The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Council

  • Council urges public to disregard old video

    Council urges public to disregard old video

    Chairman of Ikorodu West Local Government Council Development Area (LCDA), Kazeem Sulaimon, has urged the public to disregard a video that resurfaced on social media.

    He said the incident happened two years ago and has been addressed by the parties concerned.

    According to him, the council operates in a democratic setting and disagreement is bound to happen.

    He added that the feud has been solved immediately and the council is now focusing on developmental projects as well as increasing the welfare of the community.

    He stated that his administration has done a lot of projects.

    He said the council is on the verge of completing some ongoing projects.

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    According to him, five big completed projects are waiting for commissioning during his third year anniversary.

    He urged the people to desist from spreading negative posts and concentrate on what will improve the community.

    President of the Public Affairs Officer Lagos State Local Government, Tope Kuku, said the old video was done to tarnish the council’s image.

    He claimed that it is a political act to discredit the council boss.

    He urged the council boss not to be deterred by the action.

  • Ondo council poll postponed indefinitely

    Ondo council poll postponed indefinitely

    Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODSIEC) has announced indefinite postponement of the local government election scheduled to hold on Saturday.

    This is the third time the electoral body will be postponing local government election since the expiration of the tenure of council chairmen in 2023.

    Election into the 18 local governments was first fixed for December 2023 and N750million was earmarked for the conduct of the poll.

    Sources said the election was postponed to allow room for the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    The LCDAs were created in September and local government elections were fixed for February 17, 2024.

    But the death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu caused the elections to be postponed because those who won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries were Akeredolu’s allies.

    Burial programmes of Akeredolu began on February 15 and ended on February 23.

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    It was gathered that the electoral body postponed the conduct of the council election slated for this Saturday because of a judgment that nullified creation of 33 LCDAs by former Governor Akeredolu.

    A source said some politicians pushed for the LCDAs to be created before the conduct of the election.

    But Chairman of ODIEC, Dr. Joseph Aremo, said the election was postponed because no party in the state complied with the guidelines of the proposed election.

    He said guidelines for the election were issued a long time ago.

    Aremo said: “Ours is to conduct election that will usher in a democratic government at the local level. It’s unfortunate that no party complied with the guidelines for the election. We are yet to receive nomination of candidates, yet to verify and release it to the public for scrutiny.”

    He said the commission would go back to the drawing board and make its position known at a later date.

    Ondo State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Prince Adesanya Olaoluwa, said political parties agreed to the terms.

  • Council: genetically modified crops safe

    Council: genetically modified crops safe

    Nigeria’s agricultural research system, led by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), has restated that genetically modified crops are safe and harmless.

    It’s position comes on the heels of campaigns against GM.

    ARCN’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Garuba Sharubutu, said in Abuja yesterday that biotechnology had been used to increase productivity in corn, soybean and cotton by combating insect pests and drought in United States, Europe, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and others.

    Sharubutu said research institutes should genetically improve crops, livestock and fisheries through application of agricultural biotechnology, which offers a novel way to develop crop plants and livestock resilient to stress from climate change.

    Furthermore, he said the council advises the Federal Government on policies and priorities in agricultural research, training, and extension, including application of biotechnology research.

    Director General of National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said the debate regarding safety of GMO plants on human and environmental health had been reignited by introduction of Tela Maize.

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    Noting that this would allay  concerns, dispel misinformation, and educate the nation, he said GMOs is an advancement in biotechnology, offering benefits that span agriculture, food security, health, industry, and the environment.

    Director General of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),  Dr Agnes Asagbra, emphasised that NBMA would ensure safety and regulation of GMOs in Nigeria.

    “Before approving any GMO, NBMA conducts risk assessments involving scientific experts, who analyse data, conduct experiments, and assess safety…” she noted.

    Acting Director General of National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Dr Kahild Ishiak, debunked insinuations relating to viability and safety of GMOs seeds.

    On the notion that seeds from harvested GM materials could not be replanted, Ishaik said that’s not correct.

    Kabiru Ibrahim, president of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, said attack on GMOs is not in farmers’ interest.

  • Council seeks stakeholders’ cooperation on road construction

    Council seeks stakeholders’ cooperation on road construction

    Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Olufemi Okeowo, has urged stakeholders to cooperate with the contractor handling Adegboyega/Edidi Street/Edidi Lane in order to deliver quality and durable job.

