Also: Show love, live in peace, says Oyetola

    “On our part as an administration, we shall continue to strive to prioritize workers’ welfare, we shall be unrelenting in finding creative means of delivering good welfare to our workers within our limited resources.

    “This administration is people and worker oriented and we have a policy to deliver development and distribute resources equitably in all the sectors of the state.

    “We are doing our best to improve infrastructure, enhance the activities of small and medium enterprises, and invite investors and development partners as a deliberate move to boost the formal and informal sectors and ultimately improve the State’s economy and deliver development.

    “I would like to appeal to employers of labour in the State to complement our modest efforts by prioritizing workers’ welfare while advising workers to continue to give their best.”

    Comrade Wabba appealed to the state government to domesticate the payment of the newly approved minimum wage to workers.

    The state NLC Chairman commended the administration of Governor Oyetola for being committed to the welfare of workers. He also hailed the state government for stopping the deductions on car and housing loans for officers who he said would have finished paying, if not for payment of modulated salaries.

    Describing the Governor as a stabilizing factor and silent achiever, Adekomi expressed confidence in the present administration to deliver on the mandate freely given by the teeming citizens.

    “We workers have no sense of doubt in the ability of the government to promote our welfare and create peaceful and conducive workers-friendly atmosphere.

    “You have registered confidence in us that your administration will bring succour to all categories of workers in the state as being demonstrated even at the worst of low revenue accruable to the state which greatly affected the fortunes of workers and impacted negatively on their welfare.”

    “Our dream and goal is to ensure that the welfare of workers and pensioners are attended to by the government, without being compromised and without any of our members losing his or her job unjustifiably.

    “So, I must commend Osun workers for their endurance, sacrifice, perseverance and understanding of the peculiar situation of the state financial situation,” Adekomi stressed.

  • Oyetola, APC, INEC urge Appeal Court to uphold Osun election

    OSUN State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to uphold the governor’s victory in the governorship election held on September 22 and 27, 2018.

    Their request was contained in three separate appeals they filed against the  majority judgment given by the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal on March 22, 2019.

    The tribunal had, in the majority judgment, given by two of its three members upheld the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke and voided Oyetola and APC’s victory.

    In their appeals, argued yesterday, Oyetola, the APC and INEC prayed the five-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jummai Sankey, to set aside the majority decision of the tribunal, uphold their appeals and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by Adeleke and the PDP.

    They equally urged the court to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by Adeleke, on the grounds that it is unmeritorious.

    In the appeal by Oyetola, his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), faulted the reasons given by the tribunal in reaching the judgment appealed against, arguing that the decision was not supported by the evidence led by the petitioners.

    He urged the court to void the judgment because the judge, Justice Peter Obiorah, who wrote and delivered it, did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal.

    Olanipekun noted that “the judge, who did not sit, came to write the lead judgment and reviewed the evidence of February 6, 2019 proceedings, where he was absent”.

    “Adjudication is like video watching. It cannot be done by proxy. The judge cannot analyse the evidence of a witness, whose demeanour he did not observe. The judgment should be declared a nullity on this ground alone,” he said.

    Olanipekun, who said he and some named senior lawyers were at the tribunal  on February 6, 2019, faulted the argument by lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP that it was not clear from the record of proceedings, whether or not Justice Obiorah was absent on the particular day.

    He argued that the judge’s failure to sign at the end of the proceedings on February 6, 2019, was enough evidence to justify the appellant’s claim that Justice Obiorah was absent on the day in question.

    Olanipekun also faulted the tribunal’s cancellation of results in 17 polling units in the state, and noted that the petitioners did not tender any result of the election before the tribunal.

    Read also: Osun election dispute: Appeal Court fixes hearing for tomorrow

    He  argued that the tribunal went beyond its powers by annulling  results in the 17 polling units to justify the judgment it gave in favour of the petitioners.

    Lawyer to the APC, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), while arguing the party’s appeal, contended that the tribunal was wrong to have allowed the petition, which was incurably incompetent.

    “The 1st and 2nd respondents  sought to be declared winner of the election, held on September 22, 2018, which was declared inconclusive. They also asked the tribunal to void the rerun election held on September 27, 2018, because they believed it was unlawful.

