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Tag: Council chief

  • Council chief presents score card

    Council chief presents score card

    It is not how long, but how well as the aphorism goes. Achievements by agemates vary according to their strengths and abilities to turn unsavoury situations into laudable accomplishments. In the circumstances, therefore, the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area could be likened to an entity that has achieved much than its contemporaries.

    In the last 12 years of its creation, the Onigbongbo LCDA has witnessed tremendous development. The great achievements are not just a flash-in-the-pan, but based on the commitments of the various politicians and seasoned technocrats who were and still are obsessive about engendering development in the council area.

    It is not enough to work towards enhancing the well-being of the people, council chiefs in the area thought it wise to, from time to time, invite residents of the council to brief them on, not only what the council has been able to achieve, but also on some of the challenges it is experiencing and how to chart a way forward.

    Mindful of this, therefore, the Executive Secretary of Onigbongbo LCDA, Moshood Mustapha Abiola presented his score card to the people; detailing his achievements and constraints.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on year 2016 Budget held on Monday at the council’s secretariat, he said: “This year’s score card aimed at keeping the people abreast of what has been achieved so far and how we can become a formidable team to move this LCDA forward.

    “This administration is passionate about executing people-oriented programmes, even though paucity of funds has largely affected the execution of most people-friendly programmes it had earmarked. Even in the face of this challenge, the LCDA was able to achieve much.

    “This administration appreciates the obas, baales, management and staff of Onigbongbo LCDA, Chairman of the local government area, ward chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders, market men and women, members of the executive of Community Development Committees (CDCs), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the entire people of Onigbongbo for their support to this administration.

    “I would encourage us all to pay our taxes and rates to enable the council to carry out more people-oriented programmes.

     

  • Council chief urges calm after bank robbery

    The chairman of Àbaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba has called on residents of the council to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, as effort is being made by security agencies to track down the armed robbers who attacked First Bank in the council.

    Garba, who made the call while on a visit to the robbery scene at First Bank in the council, sympathised with victims of the bank robbery, urging the residents to be vigilant and security conscious.

    The chairman assured the résidents that the security operatives are doing their best to arrest  the robbers.

    The council chairman also paid visit to the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, to assure him of the council commitment to ensuring proper security of lives and property in the council.

     

  • Council chief hopes for more revenue

    The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Ibrahim Daniel has expressed the hope that the FCT Internal Revenue Service Board inaugurated in May will collect more revenue in the area councils.

    Speaking during an interview, Daniel said that there were many areas in the council and FCT where that authorities could not collected revenue because there was no enabling law.

    He added that with the board in place, revenue collection will be made easier.

    There was no enabling law. Like the property task in Abuja, it runs into billions of naira. From the projection, in FCT, if they are to collect revenue on it, it will run into billions,” he said.

    He noted that development will be recorded in the councils as whatever the board collected as revenue, 60 per cent will be plunged back to the councils.

    “The good news for the councils is that whatever the board collected from the revenue, 60 per cent will be plunged back to the council. It is a massive change,” he said.

    Daniel expressed hope that though the board will face various challenges, the FCT residents will begin to get its impact before the year runs out.

    “There might be challenges this time around, administrative structures, modalities for collecting the revenue and how to kick-start it. I am sure that before the year runs out, we will begin to get the impact of the FCT Revenue Board,” he said.

    Recall that the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bala Mohammed, has the inauguration the board following the signing of the law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Mohammed had stated  that the FCT administration expects to generate N400 billion annually through the board adding that the board had responsibility for assessment, collection and accounting for revenues accruable to the FCT and other related matters.

  • Protect your environment, says council chief

    Ikorodu Local Government Area Executive Secretary Wasiu Adesina has urged residents to protect their environment.

    He spoke during the yearly Lagos State Tree Planting campaign at Ijomu Primary School in Anibaba, Ikorodu.

    Adesina observed plants role in the composite ecosystem, saying they provide food for most mammals and also keep them from the sun and rains.

    He noted the symbiotic relationship between man and plants, explaining that man takes in oxygen released by plants in order to give back carbon-dioxide used by plants to process their own food.

    The council chief enjoined stakeholders to cultivate the habit of planting trees and shun indiscriminate felling of trees.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dr. Y. O. Bashorun, who represented Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, emphasised the importance of afforestation to ensure balance in the ecosystem.

    Earlier, the Director of Forestry, Mr. Kunle Otubu, demonstrated the planting and nurturing methods for seedlings of trees, stating that when men make trees their friends, trees will make men their friends.

    In attendance were All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, executives of Community Development Associations (CDA) market men and women, National Council of Women Societies of Nigeria, Girls’ Guides, Youth and Transport Associations and the Global Services Overseas, an international voluntary youth group, among other stakeholders present.

  • Council chief pledges better administration

    Lagos State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC) chairman Comrade Obafemi Oyenubi has pledged to run a better regulated council and tie up loose ends.

    This, he said, will ensure a more committed executive and give proper direction.