    Okeowo said that the decision to choose Adegboyega, Edidi Street/ Edidi Lane for repair is to save the entire community from incessant flood.

    “The 114- road is the initiative of the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to embark on two road construction where the residents were experiencing major drainage and erosion challenges. The entire Alafia Dodoro community will heave a sigh of relief after the construction of these roads,” he said.

    Former Chairman of the council, Taiwo Adenekan, lauded Okeowo’s actions for deeming it necessary to embark on the construction of the roads.

    According to him, it is a dream come through, especially to those who had witnessed flooding in the past.

    Leader of the House, Mrs Fatimoh Salaudeen, said the road construction will boost the economic and commercial wellbeing of the residents.

    The Director, Ebun Links Engineering Ltd, Mr John Olaoye, promised to deliver quality job that can stand the test of time within the next six months.

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    He called for co-operation of the critical stakeholders in the community because they will be working in collaboration with youths, Baales, traders, artisans and others in order to achieve the desired goals.

    The Council Engineer, Ibrahim Solola, explained that the contractors will be using interlocking stone throughout and concrete to concrete drainage system.

    The Ward F Chairman, Mr Olaoye Sule, praised the council boss for bringing the project to his community.

    Youths led by Comrade Olawale Oyebanji assured the chairman that the contractors will receive maximum.

    The Councillor representing Ward F, Tosin Elijah Ilesanmi told the residents to continue to support the Chairman because he meant well for them by bringing road construction to their community.

  • Council holds lecture

    Council holds lecture

    The Unified Local Government Muslim Association, Lagos State in conjunction with Ejigbo LCDA has held 15th Ramadan lecture.

    Shaykh Saeed Hamzat and Adeniyi Adewale spoke on the theme – Understanding the Names and Attributes of Allah.

    The duo stressed on the importance of Allah’s attributes and the reasons people must worship Him.

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    Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Alhaji Monsurudeen Bello, thanked the guests and representatives from local governments.

    Alhaji J. Abdulrahmon, who represented the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and Chairman of Lagos State Public Service Commission, Alhaji Kamorudeen Ayinde also admonished the gathering.

  • Council lifts 50 residents with N5m

    Council lifts 50 residents with N5m

    • By Muinat Ajibade-Alasela

    The Chairman of Agege Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, has empowered 50 residents with N100,000 each.

    The gesture, he said, is ensure the beneficiaries had seed money for a startup or to boost existing businesses.

    The council chairman, represented by the Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Alhaja Aramide Abdulsalam, admonished the beneficiaries to ensure the money was not used for frivolity.

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    She assured others that have not benefited that they would be captured in the subsequent programme.

    “Recall that Egunjobi led administration has been empowering residents with the said amount on monthly basis since the inception of this administration in 2017,” she added.

    The beneficiaries expressed appreciation and prayed for Agege for continuous growth and development.

  • Council to residents: bid for projects

    Council to residents: bid for projects

    • By Ameenat Ilyas

    The Council Manager of Apapa Local Government, Mrs Mosunmola Otaiku-Okoka has called on residents to be active participants in the council projects.

    She said this during an opening bid for building of  roads in the council.

    This was a follow-up to the invitation of bids to 114 Roads advertised by Conference of 57 local councils in Lagos State.

    Only three contractors submitted bids for roads in Apapa Local Government Area.

    This, the council manager, who doubles as the Chairman of Procurement Committee, observed that it could be improved upon.

    She said the public display of the bidding process was to ensure transparency.

    Mrs. Otaiku-Okoka urged bidders to be patient after registration and application as their documents will be scrutinised .

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    “My advice for them is to be patient because we have to go through their documents. it’s not a matter that according to the list posted contractor is going to get it . A lot of things has to be taken into consideration; the experience, will they have the fund to finance the project and have they done such project before,” she explained.

    The Council’s Chief Procurement Officer, Hakeem Bankole, enjoined contractors and potential bidders to be diligent in their presentation and documents presented.

    He said council project is open to bidding by all and sundry across the state.

    Bankole said: “Getting contract in the local government is a biding process and depends on the threshold that determined the amount of money the contract worth.