    “You cannot say you should be declared a winner on the election that you said was unlawful and void,” the senior lawyer said.

    Olujinmi accused the tribunal of exceeding its jurisdiction when it engaged in amending the petitioners’ reliefs to make them grantable.

    “No tribunal has the jurisdiction to reframe, amend or formulate reliefs for the petitioners.

    “On realising that the reliefs could not be granted, they (members of the tribunal) amended the reliefs and granted it by themselves.

    “We are saying the tribunal has no power to amend a petitioner’s reliefs. The much they ought to do, on realising that the reliefs could not be granted, was to have dismissed the petition.”

    He faulted the tribunal for holding that the petitioners proved its case of non-compliance in respect of the polling units where it voided results.

    Lawyer to INEC Yusuf Ali (SAN), who argued in a similar manner, contended that the tribunal erred in its majority judgment, particularly as regards the issue of non-compliance.

    He noted that the tribunal, having found that accreditation was properly done and that all witnesses agreed that the votes scored were not affected by the omissions noted in some result sheets, ought not to have voided any results.

    Citing Section 134 (b) of the Electoral Act, Ali argued that  non-compliance means not compliance with the provision of the Act, not an act of omission on the part of INEC officials,  which are not contrary to the provision of the Act.

    Ali also argued that since the tribunal held that the petitioners did not prove over-voting and non-compliance, it ought not to have turned around to void votes in some polling units.

    On the question of why INEC did not call it witnesses at the tribunal, Ali said it was unnecessary because the petitioners did not discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law to warrant INEC to call fresh witnesses.

    Lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), faulted the three appeals and the arguments proffered by Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali.

    Ikpeazu argued that the tribunal was right in its decision to have declared Adeleke and his party as the winner of the election.

    He faulted the argument that Justice Obiorah did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal, arguing that there was no sufficient evidence to that effect.

    Ikpeazu urged the court to dismiss the three appeals and uphold the judgment of the tribunal.

    Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN),  who argued Adeleke’s cross-appeal, urged the court to allow his client’s appeal and reverse the portion of the judgment, where the tribunal rejected the evidence the petitioners lead in relation to six polling units.

    Ogunwumiju argued that the tribunal wrongly excluded some of its evidence, because while it called 23 witnesses to prove it’s allegation of non-compliance in 23 polling units, the tribunal only upheld 17 where it voided elections.

    Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali argued that the cross-appeal was incompetent on several grounds and urged the tribunal to reject it.

    At the conclusion of proceedings that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice Sankey, said judgments would be reserved till a later date.

    She told the parties that the date of the judgment would be communicated to them by the court’s Registry.

    Other members of the court’s five-man panel are: Justices Abubakar Datti Yahaya, Ita George Mbaba, Isaiah Olufemi Akeju and Bitrus Sanga.

  • Oyetola, APC, INEC urge Appeal Court to uphold Osun election

    The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to uphold the victory of Oyetola and APC in the governorship election held in the state on September 22 and 27, 2018.

    Their request is contained in three separate appeals they filed against the majority judgment given by the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal on March 22, 2019.

    The tribunal had, in the majority judgment, given by two of its three members upheld the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke and voided Oyetola and APC’s victory.

    In their appeals, argued on Wednesday, Oyetola, the APC and INEC prayed the five-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jummai Sankey, to set aside the majority decision of the tribunal, uphold their appeals and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by Adeleke and the PDP.

    They equally urged the court to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by Adeleke, on the grounds that it is unmeritorious.

    In the appeal by Oyetola, his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) faulted the reasons given by the tribunal in reaching the judgment appealed against, arguing that the decision was not supported by the evidence led by the petitioners.

    He urged the court to void the judgment because the judge, Justice Peter Obiorah who wrote and delivered it, did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal.

    Olanipekun noted that “the judge, who did not sit, came to write the leading judgment and reviewed the evidence of the February 6, 2019 proceedings where he was absent.

    “Adjudication is like video watching. It cannot be done by proxy. The judge cannot analyse the evidence of a witness, whose demeanor he did not observe. The judgement should be declared a nullity on this ground alone”

    Olanipekun, who said he and some named senior lawyers were at the tribunal on February 6, 2019, faulted the argument by lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP that it was not clear from the record of proceedings, whether or not Justice Obiorah was absent on the particular day.

