The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed sadness on the death of the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Auditor, Mrs. Iyabo Babatunde.
Mrs. Babatunde, who served as Commissioner II at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), during the administration of former Governor Segun Oni, died last Saturday.
Fayemi, in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, Olayinka Oyebode, said he received the news with shock.
He lamented that Mrs. Babatunde’s death was not only painful, but devastating, especially now that the party needs the contributions of all its committed members to achieve its set goals.
Fayemi, who described the deceased as faithful and devoted, said: “This is quite shocking, painful and devastating. Our condolences to the relatives and the leadership and members of our party.
“Our prayer is that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss and put an end to untimely death in our midst.”
Tag: Fayemi
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Fayemi mourns Ekiti Apc auditor
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Fayemi mourns Ekiti Apc auditor
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed sadness on the death of the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Auditor, Mrs. Iyabo Babatunde.
Mrs. Babatunde, who served as Commissioner II at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), during the administration of former Governor Segun Oni, died last Saturday.
Fayemi, in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, Olayinka Oyebode, said he received the news with shock.
He lamented that Mrs. Babatunde’s death was not only painful, but devastating, especially now that the party needs the contributions of all its committed members to achieve its set goals.
Fayemi, who described the deceased as faithful and devoted, said: “This is quite shocking, painful and devastating. Our condolences to the relatives and the leadership and members of our party.
“Our prayer is that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss and put an end to untimely death in our midst.”
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FEC approves 38 vehicles for mines inspectorates
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the purchase of 38 patrol vehicles for Mines Inspectorates across the country at a total cost of N327 million.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
According to him, each of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will get one of the Nissan four-wheel patrol vehicle, while additional one will be given to Lagos State because of its size.
He also noted that no vehicle was purchased for mines and steel inspectorate division in the last 10 years to check illegal mining activities.
He said: “FEC approves the direct procurement of Nissan four-wheel Patrol vehicles for Mines Inspectorate division of mines and steel in the 36 states and the FCT.
“For a decade no vehicle has been purchased for the mines and steel Inspectorate division to oversee what’s going on in our various states in artisinal and informal mining situations, surveillance of illegal mining activities taking place and the various challenges we face on the field.
“You may have read for example even though it is not directly linked to the mining operation, what happened in Zamfara yesterday and the number of people that were killed. I mean miners that were killed by bandits operating in that area. Therefore as part of our road map, a surveillance task force has also been established with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, EFCC, Police and the Civil Defence.”
The approval, Fayemi said, is also part of the government’s commitment to support made in Nigeria products.
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Fayemi: APC lambasts Ekiti Assembly over petition
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has condemned members of the House of Assembly for their petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing former Governor Kayode Fayemi of N40 billion fraud.
The party described the petition as “Governor Ayo Fayose’s attempt to divert attention from his probe by the EFCC on the alleged use of arms cash to fund his 2014 governorship campaign and revelations from witnesses in the courts.’’
The lawmakers, last Thursday, submitted a petition to the EFCC, alleging that Fayose misappropriated N40 billion in projects execution during his four-year tenure as governor.
In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC maintained that the lawmakers lack the constitutional powers to act as petitioners in a matter that concerns only the executive.
Olatunbosun described the lawmakers as “slave boys of a reckless and lawless governor wondering why it took more than two years before Fayose realised that the House of Assembly was the vehicle through which he could transmit a petition to the EFCC.
He said: “These lawmakers are pitiable sights on television speaking to reporters on an issue they have no competence and you can see their mediocrity as a bunch of slave boys to a reckless, lawless governor desperately seeking to divert the attention of Nigerians from the revelations in court over his seamless infractions on the law to stay in power.
“Besides not having constitutional powers to act as petitioners in a matter that concerns only the executive, majority of the members do not possess educational qualifications that can prepare them for the duties they were elected to perform, hence their directionless conduct and acting as tools of the governor while they suffer in penury.
