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Tag: Ekiti

  • Three feared killed as robbersattack two banks in Ekiti

    Three feared killed as robbersattack two banks in Ekiti

    Three persons were feared killed as armed robbers yesterday attacked two commercial banks in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government of Ekiti State.

    It was gathered that the robbers, about 20, stormed the town around 5:15pm and attacked the banks.

    The Nation also learnt that the robbers first attacked Ikere command of the Amotekun  Corps on Ise Road and shot some operatives before attacking the banks. 

    A source said: “During the well-coordinated attacks, which lasted about 45 minutes, the robbers reportedly killed three persons, while scores sustained injuries.”

    The source said the gun-wielding robbers attacked commercial banks located at Odo Oja and Okeosun, adding that they broke the security door with dynamite before entering the banking hall.

    Read Also: Three feared dead as armed robbers raid two banks in Ekiti

    The source said the dynamite blew up the entrance  doors as well as cars parked in the vicinity of the banks.

    He added that the robbers, who divided themselves into two groups, carted away huge sum of money.

    Confirming the incident in a phone chat with our reporter, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti,  Oba Adejimi Alagbado, expressed shock over the robbery, describing it as unfortunate.

    He said it was unfortunate that the robbers carried out the operations for several minutes unhindered and escaped despite the presence of military checkpoints and Police Area Command in the town.

    Oba Alagbado said he had discussed the matter with security agents and that those who carried out the dastardly act must be arrested and prosecuted. Efforts to reach police spokesman Sunday Abutu were not successful. 

    Several calls made to his phone were not answered, while text messages sent to him were not responded to at press time.

  • Three feared dead as armed robbers raid two banks in Ekiti

    Three feared dead as armed robbers raid two banks in Ekiti

    Three persons were feared killed as armed robbers attacked two commercial banks in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere local government area of Ekiti state.

    It was gathered that the daredevil armed robbers numbering twenty stormed the town around 5:15pm and carried out the attacks on the two commercial banks simultaneously.

    The Nation also learnt that the robbers first attacked the Ikere command of the Amotekun Corps  along Ise Road and reportedly shot some operatives before attacking the banks. 

    A source said that in “the well cordinated attacks” which lasted about 45 minutes, the armed robbers reportedly killed three persons while scores sustained varying degrees of injuries.

    According to the source,the gun-wielding robbers invaded Wema bank and Access bank located at  Odo Oja and Okeosun respectively and broke the security door with the aid of dynamite before entering the banking hall.

    The source disclosed that the dynamite blew up the entrance  doors as well as several cars parked in the vicinity of the banks.

    He added the armed robbers who split themselves into two groups carted away unspecified huge sum of money.

    Confirming the incident in a telephone chat with our reporter, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado expressed shock at the robbery incident, describing it as unfortunate.

    Read Also: Ekiti equips MDAs with modern laptops to enhance service delivery

    He said it was unfortunate the armed robbers carried out the operations for several minute unhindered and escaped despite presence of military checkpoints and Police Area Command in the town.

    Oba Alagbado said he has discussed the matter with the security agents and that those who carried out the dastard act must be arrested and prosecuted.

    He said: “It is an unfortunate incident that we do not expect to happen. The attacks were on two commercial banks. I  havecalled the Area Commander, DPO and DSS and they have all assured the soldiers around the axis have been alerted”.

    All efforts to reach the Ekiti state Police spokesman,  Sunday Abutu to get his reaction were not successful. 

    Several calls made to his mobile phone were not answered while text message sent to him had yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.

  • Ekiti equips MDAs with modern laptops to enhance service delivery

    Ekiti equips MDAs with modern laptops to enhance service delivery

    Ekiti State Government has distributed laptops to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as part of its effort to enhance their performance.

    Speaking while presenting the laptops to the MDAs, the Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr John Ekundayo said the gadgets would make the workers more effective and efficient.

    Ekundayo said that the presentation was sequel to the communique issued at the end of the Ekiti Performance, Assessment, and Improvement Report workshop held between September and October 2023 to train workers across MDAs.

    According to him, the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration purchased the gadget following the discovery at the Workshop that the workers lacked modern Laptops.

     Ekundayo said that the government was determined to entrench e-governance in the state civil service to boost workforce productivity and efficiency.

     The Special Adviser added that Governor Oyebanji was irrevocably committed to institutionalised functional, responsive, and technology complaint civil service to drive his shared prosperity agenda.