    He argued that the judge’s failure to sigh at the end of the proceedings on February 6, 2019 was enough evidence to justify the appellant’s claim that Justice Obiorah was absent on the day in question.

    Olanipekun also faulted the tribunal’s cancellation of results in 17 polling units in the state, and noted that the petitioners did not tender any result of the election before the tribunal.

    “If there was no result before the tribunal, the tribunal could not have cancelled what was not before it. Since no single result was submitted and could not have been cancelled,” he said.

    He argued that the tribunal went beyond its powers by annulling results in the 17 polling units in order to justify its the judgement it gave in favour of the petitioners.

    Read Also: Easter: Oyetola okays free train transport for Osun citizens

    Lawyer to the APC, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), while arguing the party’s appeal, contended that the tribunal was wrong to have allowed the petition, which was incurably incompetent.

    “The 1st and 2nd respondents sought to be declared winner of the election, held on September 22, 2018, which was declared inconclusive. They also asked the tribunal to void the rerun election held on September 27, 2018, because they believed it was unlawful.

    “You cannot say you should be declared a winner on the election that you said was unlawful and void,” he said.

    Olujinmi accused the tribunal of exceeding its jurisdiction when it engaged in amending the petitioners’ reliefs to make them grantable.

    “No tribunal has the jurisdiction to reframe, amend or formulate reliefs for the petitioners.

    “On realising that the reliefs could not be granted, they (members of the tribunal) amended the reliefs and granted it by themselves.

    “We are saying the tribunal has no power to amend a petitioner’s reliefs. The much they ought to do, on realising that the reliefs could not be granted, was to have dismissed the petition.”

    He further faulted the tribunal for holding that the petitioners proved its case of non-compliance in respect of the polling units where it voided results.

    Olujinmi added: “The tribunal was wrong. They cannot use the allegation of non-compliance directed at the election of September 27 against the election of September 22.

    “The tribunal relied on certified true copy of Form EC8A, which they said were dumped on the tribunal. This was what they still relied on to nullify results in the polling units in which they said malpractices were proved. The so called non-complaince did not affect the result of the election,” Olujinmi said.

    He argued that the tribunal went outside its powers and contravened Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act when it engaged in the deduction of votes from the outcome of the election to arrive at the decision it gave.

    Lawyer to INEC, Yusuf Ali (SAN) who argued in similar manner, contended that the tribunal erred in its majority judgment, particularly as regards the issue of non-compliance.

    He noted that the tribunal, having found that accreditation was properly done and that all witnesses agreed that the votes scored were not affected by the omissions noted in some result sheets, ought not to have voided any results.

    Citing Section 134 (b) of the Electoral Act, Ali argued that  non-compliance means not compliance with the provision of the Act, not an act of omission on the part of INEC officials,  which are not contrary to the provision of the Act.

    Ali also argued that since the tribunal held that the petitioners did not prove over-voting and non-compliance, it ought not to have turned around to void votes in some polling units.

    On the question of why INEC did not call it witnesses at the tribunal, Ali said it was unnecessary because the petitioners did not discharge the burden of prove placed on them by the law to warrant INEC to call fresh witnesses.

    Ali added: “There is no law that said INEC most call witnesses, since the petitioners could not discharge the responsibility of proving their declarative reliefs, there was no need for INEC to have called its own witnesses.”

    Lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) faulted the three appeals and the arguments proffered by Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali.

    Ikpeazu argued that the tribunal was right in its decision to have declared Adeleke and his party as the winner of the election.

    He faulted the argument that Justice Obiorah did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal, arguing that there was no sufficient evidence to that effect.

    Ikpeazu urged the court to dismiss the three appeals and uphold the judgment of the tribunal.

    Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who argued Adeleke’s cross-appeal, urged the court to allow his client’s appeal and reverse the portion of the judgment, where the tribunal rejected the evidence the petitioners lead in relation to six polling units.

    Ogunwumiju argued that the tribunal wrongly excluded some of its evidence, because while it called 23 witnesses to prove it’s allegation of non-compliance in 23 polling units, the tribunal only upheld 17 where it voided elections.

    Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali argued that the cross appeal was incompetent on several grounds and urged the tribunal to reject it.

    At the conclusion of proceedings that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice Sankey said judgments would be reserved till a later date.

    She told parties that the date of the judgment would be communicated to them by the court’s Registry.

    Other members of the court’s five-man panel are: Justices Abubakar Datti Yahaya, Ita George Mbaba, Isaiah Olufemi Akeju and Bitrus Sanga.

  • Breaking: Appeal Court fixes April 24 for hearing of Osun gov dispute

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has scheduled hearing for April 24 in the appeals filed by the Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the March 22, 2019 by the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal.

    Information about the hearing date is contained in notices sent to parties by the court’s Registry, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Monday in Abuja.

    The tribunal, in a split decision of two-to-one, voided the victory of Oyetola and the APC in the election held on September 22, 2018, but concluded with a rerun on September 27, 2018.

    Two members of the tribunal’s three-member panel upheld the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Senator Ademola Adeleke against the outcome of election, while its chairman dismissed it for being unmeritorious.

    Justices Peter Obiorah and Adegboye Gbolagunte gave the majority decision, which replaced Oyetola and APC with Adeleke and PDP as winners of the election.

    The tribunal Chairman, Justice Muhammad Sirajo, in his dissenting judgment/minority decision, held otherwise.

    He dismissed the petition by Adeleke and PDP on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove their claims.

    In the separate notices of appeal they filed against the tribunal’s majority judgment, Oyetola and the APC ripped the judgment apart, arguing that “it is perverse, replete with contradictions and against the weight of evidence.”

    The want the Court of Appeal to uphold their appeals, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by Adeleke and the PDP.

    Oyetola and the APC said they were contesting the entire majority judgment, except where it held that it lacked jurisdiction to set aside the INEC Guidelines used for the election; that the allegation of over voting was not proved; that the petitioners did not prove voided votes, and other parts of the judgment where it agreed with their arguments.

    They queried the validity of the judgment, which was authored and delivered by Justice Obiorah, who they noted, did not participate in all the sittings of the tribunal during trial.

    The appellants are of the view that the entire of the majority judgment is a nullity, because it was written and delivered by Justice Obiorah “who did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal and who was not present when all the witnesses gave evidence.”

    Read Also: Appeal Court has not voided my election, says Omo-Agege

    They noted that Justice Obiorah was absent on February 6, 2019  when the respondents witnesses (RWs) 12 and 13 – Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem – testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    The appellants are contending that, having not attended the tribunal’s siting on February 6, 2019, Justice Obiorah did not see the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, it was unlawful for the judge to have authored a judgment in which he reviewed the evidence given by the witnesses.

    In the notice of appeal filed for Oyetola by his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), it was argued that: “The writing of and or the participation of the Honourable Justice P. C. Obiorah in the writing of the judgment of the lower tribunal of 22nd March 2019 and delivery of same, vitiates the entire judgment.”

    Oyetola and the APC faulted the decision of the tribunal, in the majority judgment, to declare the rerun election unlawful and proceeded to set it aside.

    They also faulted the tribunal’s finding that the respondents did not deny the claim by the petitions, through PW74, that the Returning Officer cancelled election in the seven polling units and ordered a rerun.

    The appellants said: “The first and third respondents (INEC and APC), in their pleadings, did not admit that it was the Returning Officer that cancelled the result of the election in the seven polling units, but rather, that it was the 1st respondent that cancelled the election in the seven units as distinct from the units’ results.

    “Indeed, as pleaded at paragraphs 24, 25, 27 and 29 of the petition, it was the 1st respondent that cancelled the election in the seven units for the reasons alleged by the petitioners.

    “The tribunal ought to have held the petitioners bound by their pleadings that it was the 1st respondent that cancelled the election in the units and the fact that the 3rd respondent also pleaded that it was the 1sy respondent that cancelled the election in the units.”

    They argued that even if it was any of the electoral officials that announced the cancellation and rerun election, in law, they acted as INEC’s agents of the first respondent (INEC).

