The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kwara

  • Kwara Gov appeals for patience on food, forex crisis

    Kwara Gov appeals for patience on food, forex crisis

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has briefed different segments of the State on efforts of the government to ease things for the people. 

    Held in different sessions, the hours-long engagements involved labour union chiefs, transport sector leaders, artisans, leadership of the market unions, and students drawn from varying backgrounds in the state.

    Different federal government committees are working round the clock to plug the spiraling fall in the value of the naira and its impacts on consumer goods, while different measures are taken to ease the effects on the public, the Governor said. 

    He said the government is immediately working to force down the cost of key staple foods by releasing grains from the strategic reserve and distributing same to the people at intervals. 

    He said the devaluation of the naira meant that merchants from neighbouring countries are mopping up grains from Nigeria because it is far cheaper to buy from the country and then resell at higher prices in their own countries, especially in the West African subregion. 

    Acknowledging the spike in inflation, the Governor urged the people to be patient and that the government’s investments in gas-powered vehicles will soon manifest when the vehicles are eventually distributed in the coming months, including (first) to the University of Ilorin campus and later to the other campuses.

    He also commended the Kwara State University for its initiative on gas-powered vehicles, which he said the government will continue to encourage.

    He said the State Government will soon deploy more vehicles to different parts of the state to support people’s movement, especially students who come from different homes, while grains will soon be distributed to the people as a form of support.

    “You will observe that due to the removal of fuel subsidy and the step taken on foreign exchange by the Federal government, there is inflation in the country. The government is working hard to address the resultant challenges,” he said at each of the meetings with the stakeholders. 

    “Our major problem is foreign exchange. We are getting US dollars from sales of crude oil, whereas we have low sales at the moment. We used to experience pipeline vandalism. But, since the assumption of Tinubu’s government, production of oil has increased. Not only that, the government realised recently that the crude oil we are, and will be, getting in the next six months or so had been sold in advance. So, they don’t get value for whatever they are selling now. But gradually, things will change, and we need your support to understand us. 

    “The government has started ordering gas-powered vehicles and is making serious efforts to stabilise the Naira. But more importantly now is how to address the hike of food prices. We held a meeting this afternoon. I joined them through zoom, and it is a continuation of previous meetings. The government is launching programmes to checkmate the rising food prices.”

    He said the government is not taking the issue of insecurity lightly, citing the immediate arrest of abductors in Ekiti LG of the state by the combined security agencies.

    AbdulRazaq appreciated the labour movement and every segment of the state for their continued understanding and dialogue, as the government strives to meet their demands in phases.

    “Our main challenge now is the new minimum wage. Now that a tripartite committee has been set up at the federal level, we are looking forward to setting up our own at the state level basically to be prepared for what is going on at the federal level,” he said.

    State Chairman for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Joseph Tunde Meshach, NLC Chairman Comrade Saheed Olayinka, and NUT representative, in their separate remarks, commended the Governor for making the welfare of workers a priority, and for the ongoing efforts to relieve the pains from fuel subsidy removal. 

    Meshach lauded the government’s decision to upgrade Kwara Hotel to a standard that it deserves, saying the facility occupies a strategic place and deserves a top-notch upgrade the government is giving it. 

    “On the issue of Kwara Hotel workers, we thank Your Excellency very much for paying their (workers’) salary as and when due. We also want to congratulate you on the work being done on (Kwara Hotel) in order to give us a more befitting one,” the TUC Chairman said, acknowledging the open-door policy of the administration with the labour movement.

    Read Also: Kwara settles N1 billion teachers, others arrears

    Olayinka said AbdulRazaq was the the first Governor to introduce palliative as a means of reducing the burden affecting the common man, especially the fixed income earners, saying such was commendable.

    The labour leaders said they want more to be done for the workers, nonetheless. 

    President National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Kwara State chapter, Comrade Issa Abdulgafar, appreciated the Governor for his contributions to the students’ constituency and the huge investments to reposition the education sector.