     His words: “The Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), in re-orientating the MDAs, as the engine room of service delivery, into a result-oriented entity, in concert with the Permanent Secretaries of Ministries, appointed Ministries’ Champions and 2 Assistants.

    Read Also: 17 years after, lack of census has created information vacuum for Nigeria – NPC

     “These were later invited to participate in the first Ekiti Performance, Assessment, and Improvement Report Workshop held between September and October 2023.

     “It was part of the Communique issued at the end of the workshop that the champions would want the state government to equip them by providing them with modern Laptops.” He added

     While commending Governor Oyebanji for approving the fund for the procurement of the tools, he urged the champions to take adequate care and optimise the use of the Laptops.

     The Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe hailed the governor for providing such gadgets despite the paucity of funds, noting that they would enhance service delivery of the workforce.

  • Ekiti: A taste of history

    Ekiti: A taste of history

    Saturday, November 21, 2015 was a day of honour in Ekiti State. For two days before that Saturday, Ado Ekiti, the capital of the state, had come alive with a memorable history. The people of the state trooped out in their thousands to take a glimpse of a rare guest on a rare occasion. The guest was no other personality than His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). He was there as the first Sultan ever to visit Ekiti State.

    The occasion was for the installation of an indigene of the state and a gentleman of honour as the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of Yoruba Land.  The honouree is Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello who incidentally is also the Grand Imam of Ekiti State. It was a special day of joy on the part of Ekiti people as it was on the part of the Sultan.

    Two days earlier (Thursday, November 19, 2015, His Eminence had travelled down to Ado-Ekiti from Ibadan where he had been installed as the new Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, November 17, 2015. The day of Imam’s installation in Ado Ekiti was his sixth day in Southwest Nigeria. Shortly after his arrival in Ado Ekiti, in the previous Thursday, His Eminence paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, CON, JP, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti (at his palace) who hosted him and his entourage, including yours sincerely, with the grandeur of royalty.

    Observance of Jum’at Prayer

    On Friday, November 20, 2015, His Eminence commissioned the newly renovated city’s Central Mosque after paying a courtesy visit to the State Governor in his office. The Jum’at prayer observed in that Mosque was led by the Rector of the Centre for Arabic and Islamic Culture, (Markaz) Agege, Sheikh Habibullah Adam Abdllah Al-Ilory OON. In his sermon, Sheikh Al-Ilory laid emphasis on the duties of an Imam and the importance of Mosques in Islam. He counseled the new President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas on the challenges ahead of him and how he could surmount those challenges. While admonishing the Muslim Ummah against hearsay and tutored them on the need for cooperation with their leaders for the purpose of   unity, he called on Muslim leaders in the South West to give Imams and Muslim scholars their deserved respect and work hand in hand with them in promoting Islam in the region.

    Dignitaries

    Among the dignitaries that observed the Jum’at prayer were His Eminence, the Sultan and His Royal Majesty, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti (though a Christian who regarded joining His Eminence in the Mosque as part of royal hospitality). Others were His Royal Majesty, Oba Akadiri Momoh the Olukare of Ikare; His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Sakariyau Olayiwola (S. O.) Babalola, OON, DSC, late President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) who made the highest single monetary donation of one million naira the to the installation programme; the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, OFR, FNAL,  a retinue of Sokoto Chieftains who were in the royal entourage of the Sultan, the Head of Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies Department, University of Ibadan, then Dr. Kamil Koyejo Oloso and all the Chiefs and Senior Imams of the six States of the South West as well as those of Edo and Delta States.

    Some of those dignitaries including Chief S. O. Babalola; the Magajin Rafi and Galadima of Sokoto; Professor T. G.O Gbadamosi, now President of Lagos State Muslim Community; Dr. Abdullah Jibril Oyekan; former members of MUSWEN’s Secretariat Task Force as well as a retinue of other Muslim dignitaries from various States had been parts of the entourage of His Eminence since his arrival in the South West the previous Monday. The former Vice Chairman of the Task Force, Alhaji Murziq Bidemi Siyanbade’s role in this was particularly distinct as he virtually relocated to Oyo State Government House, Ibadan, where His Eminence was officially hosted as he was shuttling between that place and the University of Ibadan to ensure that the hosting protocol was properly maintained.