“We don’t know when the House of Assembly conducted their investigation to arrive at this petition, as what they have in the petition are the same allegations that Fayose has been bandying around to deceive workers.
“This is besides the fact that they have the constitutional power to conduct investigation into any allegation and ask the governor to set up administrative panel to investigate the allegations, but because they lack capacity to do the job they were elected to do.
“They are prepared to line the streets to protect the interest of the governor as they did when they occupied Ado-Ekiti streets over EFCC investigation into Fayose’s allies’ involvement in alleged fraud.”
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Fayemi: I won’t be distracted by petition
Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi has said he is not worried about the petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
The Assembly accused him of mismanaging N40 billion during his four-year tenure as governor.
In a statement yesterday by his media aide, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi said he would not be distracted by the allegation, which he described as “childish, ridiculous and a calculated attempt to distract him”.
The former governor described the petition as “nothing but a rehash of old tales told by little minds which lacks substance and bound to fail like previous ones.”
The statement reads: “The petition by the Assembly is nothing but another calculated attempt to distract and tarnish the hard earned reputation of the honourable minister with spurious allegations.
“The Ekiti Assembly and indeed the Ayodele Fayose –led administration had spent the last two years rehearsing and rehashing all manners of allegations in their desperate effort to taint Dr Fayemi’s reputation.
“As at last count they have come up with six attempts, with varying degrees of falsehood.
“Dr Fayemi’s four years meritorious service in Ekiti remains an open book.
“The administration’s financial dealings and executed projects were well documented and copies of the documents are with the Assembly.
“We enjoin them to read the necessary portions and get the right answers to their puerile posers.
“But if their intention is to distract the minister and paint him in corrupt garb, then they have failed, as Dr Fayemi cannot be distracted by the government’s cheap blackmail.
“At this stage of our democracy, it is sad that an Assembly would be involved in what is known as Pull Him Down Syndrome.
“But the good news is that Ekiti people know the difference between those who serve them well and mere pretenders.
“Dr Fayemi remains focused on his current assignment of leading the economic diversification plan of the Federal Government through the mining sector and no ill-conceived machination can distract him.
“Finally the Fayose-led government is advised to concentrate on the provision of amenities in the state and desist from its maniacal penchant for falsehood and cheap blackmail.”
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Youths laud Fayemi on Ekiti NECO results
A youth group, Progressive Youth League (PYL), has praised the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for the excellent performance of Ekiti students in the Senior Secondary School Examination results released by the National Examination Council (NECO).
According to NECO Senior Secondary School examination released a fortnight ago, Ekiti dwarfed other states with 96.48 per cent. It was followed by Edo State with 96.31 per cent.
The group noted that the excellent performance by the students, who were in junior secondary school, when Fayemi introduced the various education policies of his administration, has proved that sound policy in education and a conducive atmosphere for learning were sine qua non for good performance.
The PYL, in a statement by its Southwest Coordinator, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the performance of the students vindicated Fayemi as a visionary leader whose education policies provided incentives for teachers, students and parents, and laid a solid foundation for great performances in internal and external examinations.
Aribasoye, a lawyer, lauded Fayemi’s policy of free and compulsory education between 2010 and 2014. He said the top ranking by NECO has also proved skeptics of free education wrong. “It is reassuring to note that the brilliant results were achieved by pioneering students of the free and compulsory education policy of the immediate past administration.”
The group, which called on the present administration to revert to some Fayemi’s policies, stated that the success recorded by the students stemmed from careful planning and incentives that had unprecedented impact on learning culture in the state.
It listed some of the incentives instituted by Fayemi to include distribution of solar-powered laptop computer to every secondary school pupil under the ‘one laptop per child initiative’; payment of rural allowances for teachers in the rural areas; core subject allowances to teachers who teach core sciences, Mathematics and English Language, and renovation of all primary and secondary school buildings under ‘Operation Renovate All Schools (ORASE).