    NAKSS leader Comrade Abdulwahab Habibullahi Are thanked the Governor for increasing their bursary award from N5,000 to N10,000 and the constant payment of the money as well as other support for the students.

  • 8,000 get N25,000 each in Kwara

    8,000 get N25,000 each in Kwara

    Kwara State Government says it has begun fresh disbursement to 8,000 unemployed youths and women under its public workfare scheme.

    It said each of the beneficiaries would get N25,000.

    Acting General Manager Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP), Dr. Abdulwasiu Tejidini, said the workfare scheme began on February 5 after weeks of enumeration process that spanned 16 local governments of the state.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Kwara governor, Abdulrazaq, on birthday anniversary

    He said: “In the last few weeks, our team at KWASSIP has toured the 16 councils of Kwara State to enumerate beneficiaries of the public workfare scheme.

    “The scheme is another impactful initiative of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq targeted at empowering young people and engaging them to become productive members of the society.

    “Each beneficiary has started getting financial support in the sum of N25,000. Like many other social investment programmes of the administration, the public workfare scheme will contribute to the socio-economic well-being of our people.”

  • Anger over Kwara traditional ruler’s killing

    Anger over Kwara traditional ruler’s killing

    • Slain traditional ruler was retired general •AbdulRasaq vows to bring killers to justice
    • Ilorin Emir: Incident extremely painful, unfortunate •Ekiti gov meets security chiefs over insecurity
    • Troops kill 185 terrorists, arrest 212 others •Gunmen attack patrol team, kill policeman in Ebonyi

    Fresh anger swept across the country yesterday after gunmen killed another traditional ruler, their third in under one week.

    The latest victim is the Olukoro of Koro in the Ekiti Local Government area of Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole who was shot dead in his palace late Thursday, three days after the  Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola were similarly shot dead in neighbouring Ekiti State.

    Oba Aremu-Cole’s assailants also abducted his wife and two others.

    A furious Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq vowed yesterday that the murder of Oba Aremu-Cole would be the  assailants’ “last crime against humanity.”

    The state police Command said no stone would be left unturned to apprehend them.

    Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji rushed to Abuja  to seek the help  of the Service chiefs to stop criminals terrorizing the state while the Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi promised to rally Southwest governors in the fight against criminality in the zone.

    The  Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar urged the security agencies to take the “ anti-crime battle to these criminals now.”

    Oba Aremu-Cole,The Nation gathered,was killed soon after returning from  a meeting of the local government council of traditional rulers at  Osi, a neighbouring community.

    A close friend of the late retired army general confided that the deceased was  preparing to sleep when the goons struck.

    “The oba was even said to have had  a WhatsApp chat with one of his subjects until 7:15pm on the ill-fated day,” the source said.

    He added: “ It was some minutes past 8pm that the incident happened.

    ” It is so unfortunate that a retired general would be killed like chicken.”

    Governor AbdulRazaq described the killing as  reckless, shocking, and abominable.

    He charged the security agencies not to spare any resources to track down the perpetrators, free his spouse and others taken away.

    “We will certainly get the perpetrators and ensure that this is their last crime against humanity,” the governor said, and condoled the people of Koro.

    “Our hearts are broken, and we stand by them at this time and always,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq’s deputy,Mr.Kayode Alabi visited the town to  condole with the people.

    Like his principal, he said the perpetrators would be fished out for prosecution and the abductees rescued.

     The Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Mallam Saliu Mustapha condemned the murder which he called “a sacrilege of our communal values and traditions.”

    He asked the security agencies not to relent in their pursuit of the perpetrators “and bring them to justice to send a clear message that such acts of violence and disregard for human life will not be tolerated in Kwara State.”

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari expressed condolences to the entire members of the State Traditional Rulers Council and the people of Koro over the murder.