    Read Also: Ekiti needs more polling units, say observers

    Grand Finale

    At the Ground Finale held at the grandiose Ado Ekiti pavilion, a galaxy of traditional rulers, Imams and Alfas as well as representatives of various Islamic Organizations were present in their joyful mood, an indication that the long awaited unity of the South West Ummah had come at last. The then Governor of the State, Ayodele Fayose was represented by his wife, Mrs. Feyisara Fayose; Delegates of Hausa communities from various States and representatives of some Emirs who came from the North were also there to grace the occasion. The Chairman of the occasion was Alhaji Khamis Tunde Badmus of Osun State who was ably represented by the late Senator Adebayo Salami and made a very handsome monetary donation.

    The President-General designate was presented to His Eminence, the Sultan and the public for turbanning by the Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe of Owo, Ondo State, who also gave the welcome address. The installation lecture was also delivered by Sheikh Habibullah Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory, OON, the Rector of MARKAZ, Agege, who is well renowned for apt oration and electrifying delivery power. In the lecture, he spelt out duties and responsibilities of an Imam globally and locally. He emphasized the fact that the new President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas would henceforth devote more time to his office than to his family and urged him to be well focused in carrying out his God-ordained duty.

    The then President of MUSWEN, His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Babalola also gave a goodwill message in which he emphasized the unity of the Ummah and   further reiterated Sheikh Al-Ilory’s lecture.  

    Profile

    The then 63 year old new President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of the South West, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Muhammad Jamiu Kewulere Bello, was born on January 2, 1952. After his primary education at Ansar-ud-Deen, Ajilosun, Ekiti, he attended the famous Arabic/Islamic Institute (Zumratu Diyau Salihin) and later became a student at Arabic Training Centre, established by Sheikh Mahally Badrudeen of Ile Ami in Iwo, Osun State. He was also a student of Sheikh Agbarigidoma of Ilorin in Kwara State and a number of other renowned scholars were his teachers.     

    Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello briefly dabbled into transportation business before he was persuaded to become the Chief Imam of Ado Ekiti in 1985. He was turbaned by the then Chief Imam Yusuf Olatunji Ogunlayi of Ikole Ekiti. When Ekiti State was created from the old Ondo State in 1996, the Muslim leadership in Ekiti State unanimously appointed him as the Grand Imam of Ekiti State.

    Appointment as President-General

    On June 4, 2015, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello was unanimously appointed as President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of the South West at a meeting of the League thereby becoming the 6th Imam to occupy that post. After his installation by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, the new President-General thanked everybody that played a role in his emergence and in making the occasion a success. He then promised to strengthen the Unity of the South-West Muslim Ummah on the one hand and that of the latter and the Northern Muslim Ummah on the other.

    Acceptance Speech

    In his acceptance speech, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello said: “At this juncture, I wish to say with absolute humility and spirit of devotion to Allah (SWT) that I accept this responsibility placed on my shoulders through my appointment as President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of the South States. As you are all aware, the responsibility of the office is enormous. However, with the special grace and assistance of Allah (SWT) coupled with the cooperation of all and sundry, I hope to contribute my quota to move forward the entire Muslim Ummah in all States of my jurisdiction in particular and the Nation in general……”

  • Ekiti needs more polling units, say observers

    Ekiti needs more polling units, say observers

    The people of Ekiti State have been commended for a peaceful Local Government election.

    The election of 38 Chairmen and 177 councilors was held last weekend 

    The Nigerian Human Rights Community, NIHRCO, which monitored the election in 177 wards, said the exercise has once again demonstrated the quality of leadership in the State. NIHRCO which is a coalition of 135 civil society and community based groups spread across the country was established in 2003.

    It said the election was peaceful, devoid of violence and rigging while the outcome represents the freewill of the voters. 

    The coalition in a statement signed by its officials asked State Governments that are yet to conduct Local Government elections to do so, stressing that local government administration is essential to democracy and development. 

    The NIHRCO said a comprehensive report on the election is being put together which will be distributed across democratic institutions at home and abroad on lessons learnt and the challenges.

    ‘The Local Government election was not perfect, but it represented a remarkable achievement in building sustainable democratic culture in Nigeria’ the group said in a statement signed by its Programme Officers, Mr Taiwo Adeleye and Fredrick Ojinika. The group called on the National Assembly to create special intervention funds to assist State Electoral Commission to meet democratic obligations in line with the fiscal support given by the Federal Government to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

    The group commended the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC for early arrival of materials and effective administration of the entire process that had almost zero hitches. ‘The Ekiti Local Government election is a confirmation that states can run their own affairs even better in many respect than the central government’. NHRC said there was no single case of violence. The security was excellent. The materials arrived on time while the voters were orderly and cultured. It said that there was no intimidation of voters while financial inducement was not witnessed by any of our observers.

