The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibikunle Amosun

  • FG promises better quality telecommunications services

    The Federal Government says efforts are ongoing to have extra satellites to support the present Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) to improve quantum in the telecommunications industry.

    Dr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communication, spoke on Thursday at the Sixth Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology in Abeokuta, Ogun.

    Shittu said the major reason for the additional communication satellites was to reach areas that could not easily be covered by terrestrial fiber.

    He said there was a positive increase in the number of active telecommunication subscribers with an increase from 148.70 million in August 2015 to 162.05 million as at September 2018.

    According to the minister, this represent an increase of seven per cent.

    Shittu revealed that the country’s Foreign Direct Investment in telecommunication had increased from 32 billion dollars in 2015 to 40 billion dollars in 2018.

    The minister said that the percentage of internet penetration had reached a milestone of 48.44 per cent, making Nigeria second only to South Africa in the whole of Africa.

    Read Also: Federal Government and NOUN law graduates

     

    He reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to use ICT as a way of economic diversification which would help in the nation’s economic recovery and massive employment generation for the teeming youths.

    The minister spoke on the theme: “Leveraging on ICT as Veritable Vehicle for Economic Recovery and Growth.”

    He said that Information Communication Technology (ICT) had really changed the way people communicate, learn and conduct business.

    “The National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) is the highest Governmental policy advisory body in the ICT sector.

    “The NCCT meeting enhances national intergovernmental coordination in the ICT sector and provides platform for networking and experiences sharing toward harmonised sector development,” he said.

    The minister explained that the government had worked assiduously at improving the strategic ecosystem framework of the ICT sector through the development of policy instruments including the Nigeria ICT Roadmap and the National Addressing Policy.

    He reiterated that government would continue to keep abreast of developments in the area of technology and its extensive influence and application to diverse sectors in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, while declaring open the meeting, said that the state was committed to sustaining an ICT driven environment, adding that it would always play significant role in his administration.

    Amosun said that his government would continue to work to channel the energy of youths into technology, calling on participants to deliberate and come out with initiatives that would make ICT to serve as weapon of mass development.

    The governor urged the council to come up with a control mechanism to checkmate and curb illegal usage of social media platforms.

    Amosun said that it would help the country, especially now that the nation was approaching the electioneering year.

    NAN

  • Amosun presents N402.6bn budget of enduring legacy to Ogun Assembly

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Wednesday presented a budget estimate of N402.63Bn  to the State House of Assembly as the 2019 Appropriation Bill  which represents 17% increase compared to the out – going year budget size of N345.4Bn.
    A breakdown of the estimate christened, “Budget of Enduring Legacy,” shows that the sum of N254.005Bn would go at capital expenditure representing 63.1%, while Personnel Cost which consisted of Pension and Gratuities would take N22.20Bn.
    Also, estimate for salaries and allowances is put at  N74.43bn while  the recurrent expenditure has N148.57bn allocated to it and represents 36.90%. The overhead cost is fixed at N41.447.
    Amosun said N161.24bn of the budget estimate would be sourced through Internally Generated Revenue(IGR), N42bn  from the Federation Account, while the sum of N101.38Bn is  expected from capital receipts, with other receipts providing N80Bn representing 19.80% of the total funding.
    According to the Governor,  education would get the lion share of N88.57Bn, representing 22%, with N22.54Bn allocated to the Health sector, while N20.13Bn goes to  various agricultural production and industrialization programmes.
    He added that the sum of N53.14Bn was meant to cater for affordable housing and urban renewal, with rural and infrastructural development/ employment generation gets  N82.53bn, just as other sectors would share N135.68Bn.

    Read Also: Amosun hails state troupe on award

    Responding, Speaker Suraj Adekunbi in his closing remarks,  assured that members of the 8th Legislature would work towards speedy passage of the budget and partner with other arms of government through people oriented legislations for the implementation of new projects and completion of on-going infrastructural facilities across the State
    Earlier in his opening remarks, Adekunbi stated that 8th Legislature under his leadership had within the year, passed a total of 21 bills, while 18 others were under various legislative processes.
    Adekunbi added that 50 motions were  passed into Resolutions,  explaining that the Assembly equally carried out its annual oversight function to ensure judicious use of fund in line with the Appropriation Act.
    According to the Speaker,  the Assembly has been conducting its legislative activities peacefully without rancor despite the heterogeneous nature of political party representations.
    He attributed the development and progress recorded in all sectors of the State economy to the existing symbiotic relationship between the three arms of government.

