The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agboola Ajayi

  • We will try not to owe workers – Akeredolu

    We will try not to owe workers – Akeredolu

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday said government will try and make sure it does not owe workers their salaries.

    Akeredolu made this promise while receiving report of Committee on Arrears of Salaries of Public Servants in Akure.

    He said the present administration does not have any other option but to pay salaries.

    Akeredolu expressed hope that the workers would waive the outstanding salary arrears as part of their contributions to development.

    “If they meet and say they waived two months, we will be glad but if they insist on having the full arrears, we thank them and will look for ways of paying.

    “The government will continue to try and make sure we don’t owe them salaries”, he said.

    The governor also said the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), needed to be increased very soon to tackle the salary arrears.

    “Before we present our budget and after presentation, I will have to address the workers to let them know that it’s not possible to use all our money to pay salaries.

    “We have said this many times, we must be prepared to make sacrifices because we don’t borrow money to pay salaries, something must be done.

    “I thank the people for their efforts and resilience. I know it’s not easy, but it’s also getting increasingly difficult for the government too; but whatever we do, we will try not to owe salaries”, he said.

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi said the salary arrears owed workers by the previous administration amounted to ₦38.57 billion.

    “This is not inclusive of the ₦41.5 billion representing outstanding gratuities.

    “We came in on Feb. 24, we paid February, March, April salaries and also one month out of the six months salaries owed by the past government.

    “Right now, what is outstanding is N34.5 billion which is like I said, outside the N41.5 billion, representing outstanding gratuities across the board.

    ”What the government is owing now is N34.5 billion, representing  five months salaries as against the six months we met on board”, he added.

    He, however, commended the governor for promising to offset the salaries as soon as money was available.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the committee was inaugurated on March 7 to deliberate and report on ways of offsetting seven months’ salary arrears owed by the previous administration.

  • Gov. Akeredolu calls for vocational centres for graduates

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday called for vocational centres to enhance self reliance of youths after graduation.

    Akeredolu made the call when the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), visited him in Akure.

    Represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, Akeredolu said youths no longer focused on white collar jobs after leaving the university, hence the need of the vocational centres.

    The governor said his administration would not impose or dictate a national president for NAOSS as it holds election soon.

    “We will provide a level playing field for all contestants but we will also not tolerate violence in any way.

    “The primary objective of any government is to protect lives and property; that we won’t compromise”, he said.

    Mr Adeolu Iwakun, National President, NAOSS, commended the administration for prompt payment of salaries.

    He listed the payment of the outstanding 2013 to 2017 bursaries as part of the demands of the association.

    “We are owed 2013/2014 bursaries where N50 million was paid after pronouncement of N350 million to be released for this.

    “We want this government to introduce post-graduate scholarship as we all know that the value of first degree is fast diminishing in Nigeria.

    “The government cannot employ everyone and we have skilled graduates who are willing to display the skills but no opportunity, hence the need for vocational centres which will also reduce the rate of unemployment”, he said.

  • Court remands four for stealing Ondo Dep. Governor’s car battery

    An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State on Wednesday remanded four men in prison over alleged theft of a Skybite 100 Arms vehicle battery belonging to the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    The accused – Dare Akinlade, 19; Pius Marculey, 22; Samuel Baniah, 22 and Segun Ilesanmi, 25, are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony and stealing.

    The accused, of no fixed addresses, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, ordered that they should be remanded at the Okitipupa Prisons until March 10 for further hearing and determination of their bail.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 3 at about 12 noon at the deputy governor’s residence in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

    Orogbemi said Akinlade, Marculey and Beniah entered into Ajayi’s residence under the pretence of being friends to his son and stole the battery.

    He said the fourth accused, Ilesanmi, an electrician at Ona Opemipo Street, Okitipupa, on the same day at about 2:00pm received the battery from the accused knowing that it was a stolen item.

    He said that the offences were punishable under Sections 516, 477 and 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Law of Ondo State, 2006. (NAN)

  • Ondo deputy governor promises dividends of democracy

    The newly sworn-in Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has said that the people of the state will benefit from the new government’s dividends of democracy.

    He said this at a reception held in his hometown, Kiribo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state.

    The new state government of All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and Ajayi were sworn-in as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively on Friday in Akure.

    Ajayi said that there were enormous tasks ahead of the new government, coupled with high expectations of the people.

    He advised people to exercise patience with the new administration in order to be fair to all.

    “We are aware of the huge task ahead of us and the high expectations of the people of the state but we plead with the people to exercise patience for us to study what is on ground.

    “We will make our people happy and we promise to be fair to all and not to disappoint all for the trust and confidence that have in us,” Ajayi said.

    The deputy governor however gave thanks to the Almighty God for the opportunity to serve and also to the electorate that voted for the new government to steer the ship of the state for a four-year term.

    He advised indigenes of the state to cooperate with the new government by renewing their support and prayers for the government to succeed in order to re-distribute the dividends of democracy.

    “I am using this opportunity to thank God and the people of this state for voting us. We sought for their prayers and cooperation to be successful,” Ajayi said.