“It is on record that the computer per child programme of the Fayemi administration, which provided computers for both teachers and students, was launched six months ahead of the introduction of computer-based examination by the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB).”
Aribasoye recalled that Fayemi’s administration organised computer training and mathematics clinics for teachers, put together remedial programmes for pupils across the state local government areas, and distributed about 400 motorcycles to teachers serving in the rural areas of the state. Fayemi’s administration also ensured that teachers benefited from the relativity pay for all categories of workers in the public service in addition to 27.5 per cent Teachers Pecuniary Allowance.
The youth leader said PYL opposes the planned introduction of fees in public schools by Governor Ayo Fayose. The group said it has finalised arrangements to begin a campaign to make education in primary and secondary schools free in Ekiti State.
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Youths laud Fayemi on Ekiti NECO results
A youth group, Progressive Youth League (PYL), has praised the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for the excellent performance of Ekiti students in the Senior Secondary School Examination results released by the National Examination Council (NECO).
According to NECO Senior Secondary School examination released a fortnight ago, Ekiti dwarfed other states with 96.48 per cent. It was followed by Edo State with 96.31 per cent.
The group noted that the excellent performance by the students, who were in junior secondary school, when Fayemi introduced the various education policies of his administration, has proved that sound policy in education and a conducive atmosphere for learning were sine qua non for good performance.
The PYL, in a statement by its Southwest Coordinator, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the performance of the students vindicated Fayemi as a visionary leader whose education policies provided incentives for teachers, students and parents, and laid a solid foundation for great performances in internal and external examinations.
Aribasoye, a lawyer, lauded Fayemi’s policy of free and compulsory education between 2010 and 2014. He said the top ranking by NECO has also proved skeptics of free education wrong. “It is reassuring to note that the brilliant results were achieved by pioneering students of the free and compulsory education policy of the immediate past administration.”
The group, which called on the present administration to revert to some Fayemi’s policies, stated that the success recorded by the students stemmed from careful planning and incentives that had unprecedented impact on learning culture in the state.
It listed some of the incentives instituted by Fayemi to include distribution of solar-powered laptop computer to every secondary school pupil under the ‘one laptop per child initiative’; payment of rural allowances for teachers in the rural areas; core subject allowances to teachers who teach core sciences, Mathematics and English Language, and renovation of all primary and secondary school buildings under ‘Operation Renovate All Schools (ORASE).
“It is on record that the computer per child programme of the Fayemi administration, which provided computers for both teachers and students, was launched six months ahead of the introduction of computer-based examination by the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB).”
Aribasoye recalled that Fayemi’s administration organised computer training and mathematics clinics for teachers, put together remedial programmes for pupils across the state local government areas, and distributed about 400 motorcycles to teachers serving in the rural areas of the state. Fayemi’s administration also ensured that teachers benefited from the relativity pay for all categories of workers in the public service in addition to 27.5 per cent Teachers Pecuniary Allowance.
The youth leader said PYL opposes the planned introduction of fees in public schools by Governor Ayo Fayose. The group said it has finalised arrangements to begin a campaign to make education in primary and secondary schools free in Ekiti State.
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Ex-Ekiti commissioner links pupils’ success in NECO to Fayemi
Former Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Kehinde Ojo has attributed the 96 per cent success recorded by the state’s candidates in the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination to reforms by ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Ojo, ex-headteacher of Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, and former tutor-general, said it was wrong for the commissioner, Jide Egunjobi, to attribute the latest feat to the Ayo Fayose administration’s cancellation of free and compulsory education policy.
He explained that the pupils, who sat for this year’s NECO, were in JSS1/JSS2 in 2010/2011, and benefited from the education policies of the Fayemi administration.
Ojo said: “What I need to add is that we stopped automatic promotion across board, and we made it compulsory that only pupils with a credit pass in maths and English language could proceed to certificate classes. This ensured that only pupils, who were fit to pass, got presented for those exams.