    The appellants noted that the petitioners did not only fail to tender results from the seven polling units to support their claim that election actually held in the polling units and the results were cancelled;  they also failed to exhibit the votes scored  by the parties that participated in the election, if actually their was an election.

    Oyetayo and APC argued that, rather than holding against the petitioners, for not supplying the necessary evidence, the tribunal wrongly relied on the evidence of PW74, which it had earlier expunged from the record for being hearsay.

    They argued that, in the absence of vital evidence, “the tribunal ought to have held that the petitioners did not make out the case that there was any election in the seven polling units and that the Returning Officer cancelled the results of the election in the seven units.”

  • Alaafin urges Oyetola to boost Osun’s IGR

    THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has urged Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to bring his experience to bear in improving the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    According to the monarch, this is the only way to enable the governor to raise enough funds to carry out his programmes. The monarch spoke during a visit to the governor at his country home in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area.

    Those who assist the governor to receive the Alaafin, who was accompanied by his son and member of the House of Representatives, Prince Hakeem Adeyemi, were Akinrun of Ikirun Oba Abdul-Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji; Aragbiji of Iragbiji Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi; Elende of Eko-Ende Oba Abdul-Rauf Adebayo Olaniyan and Olororuwo of Ororuwo Oba Kamorudeen Adeyemi Adeyanju.

    The Alaafin hailed Oyetola for building on the good legacies of his predecessors, saying a state like Osun needed a robust revenue profile to enable its governor to deliver democracy dividends, adding that Oyetola had started well and he had no doubt about his capacity to perform.

    He said: “You have to use your wealth of experience in administrative, financial and political sectors to improve the revenue base of the state.

    “You might know that I am fully aware of the significant role you played to boost the revenue profile of Lagos State.

    “You were among the few people that deployed financial professionalism and expertise to help Lagos to raise its revenue status at a time its local governments’ allocations were seized by the Obasanjo Government during Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s tenure

    “Osun is not a rich state. So, my advice to you is to use your ingenuity and the experience acquired to advance the economy of the state.”

    The monarch called for unity, love among the Yoruba and implored Oyetola to join hands with his colleagues to place the Southwest to its rightful position.

    “My concern is to ensure that Yoruba people are properly placed in the scheme of things in Nigeria,” the Alaafin said.

    Oyetola expressed delight over the Alaafin’s visit, which he described as a symbol of support for his administration.

    He said he was thrilled the monarch decided to come to his country home, adding: “The visit will occupy a big place in my diary.”

    He lauded Oba Adeyemi for being supportive of his administration with prayers and advice. The governor described the Alaafin as a man of integrity and honesty and implored him not to relent in his efforts until the region actualises her dreams.

  • Osun to recruit 2000 food vendors for O’MEALS

    No fewer than 2000 food vendors are to be recruited by the Osun State Government to enhance the State Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme popularly known as- O’MEALS.

    The vendors will join others in the preparation of meals for the public school pupils across the state.

    Programme Officer of the scheme, Mrs. Olaniyan Kehinde, who stated this during an interaction with applicants at the O’MEALs Secretariat Complex in Osogbo, the state capital, commended the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for opening another window of employment opportunity for women in the state.

    Olaniyan, who lauded the efforts of the present administration for sustaining the scheme, said the employment opportunity will further help to empower women.

    She acknowledged the administration of Oyetola for demonstrating genuine commitment to women and children development since assumption office.

    She noted that the scheme had helped to banish the scourge of unemployment and poverty among women since it was founded.

    She described the huge success recorded since the establishment of the scheme as unprecedented particularly in alleviating poverty in the society.

    “Governor Oyetola has approved the recruitment of another set of food vendors (caterers) who will be preparing nutritious meals for our pupils in every school day across the state.

    Read Also: Osun moves to secure state from bandit-miners, criminals

    “‎As we all know, this scheme is aimed to banish poverty, unemployment, hunger and increase primary school enrolment and as well encourage local and state-wide economic growth.

    “The recruitment exercise was conceived to empower unemployed women in the state and as well help to eradicate poverty and hunger.

    “This initiative will help to complement the efforts already put in place as the new vendors will be trained and exposed to skills that can avail them the opportunities of being self-independent and self-reliant.

    “We are planning to recruit 2000 fresh set of caterers while some of the old ones will be relieved.