    He urged Kwara government to ensure that necessary support  to security agencies to enable them curb the incessant crimes and criminality across the state.

    The Emir urged religious leaders across the state to embark on special prayers, to restore peace and harmony that Kwara was known for globally.

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed concern over the worsening spate of insecurity in Kwara, charging the government to secure lives and properties.

    “It is disturbing to witness this level of carnage in a state that has always been a haven of peace and harmony,” he said,adding:”While we continue to pray for the safe rescue of the abductees, we ask the government and security operatives to be up and doing, to ensure adequate security for the people in Kwara State.

    “These criminals must be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

    The state police command said it has commenced investigation into the murder.

    Its spokesperson Toun Ejire-Adeyemi said: “immediate and intensive investigations are underway to apprehend those criminals for this reprehensible act.

    “We assure the public that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly.

    “Security measures in the Koro community have been intensified, tactical teams are being mobilized to beef up security to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.”

    She urged the public to “remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative as we work tirelessly to unravel this matter; arrest and charge the culprits to court.

    “The command remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

    “The command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the entire community affected by this heinous act.

    “Our prayers are with them during this challenging time.”

    Ooni to rally Southwest  governors to  secure region

    Oba Ogunwusi,speaking on the occasion of the 2024 edition of Oodua Festival, organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) in Ile Ife,said the killing of the two Ekiti State Obas was a bad omen and a pointer to the fact that bad elements are making the region unsafe for the people.

    Represented by the  Obalufe of Ife Kingdom, Oba Idowu Adediwura,the Ooni pledged to rally the South West Governors to involve the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams in securing the region.

    “It is time to use what we have to get what we want. We want peace in Yoruba land. We want effective security of lives and property. We want to sleep with our two eyes closed and we have a rising star who can make that possible,” he said.

    Adams stressed the need for a lasting synergy between the government and the people at the grassroots to make the region safe for all.

    Read Also: Killing of Kwara traditional ruler reckless, abominable – AbdulRazaq

     “We will not allow the Plateau massacre to be replicated in any part of Yorubaland,” he said.

    Sultan to security agencies: Now is time to take the battle to bandits

    The Sultan  described the killing of the Ekiti obas as extremely painful and very unfortunate.

    He called on the Inspector General of Police and heads of other relevant security agencies to go after the killers and present them before the law of the land for justice to be done.

    “The police should take its anti-crime battle to these criminals now, wherever they are, whoever they are and ensure that no matter their status and stature in the society, they should not be spared and must be brought to justice, while efforts must be made to henceforth prevent repeat of such dastardly act before it happens in the future,” he said.

     Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed concern over the recent murder of two Ekiti traditional rulers.

    The Sultan, in a statement issued on Friday by his media team, said the development is one that all must condemn, describing it as unfortunate.

    The gunmen suspected to be bandits killed the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola on Monday.

    While the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba was said to have escaped death by the whiskers.

    The three traditional rulers were traveling along the Oke-Ako road, in Ikole Local Government Area of the state when they were killed.

    They were returning from a security meeting in Irele Ekiti when the gunmen struck.

    Reacting, the Sultan said the unfortunate incident was “extremely painful and very unfortunate”.

    He called on the Inspector General of Police and heads of other relevant security agencies to go after the killers and present them before the law of the land for justice to be done.

    “The police should take its anti-crime battle to these criminals now, wherever they are, whoever they are and ensure that no matter their status and stature in the society, they should not be spared and must be brought to justice, while efforts must be made to henceforth prevent repeat of such dastardly act before it happens in the future,” he said.

    Sunday Igboho invokes Ogun against assailants

    In his reaction,Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho invoked the Yoruba god of iron,Ogun ,Against the murderers of the traditional rulers.

    Igboho,in a statement through his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi said “I categorically condemn these barbaric murders and urgently call on both the state and federal governments to take decisive actions in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

    “We demand the immediate apprehension of the murderers and a thorough search of the surrounding woods and forests to root out those hiding to perpetrate such evil deeds.

