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Tag: Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

  • Submit your arms within 21 days,  Akeredolu urges militants

    Submit your arms within 21 days,  Akeredolu urges militants

    Ondo State government Thursday granted amnesty to all Niger/Delta militants in the state, urging them to embrace the programme.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who announced the amnesty in Akure, Thursday, said an amnesty office has already been opened in Akure, the state capital with centres in five oil communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas.

    Akeredolu gave the militants 21 days ultimatum to submit their arms at any of the amnesty offices in the state.

    He hailed the federal government’s support for the amnesty programme, stressing that his deputy, Agboola Ajayi has been appointed the chairman of the committee on the amnesty programme.

    According to him, the committee would also work with the office of the Special Adviser to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, who is also the chairman of the federal government’s amnesty programme.

    The governor urged traditional rulers to support the amnesty programme, while calling on the militants to embrace the programme in the interest of peace and development of the state.

    He maintained that Amnesty programme would not be run in palaces, but by the committee members assigned by the state government.

    The militants numbering 100 openly signified their intention to submit their arms at the event
    attended by the acting governor of Delta State and representative of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs

    Akeredolu said the state government would henceforth take punitive measures to curtail militancy in the state.

    He said” Our country cannot continue to be in crisis. It is time we embrace peace and shun crisis.”

    He assured that the state government would provide jobs for militants who willingly surrender their arms, adding that the government would also organize trainings for them to make them relevant in the society.

    The Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan , who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers advised the government to ensure that only genuine militants benefit from the amnesty programme.

    He also stressed the need for the government to appoint only indigenes of the oil producing areas of the state as officials of the amnesty programme.

  • Abandoned Bitumen Project

    The Bitumen Project, which has been abandoned for many years by the past successive governments in the state, may be reactivated by the present administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Research has shown that Ondo State has the second largest bitumen deposits in the whole world but it is being wasted because of administrative and financial bottlenecks.

  • Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    The first runner-up in the last governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Segun Abraham, Monday hailed the ruling of the Appeal Court that dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Monday dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by the governor against his candidature in the last governorship primaries of the party in the state.

    Abraham in a statement in Akure,the state capital signed by the Director General, Abraham Support Group(ASG) Kunle Eko-Davies described the ruling as a “quit notice” to the governor and his supporters.

    It noted that the ruling was a clear sign that democracy is strengthening and more people oriented, stressing that “the ruling is a victory for all members of APC locally and in diaspora most especially the “disenfranchised members in the state.

    According to the statement, “The events leading to the 2015 Ondo state APC primaries is still fresh in our memories. The unilateral act of our party National Chairman to submit the name of Akeredolu as the candidate of the party contrary to the decision of the party’s Appeal Committee and National Working Committee is also fresh in our memories.

    “This is a quit notice to Governor Akeredolu and his members to vacate the state house that was acquired illegally.”

    It however appealed to all members of the ruling party and supporters alike to remain calm and be prayerful, saying it is a family issue that would soon be resolved by courts.

  • Ondo most peaceful Niger Delta state, says Akeredolu

    Ondo most peaceful Niger Delta state, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Government is to host the second meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) between August 7 and 12.

    The first meeting was hosted by Akwa Ibom State Government in Uyo, the state capital, in 2013.

    Inaugurating the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to organise successful meeting coming up in Akure, the state capital, at the weekend, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu described Ondo as the most peaceful among the nine Niger Delta states.

    He expressed optimism that the sunshine state will be the best host of the meeting among its counterparts.

    Akeredolu

    Members of the committee include the Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Gbenga Edema, who will serve as its chairman, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor on Oil and Gas, Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, Kele Bolodeoku, Boye Oyewunmi, Mrs. Oyelade Olanrewaju, Oluranti  Netufo, Goke Ijatuase, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engineer Aminu and OSOPADEC Secretary, Dr. Victor Koledoye, who will also serve as LOC Secretary, among others.

    Akeredolu said the National Council is a high level consultative body for the Niger Delta region and comprises representation from all states of the Federation, federal government, Ministries, Department and Agencies.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, said the government decided to inaugurate the LOC which is saddled with responsibility of delivering successful hosting.

    The theme of the summit titled” Fast Tracking the Development and Peace of the Niger Delta  Region” is apt in the national history and development, considering many cries of marginalisation and anti-social behaviours, including rampant kidnapping in the country.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Gbenga Edema, assured of the readiness of the committee to give its best for the success of the forthcoming council meeting and do what will benefit the region in the future.

    The event had in attendance, the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Ifedayo Abegunde, and Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Governor, Chief Gbenga Ale.