    “So, we are going to synergize the new beneficiaries with some of the old ones who have been found worthy in the course of discharging their duties.

    “The criteria for the recruitment include Senior School Certificate Examination, Birth Certificate, Certificate in Catering Service, Local Government Certificate known as State of Origin, Health Certificate among others.

    “Those that will be considered for the job will be within the age bracket of 18 to 40 years and such person must possess at least SSCE with an evidence of certification in catering service among others,” she said.

  • Osun moves to secure state from bandit-miners, criminals

    Worried about the likely infiltration of illegal miners and bandits displaced from Zamfara State, Osun State Government on Thursday urged security stakeholders and traditional rulers to be at alert to prevent all forms of criminality.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said: “It has become imperative to put measures in place to checkmate the influx of displaced illegal miners to prevent the reverberation effect of the Zamfara State crisis in Osun.”

    He spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday at a security sensitasation programme attended by traditional rulers, security operatives, civil society organisations, politicians, market women, community leaders and top government functionaries.

    The governor spoke on the need for security powered by intelligence gathering, vigilance by traditional rulers in their domain and the need to alert security agents on their observation to prevent crime and criminality.

    Some of the security chiefs at the meeting raised the alarm on the infiltration of mining sites in the state by some bandits and urged the rulers to assist the operatives so that the invaders do not have a foot hold.

    The top security chiefs cautioned landlords against renting out houses to people without knowing their background or profiling them.

    “If you rent out your house to a person who turns out to be a bandit, you will bear the consequence with him,” Governor Oyetola warned landlords.

    He urged traditional rulers to work hard in the villages because illegal miners “are gathering in remote areas of our state.”

    The Federal government banned all forms of mining in Zamfara State following sustained killings by bandits propelled by those believed to be illegal miners.

    The governor said: “The purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting is to sensitize the security stakeholders on the need to forestall possible influx of illegal miners and the attendant risks of kidnapping, killings, drug dealings, arms peddling and rape.

    “The overall objective is to better secure our state, make our minerals-rich communities peaceful, make mining commercially viable and deliver development to our people.

    “In a nation where securing our oil wealth has been a perennial challenge, ensuring that our state’s mineral wealth does not become a resource curse, is a task we must all embrace squarely.

    “It is in light of this that we regard the recent ban on mining activities in Zamfara States as a potential threat to mining activities in our State, which is blessed with mining deposits in commercial quantity.

    Read Also: Osun records hike in forestry revenue

    “We must not yield our state to bandits and aggressors. We must work together to secure our communities.

    “Our security agencies must unleash their intelligence capacity to crack the activities of bandits. Bad elements must be made to face the music to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “I appeal to our people to provide credible information to security agencies while the ‎traditional and religious leaders, security agents, government agencies and leaders should be above board.

    “There is a need to heavily fortify our minerals-rich communities to make them impregnable to external aggression and incursion”.

    Governor Oyetola told the gathering that his administration had given priority to welfare of the people and provision of security knowing them to be core components of the foundation for peace and development.

    The governor added: “It is in recognition of these axioms that our young administration kicked off with the provision of robust welfare programmes and collaboration with security agencies to secure the state and to keep it together in peace.

    “We have worked hard as an administration to further improve on agriculture in order to deliver food security just as we are tackling youth unemployment through our social protection programmes.

    “We shall further concretize the state’s security and peace architectures so that our reputation as people living in peace would be further sustained.

    “Apart from maintaining the extant peace, our core strategies entail adopting a proactive approach to nip security breach in the bud”.

    Commissioner of Police, Mrs Abiodun Ige; State Director Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Brown Ekwoaba; State Commander National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Samuel Egbeola ‎and Acting Comptroller Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ibong Osato Aideyan, who attended the programme, advocated synergy among security agents and with residents to enhance security.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who led other major traditional rulers to the meeting, said traditional rulers have a greater ruler to prevent infiltration into their community by bandits and urged the state government to empower the rulers to be able to assist the government’s security efforts.

     

  • Easter: Oyetola okays free train transport for Osun citizens

    Osun State citizens travelling home for Easter celebration will have the opportunity of free train transportation from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital.