    “In seeking justice, I invoke the god of iron, Ogun, to intervene and put an end to this menace. May the collective will of the Yoruba people prevail, and may the departed monarchs find eternal peace. We stand in unified grief and resolve to ensure that such tragedies do not mar the peace and prosperity of our beloved Yorubaland.

    “This is very painful. Our people deserve to live. All those connected to such wicked acts, be it for politics, criminality, or sheer wickedness, should know that the end is near.”

    Oyebanji meets Service Chiefs, seeks strategic intervention in Ekiti

     Governor Oyebanji on Thursday met with the Service  Chiefs in Abuja to fashion out a more strategic approach to stem the current spate of  insecurity in some parts of the State.

    The governor’s meeting with the service chiefs came on the heels of  recent security breaches in the state, specifically the killing of the  traditional rulers and the abduction of some pupils and their teachers in Emure Ekiti.

    Oyebanji, who was at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja alongside the Chairman of Ekiti caucus at the National Assembly and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, met with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, General  Taoreed Lagbaja separately.  He also met with other security chiefs.

    The  governor explained that Ekiti State had been experiencing peace for the past years, but that the peace was truncated by the security breaches that occurred some days ago.

    He said: “I need to rush here because the President spoke with me and gave certain directives that I needed to act on as soon as possible.

    “What makes the Ekiti situation a bit pathetic was the dimension it took. Among the Yoruba people, the traditional rulers are next to God. When you bring down two traditional rulers at once in such a gruesome manner, it sends a very dangerous signal to the entire race.”

    He pointed out that the abduction of school children portends a dangerous dimension, adding that such had never been experienced in the state.

    The Governor who exchanged ideas with the military top hierarchy, pushed for the deployment of more military personnel to the state to burst criminal hideouts, as well as provision of a Forward Operating Base to strengthen the security architecture of the state.

    “If we have enough men on ground, I mean the armed forces, there is a way we can police the three senatorial districts because we have an idea of where these people are and most of the time when the Army joins the local vigilante groups,  they make  some arrests.

    “My plea to you is that if they cannot give us a Command in Ekiti State now, because I don’t know the budgetary provision for that, we need a Forward Operating Base (FOB) as soon  as possible. Whatever it is going to take, as a government, we will provide because announcements must be made to strengthen the security architecture of the state and give the people some respite.”

    Governor Oyebanji promised the state government’s support for the military to get rid of the criminals infiltrating the state.

    In his remarks, Bamidele said  the recent situation in Ekiti demanded a military intervention and called for immediate intervention.

    Responding to the demands, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured the Governor that the Armed Forces would do all within its power to track down the perpetrators of the crimes that happened in Ekiti State.

    Just like the Civilian Task Force(JTF) in the North, the Chief of Defence Staff said the Army was ready to work with the local security network, stressing the need to leverage on technology, establishment of State-Community Policing, introduction of animal ranches, amongst others.

     “We do not have enough manpower on ground so we always have to make do with the locals.  I was in the North East and we used the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and they gave us lots of support. Maybe we put them on contracts and on renewal basis and we are able to monitor them if we see anyone misbehaving we remove them, this brings out the issue of community policing, it is very critical”, General Musa added.

    The Onimojo and the Elesun were on their way back home from a security meeting in Ikole Ekiti when they ran into the bandits.

    Their colleague,the  Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba,who was with them during the trip  narrowly escaped.

  • Kwara councils’ scholarship for 130 indigent students

    Kwara councils’ scholarship for 130 indigent students

    One hundred and thirty indigent students drawn from Oyun and Offa local governments of Kwara State have received West African Examinations Council (WAEC) scholarship awards from a group called Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode Foundation.

    The foundation promised to obtain free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for the beneficiaries and sponsor qualified ones in tertiary institutions.