     

  • Ondo Assembly gets Principal Officers, Standing Committees

    Ondo Assembly gets Principal Officers, Standing Committees

    Ondo State House of Assembly, Wednesday elected the principal officers of the legislative house.

    Besides, names of its standing committees were read to the house by the Speaker, Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun.

    The Speaker who represents Ifedore Constituency and his Deputy, Iroju Ogundeji from Odigbo Constituency 1 were elected on April 3.

    The elected officers were Majority leader, Olugbenga Araoyinbo, Chief Whip, Olusola Feyide, Deputy Majority Leader, Segun Ajimotokan, Parliamentary Secretary, Suileman Maito, Whip, Akintimehin Isaiah, Minority Leader, Sola Ebiwonjumi, and Akindiose Olusiji, Minority Whip.

    The Speaker admonished all members to see the assignments as opportunities to serve the State as a window of chance to improve the well-being of the common man.

    This according to him was to emancipate the economic strength of the state by contributing to a strong drive of its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Oleyelogun charged new House Leaders to exhibit fair play and display maturity in discharging their assigned duties.

    He said; “Every member should embrace the spirit of oneness and ensure that bureaucratic sanitation, proper transparency, accountability and due process is re -activated into the Civil Service like in the olden days.

    “This especially is by encouraging the good plans and aspirations of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu”.

    The speaker urged the committee members to see themselves as Check and Balance Agent and legislative guide to Civil Servants.

    He also pleaded that all government resources must be judiciously harnessed, noting that there is a reduction in the time- lag of executing government projects.

    The lawmaker reiterated that there may be more jobs for members as legislatures, but should maximize this opportunity to perform their oversight functions with their competence and experience.

  • Ondo HoS hails Akeredolu over prompt payment of salaries

    Ondo HoS hails Akeredolu over prompt payment of salaries

    Ondo State Head of Service (HoS) Toyin Akinkuotu Wednesday hailed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN) for prioritising the welfare of workers in the state.

    Akinkuotu, while welcoming civil servants from the Easter break recalled that Akeredolu had during his first prayer meeting with workers in the State, promised to do everything possible to give welfare of workers priority.

    Akinkuotu noted that the governor has been fulfilling his promises through payment of salaries as at when due.

    He noted that the Governor, after the payment of February and March salaries, also paid August arrear, and has set up a committee to look into how the remaining arrears could be paid, a development that confirmed his commitment to ensure that workers live comfortably.

    The HoS also thanked public servants for their cooperation and dedication to duty.

    He urged them to exhibit diligence, commitment and dedication to duty in appreciation of the good gesture of the current administration, noting that “to whom much is given, much is expected”.

    Akinkuotu also stressed the need for workers to embrace the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), noting that it would earn them many opportunities by having retirement savings package.

    The HoS explained that the objective of the scheme was to ensure that every worker in the State receives retirement benefits as at when due, empower workers and assist them to save in order to cater for their livelihood during retirement.

    He noted that most public sector schemes were unsustainable due to a weak and inefficient administration of the scheme, like old pension scheme referred to as Defined Benefits Scheme unsustainable, hence the need to embrace the new one which is to correct the anomalies inherent in the old one.

    Akinkuotu recalled that in year 2014, the State approved its own law on Pension Reform and since that time, the implementation has started schematically with all workers recruited from that period.

    He added that a lot of progress has been made through creation of Ondo State Pension Commission with the appointment of Director General and Pension Fund Administration to register workers for the scheme.

    Also speaking, the Director General of the State Pension Commission, Mr. Jaiyeola Olowosuko said it is very pertinent to have an interactive session with all salary officers from all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

    This to ensure a hitch free process of deductions and prompt remittance into Retirement Saving Accounts (RSAs), in line with the stipulated law and to clear the grey areas with workers recruited from 2014.

  • ‘We are not against Akeredolu’s appointments’

    ‘We are not against Akeredolu’s appointments’

    An Islamic Leader in Ondo State, Alhaji Nerean Akorede has said that his religious group is in support of the recent appointments made by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Akorede who is the Coordinator of Progressive Muslim Council in the state said Muslims who belong to the association are not against the appointments.

    He therefore distance himself from agitation by some Muslims that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) should be a Muslim since Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi are both Christians.

    The religious leader expressed confidence in the ability of Governor Akeredolu to deliver all his electioneering campaign promises, adding that Akeredolu loves Muslims the same way he loves Christians.

    He opined that the Governor will consider Muslims in the state for political appointments, and therefore urged all Muslims in the state to support his administration.

    Akorede who is a stalwart of the ruling APC called for religious tolerance and understanding among the people of the state, stressing that the Muslims cannot be marginalized by Akeredolu or his government.