    Oyenubi was re-elected as chairman, last Friday, to run the affairs of the JNC for another two years.

    Also re-elected along with him was M. A. Subair as the Vice-Chairman, while other officials in his executive were all returned to their former positions unopposed.

    Before the election, however, a candidate contesting the vice chairmanship position, Comrade A. Y. Sulaimon, wanted the election put on hold for reasons of clarification on the council’s constitution and electoral guidelines, saying he was not aware that there was an election committee in place.

    He was, however, overruled by the committee, which later accepted his withdrawal from the contest and abstinence from the election, after a heated debate and arguments that lasted for over one hour.

     

  • Council chief closes market

    The Executive Secretary of Amuwo Odofin Local Government in Lagos State, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu, has ordered the closure of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Market Complex.

    The market got into the news following the allegation by the traders against one Alhaji Saheed Abiola who they accused of beating them whenever they went against his ‘so-called laid down rules’.

    Ajibola-Ojodu also immediately dissolved the existing executives of the market association.

    She called for the appointment of a caretaker committee to steer the leadership of the market pending when all the thorny issues raised by the two warring parties in the market would be resolved.

    The Women Leader of the market, Mrs Catherine Omotoyosi had alleged that Abiola, popularly known as ‘Zyad1’ usually engaged in illegal collection of levies from the marketers even when he was not a member of the executives.

    Abiola had debunked most of the accusations.

    Speaking at the reconciliation meeting yesterday at the Local Government headquarters in Lagos, Ajibola-Ojodu said that the market would remain shut until all the issues were settled.

    She warned the warring parties against flouting her orders, insisting that her administration would not tolerate breakdown of laws and orders within the market.

  • Introduce technical skills to schools, council chief urges govt

    Executive Secretary, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mallam Ahmed Jaji, has urged the government to  put the teaching of technical skills in the primary and secondary schools curricula.

    If done, he is optimistic pupils would consolidate on it after leaving school to become self employed.

    Jaji spoke at a briefing on this year’s Spelling Bee competition held at  the council last week.

    He said: “We need to re-orientate our curriculum because most of our children are being turned out to the street without any necessary skill. I remember during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime, he sent some Nigerians to Eastern European countries to be trained as engineers, pharmacists, among others.

    “We should de-emphasise paper qualification and focus more on what our children can use their hands to do; our government should re-orientate their curriculum by infusing into our children technical skills that will make them independent and job creators.  Jaji said the benefits of the competition were immeasurable because the pupils gained a lot from it and the competitive spirit would continue to be in them.

    He said the competition was to bring out the best among pupils to represent the council at the state level.

    He urged participants to continue to wax stronger, assuring them that the Lagos governor-elect, Akinwumi Ambode, would continue where the Governor Fashola stopped.

    “As far as I am concerned, we might look at the Spelling Bee competition as inconsequential but the totality of its benefits, nobody can measure it. Not until our party leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu stated some facts, I never knew that the first One Day Governor was sponsored to Switzerland to learn some useful skills and those after him were given same opportunity.

    “You are the future of the nation. We want to leave a sound legacy for you. The picture is now clear because we now have a new dawn in Nigeria which you will all benefit from. I can assure you that with the kind of team that will be put in place, it will be a continuation of excellence in Lagos by the new government. I want you to know failure is not a curse but to re-double your effort in achieving your goal and when you fail you don’t give up,” he said.

    In her address, wife of the Executive Secretary, Mrs Ibironke Jaji, said the competition would promote unity among contestants, schools and identify career prospects in the pupils.

    Ten schools competed for the secondary category and six schools for the primary.

    Ayantayo Toluwani from Ojodu Primary (School 1) emerged winner in the primary category, while Fabian Freedom from Ojodu Primary (School 3) and Ngejeme Chiamaka of Ogba Primary School were first and second runners up.

    In the secondary school cadre, Abdulliadi Faaiz of Omole Senior Grammar defeated Ajayi Ayodeji of Babs Fafunwa Millenium Grammar School and Bello Ibraheem of Omole Senior Grammar School, who emerged second and third.

    Faaiz told The Nation: “I know and believe I am going there to win and to other contestants, they should always prepare hard and better.”

    Toluwani thanked his teachers, urging others to be consistent in what they do.  The winners were later presented with certificates and gifts.

  • Council chief urges staff on rules

    The chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri has reminded the staff of the council of the need to strictly adhere to the civil service rules in the discharge of their primary assignments.

    Giri stated this during a one-day induction course organised for newly employed junior staff of the council recently.

    The chairman urged them to be dedicated to their duties, adding that if they work as a team, it would help bring about progress and development to the council.

    Also speaking, the head of personnel management of the council, Mrs. Amina Solomon warned the staff against envy which, according to her, can lead to rancour in the council.

    She also called on them to work towards bringing development to the council, urging them to be dedicated to their duties, as this will go a long way in helping them reach the peak during their service period.

    Most of the participants who spoke with Abuja Review described the induction course as helpful, adding that it will help them work properly in the duties of the council.