    Those travelling from towns on the route between Lagos state and Osun state will also benefit from the free trip as approved by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

    It will be at no cost to the travelers.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, said the all- expenses paid round trip, whose objective is to give relief, will stop over at designated Train Stations in Ogun and Oyo states.

    Read Also: SDP pledges support for Oyetola

    According to the schedule of movement, the train will depart from the Iddo Terminus in Lagos by 10am on Friday, April 19, with the expected 6pm arrival time at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park Train Station in Osogbo.

    In the reverse movement on Monday, April 22, the train will depart from the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park Train Station in Osogbo at 10am with the expected 6pm arrival time at Iddo Terminus in Lagos.

    It is the second time the Oyetola Administration will provide free train transport for citizens going home for religious celebration. The first time was in December 2018, for people travelling home for Christmas, barely one month after the governor took office.

    Millions of people have benefitted from the Free Train Movement since it was initiated by the State Government of Osun in 2011. It has continued non-stop.

  • Power restoration soon in Ilesa following Oyetola’s intervention

    Power will soon be restored to Ijesaland following an intervention by Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in the face-off between youths of the area and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

    The youths went on the rampage last month following a protracted power outage, which followed disagreement overbilling, among other issues.

    The youths destroyed some equipment belonging to IBEDC, which the power firm said would require a huge sum to fix.

    Yesterday, Oyetola held a peace meeting with the IBEDC officials, traditional rulers in Ijesaland, led by Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and the Elegboro of Ijebu Jesa, Oba Moses Agunsoye.

    The leader of the House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye and House of Representatives member-elect Lawrence Ayeni led the political leaders and other stakeholders.

    Government officials at the meeting included Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor Dr. Charles Akinola and Head of Service Dr Oyebade Olowogboyega.

    IBEDC officials in attendance included Regional Head, Osun IBEDC, Mr. Akin Ogunleye; Regional Technical Manager, Osun IBEDC, Akin Abiodun and Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) Chief Sunday Oduntan.

    Read Also: SDP pledges support for Oyetola

    Oduntan said after the meeting that the outcome would lead to the restoration of power to Ijesaland.

    He said officials of IBEDC and other concerned authorities had agreed to convey the agreement reached at the meeting to the top management of the IBEDC.

    Oduntan added: “This meeting is fantastic because we were able to have two major individuals – the Executive Governor of the state and the paramount ruler of Ijesaland.

    “The two eminent personalities have spoken with us on the issue, and we have given them the facts and figures as regards what had happened.

    “We have agreed to do necessary things that can facilitate quick restoration of power to the affected areas.

    “We have requested the governor to allow us to go back to the management of the IBEDC and convey his strong message of empathy and appeal to the appropriate authority.”

     

  • Osun records hike in forestry revenue

    The Osun State government has recorded 120 per cent increase in revenue from the forestry sub-sector, raking in N22 million in March against the N10 million in January.

    The Chairman of the Committee on Forestry, Prof. Bayonle Olorede, stated this during the presentation of the panel’s report to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Olorede said the committee blocked some areas of leakage, which led to the increased revenue for the government.

    He said the committee came up with 17 recommendations, which if implemented, would assist the state to actualise its set objectives in the forestry sub-sector.

    Part of the recommendations is the appointment of a forestry consultant, who will be given a target to effect the needed change that will reposition the sector. It also listed the qualities that such a person should possess

    Describing forestry as a critical revenue generation sector, Olorede hailed the Oyetola’s administration for working assiduously to improve the revenue base of the state.

    Read Also: Osun records hike in forestry revenue

    He said: “We are happy to inform the governor that the state revenue on forestry had increased with over 100 per cent.

    “The revenue rose from N10 million to N22.5 million between January 2019 and March 2019, showing tremendous improvement in the revenue base of the state compared to what was recorded in 2018.

    “Two out of the 17 recommendations in the report are very important to the quest to sanitise and improve on the revenue potential in the sector,” he added.

    Oyetola expressed delight with the outstanding performance of the committee

    He said the committee was inaugurated to sanitise the sector; block leakages and promote efficiency and accountability.

    Oyetola said his administration remained resolute to bring out the best in all sectors to drive up the revenue profile of the state.