  • 1800 flood victims in Ogun receives relief materials

    The Ogun State government has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to 1800 flood victims in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Areas of the State.

    The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the Flag Off distribution exercise to the July 13, 2018 flood victims at Arcade ground Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said flooding was a global phenomenon, which occurred as a result of climate change and had continued to wreck more havoc in different part of the world.

    Represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga, Amosun disclosed that, structures mostly affected were situated at flood prone areas, with poor sanitation, calling on relevant agencies of government to be more effective at ensuring good environmental sanitation, so as to prevent re-occurrence.

    Read Also: 23 suspected cultists arrested in Ogun

    Also speaking at the event, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustafa Maihaja, represented by the Chief Planning Officer, Mr. Segun Afolayan, noted that 1800 victims registered with NEMA and their items were ready for distribution, urging the Federal government to sign the NEMA bill into law so as to effectively exercise its duties.

    In his remark, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye, stated that, relief materials distributed included;  foodstuffs, building materials, mattress among others, imploring beneficiaries to effectively utilize them.

    Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs. Anike Ogunsola and Mr. Abayomi Idowu, while appreciating both Federal and State government for the relief materials given to them, called for more measures to promote sanitation and urged government to ensure proper enforcement of environmental laws.

  • Amosun assures of completion of on-going projects

    ……Task stakeholders on Economic Development

    The Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has reassured citizens of the State his administration’s determination to work on all awarded road projects with speed as soon as rainfall subsides.
    The Governor said this at the State 2019 budget town hall meeting organized to sensitize and obtain inputs from stakeholders for inclusion into the budget.
    He explained that work was already on going on some of the roads while others would not be left unattended to.
    He dispelled the on going rumours on the status of J4 and J6 forest reserves that his administration did not and was not aware of the sale of the forest reserves.
    He appreciated the citizens for their support to his administration which he said has contributed in no small measure to his success.
    Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning Ms. Adenrele Adesina has said that Investment in infrastructure, education, housing among others have been identified as tools for the transformation of Ogun State.
    The Commissioner made this known while welcoming stakeholders to 2019 budget town hall meeting held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

    Read Also: Amosun opens software centre at Gateway Poly

    Adenrele explained that the State’s proud heritage in education is currently in the cocoon of the next wave of transformation as skills revolution is underway to support the next chapter of manufacturing and agricultural sector growth.
    She called on stakeholders to join hands with the present administration to ensure a stronger and more productive future  for growth and economic advancement  in realising the state’s potentials and preservation of  the state  heritage.
    ” As proud citizens of Ogun State, we are all stakeholders in this journey and must all join hands in order to ensure that the State’s potential is realized, and our proud heritage is honored” Adenrele stated.
    Responding on behalf of traditional rulers, the Alake of Egbaland and chairman of Ogun State Council  of Obas  Oba Aremu  Gbadebo  appreciated the present administration for timely response to the welfare of royal fathers in the State.
    Stakeholders at the meeting included  representatives of various interest groups across the state, such as traditional, religious and political leaders, trade associations, market associations, professional bodies, civil society groups, student unions, among others.

  • Ogun pays N6.3bn to pensioners in nine months

    Mr Femi Ogundimu, Director of Contributory Pension Scheme, Bureau of State Pension in Ogun, says the government has paid N6.3 billion to pensioners in the state between January and September.

    Ogundimu made this known while playing host to Ogun Assembly Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

    The committee, led by Mr Ojo Viwanu, its Chairman, was on oversight visit to the Bureau.

    Ogundimu said the state did not owe any arrears of monthly pension saying that pensioners in the state received their monthly pension simultaneously with serving workers’ salaries.

    He said it was necessary for the bureau to offset the backlog of gratuities to appropriate retirees and ensure remittance of contributory pension deductions to relevant pension fund administrators in the interest of workers.

    Read Also: Shell gives N32m to 100 Bayelsa entrepreneurs

    Meanwhile, Mrs Modupe Bosede, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Service Matters, said the bureau would continue to promote good relationship between political appointees and civil servants.

    Bosede said this while taking her turn to present her agency’s performance for the year under review.

    She explained that the bureau was awaiting the approval of the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, of the processing of 2016, 2017 and 2018 promotions.

    She said the state government played pivotal role in the promotion of good governance adding that government would continue to accord high priority to the welfare of workers.