    Proprietor of the foundation, Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode, represented by a director, Saheed Lawal, highlighted the strides of the foundation not only in education, but also in agriculture, health, youths and sports, security and empowerment, among others. He identified the foundation’s passion for humanity and community development and a way to give back to the society as reasons behind the gesture.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu procures additional rolling stocks for Blue, Red lines

    The disbursement, held at Offa Grammar School auditorium, was attended by many students, parents and guests.

    Guest lecturer, the Special Adviser on Education to Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, Dr. Adeola Salau, spoke on ‘Catalysing change: private partnerships in education for Kwara’s bright future’.

    He stressed the significance of private partnership in expanding access to quality education.

    Another speaker, Dr. Yisa Azeez of Lens Polytechnic, Offa raised the students’ hope for a successful life and urged them to soar higher and join in improving their communities.

  • Investments in hospitality facilities, tech strategic, NIPR hails Kwara Gov

    Investments in hospitality facilities, tech strategic, NIPR hails Kwara Gov

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday received applause from the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for his administration’s investments in critical infrastructure and projects that can drive rapid economic growth and make the State a hub. 

    President of the NIPR, Dr Ikechukwu Neliaku, gave the commendation in Ilorin, the state capital, when he led a delegation of the Institute to Government House on a courtesy visit.

    Neliaku said some of the ongoing legacy projects in the State such as Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre are strategic and would place Kwara on the global map.

    “We have noted that you are doing some legacy projects. Some people come, they do projects and all that. But when leaders are not conscious of their legacy after they have left offices, their image goes down. And because we are managers of image and reputation, we look out for those who are planting seeds of legacies,” he said.

    “The projects that really caught our fancy are the ICT Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre, among others. This is very, very important.

    “You are building an International Conference Centre in Ilorin. For those who do not understand what that means, you are opening up Ilorin for global attention. You are building Kwara state as a regional hub. We also notice your fiscal responsibility and prudence in managing the affairs of governance.” 

    Neliaku described AbdulRazaq as an inclusive and digital Governor, acknowledging his belief in young people, gender inclusion and other feats in human capital development. 

    He commended the Governor’s approval of a capacity building programme for information and Public Relations Officers who are working in various government’s establishments in the State and for being supportive of the NIPR.

    He also briefed the Governor of some of the institute’s programmes such as REBIRTH NIGERIA, which holds later in March and June. 

    “We are also pursuing what we call REBIRTH NIGERIA. Rebirth stands for reinventing the essence, beauty, integrity, resourcefulness, and traditional heritages of Nigeria,” he said, asking the Governor to convince his colleagues at the NGF to buy into the concept.

    “We are doing it on Four Pillars, and it is a programme of research. First is the pillar of values reorientation. Second is the principle of citizens’ education. Third is the principle of excellence in service delivery. And lastly is the pillar of promotion of Made in Nigeria products,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq said the choice of his legacy projects is to position Kwara as a hub for service economy, which attracts investments and creates jobs for the people.

    “What we are trying to do here is to build an ecosystem, a hub for conferencing. You have sold the idea of conferences in just a few words. But why are we building a conference centre here? People really need to understand that a conference centre and hotels are a catalyst for national development as it births a strong service economy,” the Governor said.

    “Las Vegas is smaller than Ilorin but it has an economy that is bigger than the economy of many countries in Africa. How did it start? It started with one single hotel. And what do they do? Conferencing and hospitality. The same thing in Dubai. They started with two to three buildings. Today, Dubai hosts one of the largest number of hotels in a single city in the world. And what do they do? Conferencing and Tourism. That is it. So that is the ecosystem we want to do here with the International Conference Centre and our investment in building the Kwara hotel.”

    He appreciated the group on the visit and pledged to continue to key into their programmes, especially their forthcoming REBIRTH NIGERIA launching and National Spokespersons Summit that are slated for this year.