    The coalition however said the turnout was  above national average but not in line with global expectations. It said monitors observed that the opposition parties were non-challant towards the election adding that those interviewed argued that the leading opposition parties did not show keen interest in the election build up neither did they campaign during the run up to the Saturday election indicating that the opposition in the state has been weakened compared with the situation in the past. It also said that Ekiti needs more polling units given the growing population and the increasing number of new settlements observed during the election which were not hitherto covered either by INEC or SEIC.

    The coalition said monitoring local government elections is as important as observing National elections adding that there is always the need for a third party opinion so that the content of the elections and its impact on the future of democracy in Nigeria will be better appreciated.

    ‘At this time that Nigeria faces internal threats to democracy and growing concerns about of public trust, it is important to deepen democracy and strengthen governance at the grassroots. This is exactly what has happened in Ekiti State’ NIHRCO said urging other state governments that have not conducted local government elections to do so The rights groups however pointed out certain challenges that it said should be urgently addressed in future local government elections.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu swears in two new exco members

    “The National Assembly and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC needs to work with the State Independent Electoral Commission, SEIC to ensure that Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, (BVAS) are deployed in local elections adding that National elections are as important as Local Government elections

    The group said using BVAS for National Elections is good but that the same technology should be used in Local Government elections which may require special funds for SIECs to enable the institution develop the technology that will broaden popular participation, ensure real time transmission of results taking local government elections into a higher level 

    NIHRCO said the election had its own strength, opportunities and shortcomings that should be addressed to deepen democracy and people’s representation at the grassroots.

    “We commend what appears to be the high moral ground of the Governor of the State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji who earlier embarked on a non-violence campaign across the state, using the extensive media space ahead of the Local Government election.” The coalition said deliberate policy of non-violence by state actors is essential for sustainable development.

    The group said Nigerian should be encouraged to show interest in Local Government elections adding that if Nigeria gets it right at the local government level, it will be easier to conduct credible elections at the National level.

  • Rights group commends Ekiti voters for peaceful LG poll

    Rights group commends Ekiti voters for peaceful LG poll

    The people and government of Ekiti have been commended for the peaceful conduct of the local government election in the state.

    The election of 38 chairmen and 177 councilors was held on Saturday, December 2.

    The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO) which monitored the election in 177 wards said the exercise has once again demonstrated the quality of leadership in the State.

    NIHRCO which is a coalition of 135 civil society and community-based groups spread across the country was established in 2003.

    It said the election was peaceful, devoid of violence and rigging while the outcome represents the free will of the voters.

    The coalition in a statement signed by its officials asked State Governments that are yet to conduct Local Government elections to do so, stressing that local government administration is essential to democracy and development.

    The NIHRCO said a comprehensive report on the election is being put together which will be distributed across democratic institutions at home and abroad on lessons learnt and the challenges.

    ‘The Local Government election was not perfect, but it represented a remarkable achievement in building sustainable democratic culture in Nigeria’ the group said in a statement signed by its Programme Officers, Mr Taiwo Adeleye and Fredrick Ojinika. The group called on the National Assembly to create special intervention funds to assist the State Electoral Commission in meeting democratic obligations in line with the fiscal support given by the Federal Government to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

    The group commended the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, EKSIEC for the early arrival of materials and effective administration of the entire process which had almost zero hitches. ‘The Ekiti Local Government election is a confirmation that states can run their affairs even better in many respects than the central government’.

    NHRC said there was no single case of violence. The security was excellent. The materials arrived on time while the voters were orderly and cultured. It said that there was no intimidation of voters while financial inducement was not witnessed by any of our observers.

    The coalition however said the turnout was above national average but not in line with global expectations.

    It said the monitors observed that the opposition parties were non-challenge towards the election, adding that those interviewed argued that the leading opposition parties did not show a keen interest in the election build-up nor did they campaign during the run-up to the Saturday election indicating that the opposition in the state has been weakened compared with the situation in the past.

    It also said that Ekiti needs more polling units given the growing population and the increasing number of new settlements observed during the election which were not hitherto covered either by INEC or SEIC.

    The coalition said monitoring local government elections is as important as observing National elections adding that there is always the need for a third-party opinion so that the content of the elections and its impact on the future of democracy in Nigeria will be better appreciated.