    Responding, Viwanu urged the pension bureau to continue to ensure prompt settlement of the pensioners.

    The Assemblyman underscored the critical role of public servants in the running of government business.

    He challenged all the bureaux to evolve more measures towards making the public service more productive.

  • ACO to Amosun: Imbibe spirit of sportsmanship, embrace Abiodun

    The media team of prince Abiodun Campaign Organisation (ACO) has urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to allow the supremacy of the party to prevail regarding the candidature of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ogun state as declared by the Muhammed Indabawa – led primary Committee for the state.
    ACO also advised Amosun to face the reality that his preferred man, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, has  lost the party’s ticket and thus imbibes the spirit of sportsmanship and party politics demands that losers accept their losses and join hands with Abiodun to serve the larger interest of the party and the good people of Ogun state.
    The media team  in a statement by Olamide Lawal,  he claimed  that the national leaders of APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari, have convened series of meetings to appease Amosun to move on and accept the rightful winner of the party’s ticket, alleging however,  that the governor in his own volition refuses to yield to the party’s directives to accept the decision of the National Working Committee(NWC) in line with the constitution of APC.
    The statement reads: “We have again received a news credited to the governor of Ogun state, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun where he vows that he has not accepted Prince Dapo Abiodun as the winner of the APC gubernatorial primary.
    “It is no more news to the good people of Ogun state that Prince Dapo Abiodun is the APC gubernatorial candidate in the State having polled the highest number of votes in a freely and fairly contested direct primary election as announced by the Electoral Panel sent in by the National Working Committee of the party.
    “The committee was led by Mr Muhammed Indabawa, a retired commissioner of Police with a distinguished record of service. With the general elections fast approaching, the governor has failed to unite the party in preparation for the huge task ahead.
    “This is because his preferred successor lost the party’s ticket. The spirit of sportsmanship and party politics demands that losers accept their losses and join hands with the winner to serve the larger interest of the party and the society.

    Read Also: Amosun: I won’t quit APC

    “There have been efforts on the part of state and national leaders of the party to forge a common front in preparation for the victory of the party at the general elections but the governor has consistently made attempts to frustrate the reconciliatory efforts of the party leaders because he wants to install his successor by all means.
    “It is on record that national leaders of the party including President Muhammadu Buhari, have convened series of meetings to appease the governor to move on and accept the rightful winner of the party’s ticket.
    “The governor in his own volition and wishes, refuses to yield to the party’s directives to accept the decision of the NWC in line with the constitution of the party, APC.
    We cannot turn down the people’s will having elected Dapo Abiodun as their flag bearer and it is time we move on in preaching the gospel of Dapo Abiodun to the good people of Ogun state who have all been yearning to see him in the exalted seat.
    “Abiodun as an entrepreneur who has provided over 10,000 direct and 250,000 indirect jobs to the people has become the toast of many residents of Ogun state and they can’t wait to have him as their next governor.
    “The acumen of Abiodun in building and maintaining businesses for over  three decades has become a selling point which many citizens of the state have seen as a means that can move the state forward and increase its IGR for more infrastructural development, human capital development and better living conditions of the people.
    “It is in this view that we call on all stakeholders in Ogun state to join hands and let’s move our dear state forward so as to secure a better future for the coming generations.”

  • Osinbajo, Amosun meet in Aso Rock 

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday evening met behind closed doors with Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 6.10pm when Amosun arrived the Vice President’s office.

    Read Also:Osinbajo restates Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development

    Amosun was part of the nine All Progressives Congress (APC) governors that met President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the day over faulty primary elections in their states.

    The meeting with Osinbajo was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

    Details Later…

  • 2019: I’ll not surrender Ogun to ‘profiteers,’ Amosun vows

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun again blows hot regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary and the 2019 general elections in Ogun state, vowing not to “surrender” the state to those desirous of reaping from where they had sowed nothing.

    Amosun added that he and his supporters are on ground, well prepared and ready for the ‘profiteers’ on which ever date the governorship primary is fixed.

    The Governor who made this known while addressing hundreds of APC members and supporters at the MTR Hall, Ibara, Abeokuta, on Monday morning urged them to keep their ” gun powder dry” for political battle ahead.

    Amosun who momentarily left the MKO Abiola stadium, Kuto – Abeokuta, the venue of this year Independence anniversary celebration after leading some traditional rulers and state officials to cut the 58th Independence anniversary Cake for the MTR Hall to address his supporters, debunked the allegation of “security breach” by five APC governorship aspirants in the state.