    ‘For the case of selective biding, you will be invited in to know if you can embark on the project or if we can negotiate the price after you might have registered for the bid. Afterwards, you will be given your letter of award and you will be paid, so you don’t need to know anybody personally at the local government before you are given a contract. People should go through the normal process,” he said.

  • Our officials not extortionists, says council

    Our officials not extortionists, says council

    The Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State has denied reports that four of its staff members arrested by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation are extortionists.

    They are Ajakori Lukman, Maroof Kewusola, Shakiru Aguda and Oseni Taiwo.

    Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Oluwa Musa, on Wednesday claimed that the ministry’s team and the Governor’s Monitoring Team apprehended 11 fake enforcement personnel at Ibeju-Lekki Junction and the Dangote Refinery Area in Akodo.

    Musa said those arrested would be prosecuted.

    But Chairman of Lekki LCDA, Rasaki Kasali, said the council officials named among the 11 people arrested are neither fake nor traffic law enforcers.

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    Kasali said: “Lekki LCDA refutes claims in the report, especially where it concerns our senior council officials. The officers mentioned in the report are neither fake nor traffic law enforcers. They are Lekki LCDA revenue collectors on their lawful duties who were accosted and forcefully bundled into a waiting vehicle by unknown men who claimed to be officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.

    “Lekki LCDA is a responsible government institution that has been in the vanguard of making life better for the people at the grassroots especially during this economic meltdown, and will never indulge or encourage any illegal activity that will jeopardise government efforts at all levels and further compound the economic challenges in the country.”

  • Council buys JAMB forms for 100

    Council buys JAMB forms for 100

    • By Muinat Ajibade-Alasela

    The Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Mohammed has donated 100 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms to indigent students for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration.

    The council boss said the gesture has been an annual programme since the inception of the administration.

    She promised to continue to ensure that the students progress in their academic pursuit.

    While quoting an adage that says “the progress of the world depends almost entirely upon education,” Alhaja Akande-Mohammed said “this adage serves as a motivating factor for our grassroots government to propel our indigent students to further their educational career and achieving their desirable goal in life.”

    She added that the free UTME forms would encourage the beneficiaries to study harder.

    According to her, the 100 beneficiaries had good grades in their O level results.

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    The council boss said free tutorial centers would be made available for the students so they can excel.

    The council chair advised the students to be focused, to read and study very hard in order to make the council proud by coming out in flying colours.

    A beneficiary, Mariam Abdulhafeez, hailed the chairman for uplifting the people in the community.

    She also implored other students to stay strong, strive hard, to study well and pray very hard so that they can excel in their choosing career.

    Another beneficiary, Abdulsamad  Aliu, appreciated to the council boss.

    “I am so happy and grateful that I am among one of the beneficiaries of free jamb form. The chairman is good towards the youths and she is always after our success, so I really appreciate all her efforts on us”.

  • ‘Council chiefs to sign attendance register’ 

    ‘Council chiefs to sign attendance register’ 

    •   Zulum: they will sign four times daily and stay in their areas

    Borno State governor Babagana Zulum has directed local government chairmen to stay in their areas.

     The governor asked them to sign attendance registers four times daily to prove their presence at their duty posts.

    Zulum gave the directive yesterday in Maiduguri, the state capital, while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of 27 elected council chairmen.

    The governor directed the Ministry for Local Government to immediately deploy biometric data capturing machines to the local government areas for their chairmen to thumbprint daily at 8 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

    He said the measure became necessary to check absenteeism or absconding from work by any chairman without genuine reason.

     Zulum noted tha t “abscondment remains an impeachment offence”.

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    He added: “We have advised chairmen, times without number, but the advice has not been adhered to strictly.

    “We have now designed a measure to ensure their presence, which is very important.”

    The governor noted that with improved security across the state, the local government chairmen needed to be with their people to support his administration’s commitment to rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement of displaced persons.

    He urged them to manage the local governments’ scarce resources judiciousl.

     Zulum also tasked the newly sworn in chairmen to spread development projects across all communities in their domains.

    He also tasked them with working closely with security personnel in consolidating peace and the return of civil authority in their domains.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also presided over the swearing-in ceremony of seven permanent secretaries and 29 special advisers.