    ‘At this time that Nigeria faces internal threats to democracy and growing concerns about of public trust, it is important to deepen democracy and strengthen governance at the grassroots. This is exactly what has happened in Ekiti State’ NIHRCO said urging other state governments that have not conducted local government elections to do so The rights groups however pointed out certain challenges that it said should be urgently addressed in future local government elections.

    “The National Assembly and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC need to work with the State Independent Electoral Commission, SEIC to ensure that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, (BVAS) is deployed in local elections adding that National elections are as important as Local Government elections

    The group said using BVAS for National Elections is good but that the same technology should be used in Local Government elections which may require special funds for SIECs to enable the institution to develop the technology that will broaden popular participation, ensure real-time transmission of results taking local government elections into a higher level

    Read Also: APC clears all seats in Ekiti council poll

    NIHRCO said the election had its strengths, opportunities, and shortcomings that should be addressed to deepen democracy and people’s representation at the grassroots.

    It said: “We commend what appears to be the high moral ground of the Governor of the State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji who earlier embarked on a non-violence campaign across the state, using the extensive media space ahead of the Local Government election.”

    The coalition said deliberate policy of non-violence by state actors is essential for sustainable development.

    The group said Nigerians should be encouraged to show interest in Local Government elections, adding that if Nigeria gets it right at the local government level, it will be easier to conduct credible elections at the National level.

  • Low turnout mars Ekiti local govt elections

    Low turnout mars Ekiti local govt elections

    • Oyebanji hails SIEC, voters

    Low turnout marred the yesterday’s Local Government election in Ekiti State as most people stayed away from the polling units across the 16 council area of the state.

    It was a total departure from the large turnout that was witnessed during the last presidential and state assembly elections.

    It was gathered that only eight political parties participated in the chairmanship positions, while 14 parties fielded candidates for councillorship positions in the state.

    However, major opposition parties in the state, the People’s Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not participate in the exercise.

    In most of the polling units visited in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Efon, Ilawe, Ikogosi, Iyin, among other communities, few voters were seen waiting patiently for the arrival of electoral materials and officials of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission.

    It was learnt that the reason for voters’ apathy was a result of the people’s perception towards the poll spearheaded by officials who were appointed by the state government.

    A voter who identified himself as Tunde Adeyemo noted that participating in the exercise would amount to a waste of time and effort, saying there was no real opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)

    He explained that local government administrations in the last few years have failed to offer dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

    Read Also: Low turnout mars Ekiti council poll

    Oyebanji votes hails SIEC, voters

     The Governor who voted at his Ward 6, Unit 003 Okelele Street, Ikogosi-Ekiti around 11.40am, commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) for a seamless and peaceful electoral process. He also thanked the Ekiti electorate for the peaceful conduct in the election which took place in all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 22 Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs)

    Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote, the Governor expressed delight that people at the grassroots were able to choose their representatives at local government and the 177 wards without fear or threat or any form of crisis.

    Oyebanji described Local Government elections as strategic and fundamental to the delivery of dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

    The Governor who scored the current local government administration in many of the council areas in the state high in the areas of infrastructure development, maintained that local governments are viable instruments of grassroots political participation, socialization, and economic and infrastructure development.

     While commending the State Independent Electoral Commission and the security agencies in the state for the peaceful conduct of the election, the governor said the government would continue to prioritize voters’ education and sensitization across the state to foster a more robust democratic process and participation.

    “I am happy that as a government we are doing this, because local government election is the most critical arm of government with respect to delivering government policies at the grassroots level and it is very important to democratise government at this level because it is the closest to the people and the beauty of democracy is to have representatives at that level being elected by the people and am happy that we have done this in Ekiti State.

    “I am also happy because the people on their own have the opportunity to choose their representatives at local government level and at the ward level. So far so good, the turnout is a bit low and that tells us we need to do more on voters’ education and sensitization.” The Governor asserted.

    A remarkable development in the Saturday local government election is the unprecedented huge number of female candidates vying for various positions. This includes seven female candidates for the chairmanship; 16 candidates for the Vice Chairmanship position and 33 candidates for the councillorship position.

    The development, according to Governor Oyebanji, is not only heart-warming but speaks to the fact democracy is taking a firm root in Ekiti State.

     It will be recalled that pursuant to Section 5, Subsection 1 of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission Law (Third Amendment) No. 13 of 2021, on September 29, 2023, the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) announced that the 2023 LGA and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) elections will be conducted on December 2, in the 16 LGAs and 22 LCDAs across the state.

    On Saturday 7th of October 2023, Ward Congresses held to elect Chairmanship and Counsellorship candidates.

