Tag: Ekiti

Wife of Ekiti state governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, has rescued a total number of 27 indigent patients stranded at four government health facilities by paying their medical bills to facilitate their immediate discharge.

The gesture was extended to 13 beneficiaries at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti; 4 at State Specialist Hospital, Ikere Ekiti; 6 at State Specialist Hospital, Ijero Ekiti and four at state specialist hospital, Ikole Ekiti.

According to a statement on Sunday, December 31, by her senior special assistant on media, Odunayo Ogunmola, Oyebanji distributed cash support of over N3 million to bring relief to the patients who had been held back at the hospitals over their inability to pay their accumulated medical bills.

Speaking while performing the cash support scheme which was a component of her Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project, Oyebanji urged the authorities of the hospitals to ensure immediate discharge of the beneficiaries.

The First Lady explained that she thought on the plight of patients stranded in government hospitals during this Yuletide period and decided to come to their

aid.

She said: “While on holidays in Ikogosi Ekiti, it just came to my mind that we have patients in hospitals who are unable to go home during this period and we must do something to assist them to pay their bills for them to celebrate New Year in their homes.”

Oyebanji disclosed that her office had distributed over 700 bags of rice during this Yuletide season, all in a bid to bring relief to the people of the state and to likewise key into the Shared Prosperity

vision of the Governor.

She called for more prayers and support for the governor Oyebanji led administration from the people of the state for it to continue to execute policies that will better the lives of the citizenry.

Earlier, EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Kayode Olabanji described Dr. Oyebanji and her husband as God-sent, noting that the couple had impacted lives positively since coming to office.

Read Also: Qatar-based businessman, others arrested for drug trafficking

He revealed that paying medical bills of indigents patients had become an important area of intervention to the First Lady and a means to reach out to the less privileged and give them a sense of belonging.

Prof. Olabanji explained that the benefiting patients would never forget the gesture, which she described as a great act of kindness.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi described the governor and his wife as a blessing to the state judging by their pro-people initiatives and life changing programmes.

Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Sola Gbenga-Igotun, described the cash support for the indigent patients as timely and impactful on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Two of the beneficiaries, Salaudeen Idris and Mrs. Kemisola Bamigbola expressed gratitude to the First Lady and offered prayers for the first family and the administration in appreciation of the kind gesture.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has assured workers that his administration will pay the 13th month salary to workers for the fifth year running, noting that workers will receive the payment before December 31.

This was in spite of the fact that the government had paid the December 2023 salary and December wage award of N25,000 to workers and N15,000 to pensioners.

Governor Makinde made the declaration on Sunday while speaking at the Oyo State’s 2023 Christmas Carol Service and Nine Lessons Service, held at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, with the theme: “Unto us a child is born.”

The governor said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, infrastructure development and other critical sectors in the state.

Noting that whatever success his government had achieved was due to the contributions of members of his team and the civil servants, Makinde said: “To my team, I want to say thank you for your support throughout the year and even for the civil servants. Whatever we might have achieved was jointly achieved.

“For four years running, we paid 13th month salary. And again, we will pay the 13th month salary before the end of the year.”

The governor gave thanks to God for his re-election, reiterating that his victory in the election was not due to godfatherism, but because of his absolute trust in God.

He equally appreciated the fathers of the faith for their prayers and support towards his re-election, saying “I also want to take this opportunity to thank our fathers of faith in the state.”

In his exhortation, the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Oliver Ali Aba, acknowledged the unprecedented achievements recorded in the state under Governor Makinde.

He said Makinde was a progressive name and that his re-election into office came at a time when the state needed him the most, adding that Governor Makinde sharing the same birthday with Jesus Christ is symbolic.

Ekiti State Government has said it would announce wage awards to alleviate the suffering of the workers, which was brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy, on or before December 31.

It warned civil servants not to sabotage government activities, saying the success or failure of any government was measured by the quality of its civil service.

Read Also: Shettima hails youths as ‘pillars of today’ at awards gala

The Head of Civil Service, Sunday Komolafe, who said this yesterday at a news conference organised in commemoration of the year 2023 Civil Service Week, added that the state was not lagging behind in the implementation of palliatives.

“Those that have made pronouncements have not started implementing it. Before they commence implementation, Ekiti would have made pronouncements. We have started discussion with organised labour.  My office and the Ministry of Finance have started talking.

“I want to assure you that before the year runs out, we would have reached a conclusion, so that by the time other states are implementing, we will also be implementing. You know the status of Ekiti among the Southwest states.

“Apart from the fact that we are the last to be created, when it comes to allocation, you know the position of the state. That notwithstanding, the civil servants are going to hear something positive and they will know that this is the best the government can do for its workforce.

“As of today we have over 21,000 in the state workforce, the local governments’ workers already exceeded 20,000. So if you are providing palliatives you multiply by the total number of the workforce and then know how much is coming from the government. Don’t also forget the pensioners, when we are taking care of the workers, we can’t leave behind the pensioners.”