    It was gathered that about 60 members of staff participated in the induction course which was attended by heads of the department, units head and other senior staff of the council.

     

  • Council chief donates relief materials to herdsmen

    Council chief donates relief materials to herdsmen

    Following the fire incident that gutted residents of Fulani herdsmen at Jijingba, a community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the chairman Hon. Shaban Tete has donated some relief materials worth millions of naira to the affected victims.

    Presenting the relief materials to the Fulani herdsmen, the council chief said the gesture aimed at cushioning the suffering the victims were going through, saying it is the responsibility of his administration to provide a healthy atmosphere conducive to the well-being of members of the community.

    He further said his administration is an all-inclusive one, as such, will continue to ensure that it carries along every member of the community in the interest of development of the area.

    Hon. Tete reiterated the determination of the council to continue to give priority attention to the welfare of the people, in order to improve the living standard of the people, pointing out that the items donated were to help in alleviating the conditions and improve the lives of the Fulani herdsmen whose houses were gutted by fire.

    Recall that the Village Head, Chief Yahaya Musa, who was trying to tidy his farmland, had set fire on his farm when the fire spread and burnt down all the Fulani huts rendering them homeless.

    Musa, who said the act was not deliberate, expressed gratitude to the council chief for coming to their aid during their trying period, advising the Fulani community to continue to live in peace with other communities as one family.

    Speaking on behalf of the Fulani, the Chief of Fulani in Kuje, Umar Ishiaka thanked the council chief for extending the gesture to his people. He pledged his readiness to support the council in its development strides.

    Some of the items donated to the affected Fulani herdsmen included bags of rice, clothes, bags of salt, bags of maize, cartons of maggi and mattresses.

     

  • Council chief on how to improve education standard

    Council chief on how to improve education standard

    Stakeholders at this year’s Spelling Bee Competition in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have proposed genuine commitment on the part of government, parents and teachers to revive reading culture in schools and improve the dwindling fortunes in the education sector.

    Speaking at the event held at the council’s secretariat, the Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Bola Badmus- Olujobi said reading is the gateway to learning without which children cannot access a broad and balanced education, even as she noted that in today’s literate world, academic success, securing employment and personal autonomy depend on reading and writing proficiency.

    She expressed her appreciation to the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola for ensuring the continuity of the annual competition which was initiated by wife of former governor of the state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    Hon. Badmus-Olujobi noted that education is the bedrock of any emerging society, saying: “the event aimed at encouraging our young ones to strive towards excellence and hard work as means of achieving greatness. This competition is all about learning and improving one’s knowledge through spellings and mastering of words and how to build them.”

    Describing reading as a skill that enhances other skills, she lamented the alarming prevalence of poor reading culture among all segments of the Nigerian society, especially among school children. She added that with little or no direct instruction, almost all young children develop the ability to understand spoken language while majority never learn to read unless they are taught to.

    She suggested that the best way to stop reading failure is to teach reading in an organised, systematic and efficient way by knowledgeable teachers in a well-designed instructional approach.

    “The problem is that our pupils have never been efficiently and effectively taught to read. Sadly, the method of teaching reading in Nigeria today places undue emphasis on vocabulary and encourages memorisation.

    “What a reader needs most is how to decode and comprehend a word. Every primary school teacher in Nigeria knows that the greatest problem of children with reading disability is decoding. However, a good instructional approach will not produce the desired result without a knowledgeable teacher. Teaching reading is a job for experts. Learning to read is a complex linguistic task which is, in itself tasking. For many children, it requires efforts and incremental skill development,” she said.

    Hon. Badmus-Olujobi emphasised that children should be given the necessary encouragement to regard reading as a habit, saying it is one of the tools through which illiteracy could be eradicated.

    “Errors that have been seen as normal by classroom dynamics over the years can be overcome by reading extensively and through constant practice. We must return to a culture of reading,” she said.

    Continuing, she said spelling is a fundamental step in education and should be taken seriously. Her words: “Spelling forms part of the fundamentals of reading even though many inadvertently ignore it. It is a matter that should be taken seriously.”

    The Spelling Bee Competition was among various primary and secondary schools within the council area.

    Master Kadiri Fawaz of Kuje Amuwo Primary School came first in the primary school category for his brilliant performance while Avworhokai Favour of Oluwole Primary School took the second position and Miss Mabel Joseph came third.

    In the secondary school category, Shoriola Oluwatobi of Dr Lucas Memorial Senior High School took the first position; Miss Odafe Joy of Amuwo-Odofin Senior High School came second, while Olugbese George of Dr Lucas Memorial Senior High School took the third position.

    Commenting on his ability to defeat other contestants, Shoriola Oluwatobi said it was through hard work and God’s favour that he was successful. He promised to work harder, even as he urged his colleagues to also put in their best in their studies.

    Master Kadiri Fawaz said he was elated for clinching the first position in the primary category.

    “I am very happy because it is not easy. I want to win at the state level of the competition. To achieve this, I will start preparation early,” he said.