  • Ekiti Deputy Gov lauds turnout for council poll

    Ekiti Deputy Gov lauds turnout for council poll

    Ekiti Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye has lauded the  turnout and peaceful conduct of the Saturday’s local government election in the state.

    Afuye said the large turnout of voters and violence-free atmosphere that marked the conduct of the local government election were loud testimonies that there was tremendous  improvement on that of 2021 poll.

    The Deputy Governor gave the observations while voting at unit 003, Atiba/Aafin Ward, in Ikere Ekiti,  in Saturday’s local government poll in Ekiti State.

    Afuye, who cast her vote around 9.32am,  said the local government election was more competitive at the party’s  primary, because of financial independence enjoyed by the councils under Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.

    She applauded the voters in Ikere Local Government Area and across the state, for demonstrating confidence and trust in the electoral process, by their impressive participation in the LG poll.

    She commended the Justice Cornelius Akintayo-led SIEC for bringing transparency and openness to the electoral process at the third tier of government.

    “Going by what we have seen and information across the state, the process has been adjudged peaceful and transparent. 

    “The SIEC officials and observers  were on ground in time and that further propelled the voters to come out to cast their votes for their preferred candidates. This is highly commendable. 

    Read Also: Ekiti council polls: Oyebanji urges voters to be peaceful

    “The atmosphere was serene and voters were not being coersed to vote for a particular candidate. They are given the freedom to vote for candidates of their choices; that is the beauty of democracy.

    “With all these, those who will  emerge in today’s election will know that they will be there to serve the people, so that our people can become more interested to participate in elections, especially the local government poll,” she stressed. 

    Mrs Afuye praised the security agencies for their remarkable roles in the election, exuding confidence that the poll shall be a success.

  • Ekiti monthly IGR hits N1b

    Ekiti monthly IGR hits N1b

    Ekiti State Government said its monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from N650 million to over N1billion without overburdening the citizens.

    Chairman, Ekiti State Internal Revenue Services (EKIRS), Mr Olaniran Olatona, made this known in Ado-Ekiti while briefing reporters on the activities of the agency.

    He attributed the improvement in the state’s revenue base to technology-driven strategies and initiatives which blocked all leakages and shored up the number of people that had been captured in the state’s tax net.

    Read Also: Why war against pipeline vandals is failing, by Oba Akinruntan

    He said the agency had captured 55 per cent of eligible tax payers in its tax net in the last six months, urging the people to look inward and imbibe the culture of paying taxes.

    Olatona said before his assumption of office, the state ranked 35 out of the 36 states with poor Internally Generated Revenue, “but the narrative has changed with Ekiti currently in 25th position.”

  • Comply with procurement law, NGO urges Ekiti Officials

    Comply with procurement law, NGO urges Ekiti Officials

    A non-governmental organization, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has charged ministries, departments and agencies of the Ekiti state government to ensure strict compliance with provisions of the procurement law.

    The Senior Program Advisor, Ife Olatunji-David gave the charge on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, state capital during a five-day sub-national public procurement bootcamp organised by the centre in partnership with MacArthur Foundation.

    Present at the five-day bootcamp were stakeholders in the procurement process including the officials of the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement, Heads of MDA’s, Civil Society Organizations and media executives.

    Olatunji-David said procurement officers in the Ministries, Departments as well as Agencies have a responsibility to ensure compliance with regulatory procurement frameworks towards ensuring delivery of quality project.

    She lamented that several civil servants are not fully conversant with laid down processes in the award and execution of public contracts, hence, the urgent need for MDAs to understand the procurement laws.

    The Senior Program Advisor advocated transparency and accountability in the implementation of projects, saying such will enhance the trust and confidence of citizens in government.

    The group Senior Communication officer, Nnenna Eze said that the bootcamp was organised to sensitise the public on the procurement laws, transparency and accountability practices, monitoring and evaluation of public projects.

    She explained that the programme would give participants a better understanding and synergy in the procurement process and promote transparency and openness in public expenditure at the sub-national level.

    She called on citizens to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act to get access information to public records and information especially on procurement and projects implementation.

    This, she, said will promote transparency and accountability, build public trust and improve public service because when governments realise that their activities are subject toscrutiny they become more circumspect.

    In her submission, a Director in the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement, Mrs Bolanle Oladele stated that procurement processes have become more open and transparent since the state joined the Open Government Partnership.

    She noted that the state government has been running an open governance with the development of an institutionalised portal where all procurement processes were accessible to build public trust and confidence.