Ekiti State Government has tasked the Land Dispute and Boundary Committee to mediate in the land dispute between communities in Efon-Ekiti and Ipole Iloro-Ekiti.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, gave the directive yesterday  during a meeting with the committee in her office in Ado-Ekiti.

Afuye said the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration places high premium on the lives of the people and won’t allow any dispute to fester and claim the lives of innocent citizens.

She said the directive followed a petition written by the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, accusing Ipole of laying claim to Iwaji, a community located between the two towns, knowing fully well that the area was part of Efon Local Government.

In the petition, Oba Aladejare, alleged that the people of Ipole were deploying thugs to harass Iwaji residents over a portion of land in the community, urging the government to intervene and stop such unwholesome conduct.

The deputy governor said the government would be unbiased and dispassionate in handling the age-long dispute, bordering on the ownership of Iwaji community.

“What we are here for is peace and this is what the government is desirous of offering the residents of this state.

“We want to appeal to our people to eschew violence and allow the committee on Land Dispute Resolution to visit the area and ascertain your claims”, Afuye said.

Speaking on the disputed land, the Alaaye of Efon, Oba Aladejare, said the Intelligence Report of 1934 showed that Efon shared boundary with Aramoko-Ekiti, Ijero-Ekiti and Ogotun-Ekiti, and not Ipole.

Oba Aladejare emphasised that Alaaye was a consenting authority over Ipole community up to 1984 before the town became an autonomous community.

The traditional ruler contended that the state government used Omisanjana Stream as a demarcation between Iwaji and Ipole, saying the land belonged to his community contrary to the claim of Olupole, Oba Oladele Babatola.

“Available records were there that attested to the fact that Efon Local Government had been collecting rates, building market, mini town hall, providing boreholes and extended electricity to Iwaji . They used to vote and exercised census exercises through Efon Local Government.

“When Efon was created, the federal government gazetted and listed Iwaji as part of the settlements under Efon. Again, Iwaji Chiefs are taking their stipends from Efon Council area and not Ekiti West where Ipole Iloro-Ekiti belongs.

“Where then is the claim of their ownership of that community?”, Oba Aladejare said.

Read Also: Lagos, Ogun, five others named most viable states

Countering Alaaye’s position, the Olupole, Oba Babatola, said Apetu traditional title, who is the  head of Iwaji community, was a kingmaker under him based on the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declarations of 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1981 respectively.

Oba Babatola said that Apetu was part of those who selected his predecessor when he was to be installed a king, accusing Efon of only trying to arrogate the land to itself through subterfuge.

“We don’t have boundary with Efon Alaaye, we only shared boundary with Ahun- Ekiti, a community under Efon Alaaye. We have never fought with Efon over land issue, though we are good neighbours if they check history properly.

“Our ownership of Iwaji stands undisputable. Available documents testify to this fact. However, we will be happy if the government can intervene to prevent a situation whereby a town will claim ownership of a community from its true owner”, Oba Babatola said.

The committee, comprising Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr Abayomi Opeyemi, the Surveyor General of Ekiti State, Mr Adebayo Faleto.

Others are; Secretary, Ekiti State Boundary Commission, Mr Olalekan Olajide and other experts, are to visit the disputed land to ascertain the veracity of the  true ownership of Iwaji community.

The Ekiti State Government has sealed the premises of four second-generation banks in Ado Ekiti, the state capital over violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency in the state’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources also sealed some business premises for non-payment of the necessary dues for EIA and audit.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, said the move was to restore sanity in the state, adding that the sealed facilities will only be reopened when the owners did the needful.

Aluko-Ajisafe said: “Governor Oyebanji’s administration has approved the enforcement of the state Environmental Protection Law 2010 as it relates to EIA. All corporate and private business owners violating this law will have their business facilities sealed.”

She said the ministry had earlier written to the organisations but they ignored the 43 days’ notice given to them.

“We have written to them, all the banks and private sectors the malls, the eateries. We have given them 43-day notice and none of them has responded to our letter, that is why we are here this morning to seal up the building. They were meant to pay their dues and have refused to pay, since they have violated the law they have been sanctioned; that is why we have sealed up their banks.”

Read Also: National Assembly commends Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Affairs Policy

The General Manager, SEPA, Olukayode Adunmo, emphasised that obtaining the EIA certification is mandatory for any building owners, saying defaulters risk heavy sanction.

He said, “The state Environmental Protection Law stipulates that before any construction is done in the state, you must obtain an EIA certificate. However what we have seen in most of the banks is that at the time the buildings were constructed, they did not obtain the necessary permit from the Ministry of Environment.

“Having gone through our records in conjunction with the state Internal Revenue Service, which told us that they could not find the names of the banks as having paid the necessary dues for EIA and for audit, we have to commence this activity to certify whether they paid or they evaded the content of the law”.