    He said nobody is facing any threat and urged people not to de-market Ogun state with allegations of security breaches.

    “Don’t worry because of them. This position we are today is by the benevolence of God, we are more now, I have told them, we have the government, we have the party and we have the people.

    Read Also: Amosun’s choice governorship candidate Akinlade woos Ogun

    “They have been trying all the tricks in the book, they will have trouble having 10 or five percent of the people. If they do it one million times, the result will be the same.  They thought they are God.  God who dealt with them before will harmer more this time. The disgrace they got last  time (2015) will be more this time.

    “Keep your gun powder dry, we will mobilize you with the necessary logistics when the time comes. If they are doing kuru Kere moves, tell them that they will be graced. We are on ground here.  We will give you money for your motor (transport fare) back.

    “They writing something, nobody is going to kill anybody, if you have the love of Ogun State,  don’t  de-market it, nobody will kill anybody. We are ready for them, I’m the chief security officer of the state, something is worrying their brain, we are waiting for them.

    “Please don’t touch anybody, if they bring money collect from them, what we have done for you the day before yesterday, we are going to do another one, no retreat no surrender, it is not by might but by the benevolence of almighty God.

    “It is operation deliver your ward. Go out and mobilize yourself. We outnumber them. Where they have people, please allow them,” Amosun said.

  • Amosun’s choice governorship candidate Akinlade woos Ogun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s man, Hon. Abdulkabir Akinlade, has stormed the Ogun East (Ijebu and Remo) with his supporters, soliciting support ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries now slated for Sunday.

    Akinlade who hails from Ago-Sasa, Ipokia, in Ogun West Senatorial district of the state, pledged to make the interest of the youths and women part of the major thrust of his administration if elected into office.

    The Federal lawmaker representing Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency was adopted as the consensus candidate of the Ogun West two weeks ago by the zone’s Elders Council.

    He will battle for the APC governorship ticket with five other aspirants, including the quartet of Senator Gbenga Kaka, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Otunba Ashiru and Jimi Lawal – all from Ogun East

    Addressing party members in Ijebu – North, Ijebu East and Sagamu during tour of Ogun East, he appealed to them to give him their vote during the primary, saying he would not disappoint them and the party.

    He said the Ogun State government believes so much in the youths, adding that was the reason APC had chosen him for 2019 governorship race but added that he  needs the help of party members from across the state to actualize his ambition.

    Also, his adopted running mate, Mrs Peju Adebajo, who hails from Ogun East, also appealed to her people to support the duo during the primaries.

  • Ogun APC: Aspirant urges members to insist on direct primary

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has advised APC members to insist on their right to select by themselves through direct primary, the party candidate for the 2019 governorship polls in the state.

    Abiodun who hails from Iperu town in Ogun East Senatorial district, urged party faithful to fight for their freedom, allow their votes to count and not let indirect primaries to prevail where they can have their say.

    The Oil magnate gave the advice during a tour to Abeokuta South, Imeko Afon and Yewa North local governments with members of the party at the weekend.

    Abiodun appealed to party members across the state not to give up on their clamour for direct primaries as recommended by the national leadership of the party, assuring them that there is no going back until the will of the people prevails.

    The aspirant recalled that he has supported Governor Ibikunle Amosun to achieve his ambition to govern the state, but wondered why Amosun is unwilling to reciprocate same gesture.

    “I was one of the people who went to plead for the incumbent governor to be allowed to govern the state in 2007 but we failed, after that election we realise we didn’t do stomach infrastructure then we try again in 2011 with 11 state house of Assembly members around the state which I personally financed.

    “I wonder where I’ve wronged the governor with my ambition, with all the support I gave him then, not that he gave me any post or my loyaliest which I never questioned him for,” Abiodun said.

    He said the plan to elect flag bearers of the party through the delegate system as an indirect admittance of failure on the part of the outgoing governor adding that a government that is really in touch with the people would not be afraid of putting its fate in the hands of the electorates.

    He promised to return the party to the people if he is elected the APC aspirant to run along with other parties’ aspirants for 2019.

    “I promise to return the party to the people because the party belong to the people and not individual or a family party that some people feels they should have control ”

    He also urge the party faithfuls to use the ongoing continuous membership registration of our great party via the internet to drive the membership of the party.