“This effectively means that the classes that wrote NECO this year are those academically sound.
“We should also note that success in examinations doesn’t happen overnight. This administration came on board less than two years ago, and if I may ask, what incentives have they provided in the education sector?
“The analogy we should draw between performance and the fact that those who took WAEC/NECO this year were in JSS1/2 in 2010/11 and benefited most from the policy changes that we implemented.
“They only experienced a full year of education under Fayose, who came in October 2014. I believe this was the point Femi Falana made at the Ekiti Panupo Colloquium last week when he hailed us for the cancellation of miracle centres.”
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Fayemi felicitates with Muslims
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir, urging them to uphold the lessons of love, loyalty and sacrifice, which are the foundation of the festival.
Dr Fayemi, in a goodwill message signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said the Eid-el-Kabir festival offers the opportunity for sober reflection and spiritual renewal, which Allah demands from the faithful.
While urging that the celebrations be done with moderation, the minister said the lessons of perseverance, sacrifice and loyalty which Eid-el-Kabir teaches should remain the dominant factor despite the pomp and ceremony accompaning the festival.
According to him, Allah brought victory and joy to Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ismail, after the duo demonstrated uncommon sense of sacrifice in fulfilling His will.
Fayemi urged the Muslim faithful and adherents of other faith in the country to make peaceful co-existence and harmony their watchwords and work together for a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“It is only through the fear of God, love for one another and commitment to peaceful living that we can collectively confront our challenges as a nation and build the Nigeria of our dreams,” Fayemi added.
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Fayemi, metal exporters team up to grow non-oil revenue
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria (AMEN) have reached an agreement to develop the potential of the solid minerals sector in line with the economic diversification programme of the government.
The leadership of AMEN paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development during which the two parties committed to working together to develop the indigenous solid minerals sector and reposition it as a major foreign exchange earner for the country. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development, Hon Bawa Bwari, received the executive members of AMEN led by its President, Seun Olatunji.
Other members of AMEN at the meeting included vice president, Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo, and executive member, Mecha Udomecha.
Fayemi said the government was committed to developing the solid minerals sector in a way that ensures that Nigerians benefited fairly from the natural endowments by participating in the operations, while simultaneously developing the potential of the sector as a major non-oil revenue earner.
He said the Ministry had engaged in far-reaching consultations as part of its commitment to pursue an inclusive approach that carries all stakeholders along, noting that there is need for all Nigerians to join hands with government to successfully diversify the economy.
Fayemi said the government was not unaware of the illicit export of Nigeria’s valuable solid minerals without appropriate revenue accrual to the Federal Government, decrying the connivance between Nigerians and foreigners to swindle Nigeria of her revenues.
He said the Ministry would work with Nigerian Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and other agencies to create an efficient synergy that benefits stakeholders.
He noted that the most profitable way to approach the sector is through value addition, such as solid minerals beneficiation and crushing, assuring that government would provide the facilities to develop the value-chain in the sector.
Fayemi pointed out that the Ministry has been working with international partners to enshrine global best practices in the sector citing the partnership with international inspection companies like SGS to manage the highly sophisticated NGSA Laboratory in Kaduna State as well as SGS establishing a testing laboratory in Lagos State.
Fayemi commended the registered metal exporters for their patriotism and commitment to the development of the solid minerals exports.
Bwari urged Nigerian companies to look beyond rudimentary exploitation to development of the full value-chain of the sector, citing China’s development as a country.
He also commended the metal exporters and enjoined them to always bring valuable information to the Ministry as this is vital to the growth of the sector.
Olatunji commended the purposeful leadership of Fayemi and expressed the readiness of the association to support the government in its diversification programme.
He pointed out that members of his association were responsible for a large chunk of the $1.742 billion repatriated as export proceeds between 2010 and 2015 as confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stressing that AMEN’s members were responsible for more than 50 per cent of the metallic solid minerals exports from Nigeria especially Lead, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.