    The Governor said the root cause of the challenges Nigeria is facing such as insecurity and economic crisis is lack of patriotism and poor value system, calling on all citizens to have an attitudinal rebirth for the country to move forward.

    “The challenges we have are going to do with rebirth and attitude. The insecurity we have has a lot to do with rebirth. The foreign exchange issue is connected to this also. Rebirth is about citizens’ education on patriotism and loyalty to the national flag, and commitment to its good. Nigerians are no more as patriotic as we used to be. We are only patriotic the day the Nigerian National Football team plays; this has to change,” he said.

    “The rebirth effort will answer these questions. Our loyalty should be to our flag. Once we are patriotic, many issues will be resolved.”

    AbdulRazaq called on citizens to always consider the nation first in whatever they do to strengthen unity and promote peace.

    Read Also: Kwara gears up for conduct of LG election

    “We need to look at our heritage and value system. Our core values are very important. In a situation that a mechanic converts the seat of an Okada (motorcycle) to carry an AK-47 and you will not report it. That is part of what Rebirth Nigeria will do,” he added.

    “Our values have dropped. Our responsibility includes supporting the security agencies with useful information and acting intelligently to support the security agencies. Those are parts of the issues we should look at in our values.”

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum chairman promised to work with the Federal Government and his colleagues at the NGF to key into the Rebirth Nigeria concept of the NIPR, which he noted will do the country a lot of good. 

  • Kwara Gov signs 2024 Appropriation, LG Amendment Bills into law

    Kwara Gov signs 2024 Appropriation, LG Amendment Bills into law

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law, calling it another bold step to expand infrastructure and grow the economic base of the state on a sustainable basis.

    The Governor also assented to the Local Government Amendment Bill, saying: “We are looking forward to holding the local government elections very shortly.”

    He thanked the House for its legislative roles on the Local Government Elections bill, which he noted now paves the way for the conduct of the elections.

    The Governor said the 61 per cent that the administration has budgeted for Capital Expenditure was a deliberate move to scale up infrastructural development across the state.

    “Today, we are taking another bold step in the annals of our state. We commend the Assembly for doing a good job with the budget and for taking their time and making sure it is SABER (State Action on Business Enabling Reforms)- compliant,” the Governor said late Friday in Ilorin.

    “You did very well before when we were committed to SFTAS (State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability). Our being SFTAS compliant has been very beneficial to the state as it ensured transparency in the way we do things.

    “This is a budget with 61 per cent for capital expenditure (CAPEX) and 39 per cent for recurrent. 61% for CAPEX shows that Kwara does not want to continue as just a civil service state with no strong industrial base. We want to change how we do things, and we want to ensure that we put a lot of effort into infrastructure in the state. Moving the state forward is paramount to us.

    Read Also: FG urges mine explosives firms to tighten logistics, curb leakages

    “We have been able to reduce the debt of the state through negotiation with the federal government, and it will soon be reflected in the DMO chart, where you will see that the debt profile has drastically gone down.”

    Kwara Speaker Yakubu Salihu Danladi commended Governor AbdulRazaq for being one of the first state governors to comply with the SABER template for budget process, and for working so hard to reduce the debt profile of the state.

    “By the grace of God, the Kwara State House of Assembly has engaged all the MDAs for budget defense and scrutiny, and we were able to meet up with the SABER standard, which is a new template after SFTAS has wound down in the first quarter of 2023,” he said.

    “It is a new template being used by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and all the states and I am happy Kwara, being the state of the NGF Chairman, is one of the first states to key into the SABER template.

    “This budget has touched all sectors, and I know Kwarans will benefit greatly from it.”

  • Assembly passes 2024 Appropriation Bill

    Assembly passes 2024 Appropriation Bill

    Kwara State House of Assembly yesterday passed N292.7 billion as 2024 Appropriation Bill.

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had on the December 14, 2023 presented a budget of N296.5 billion to the legislative arm of government.

    The lawmaker made downward review of the bill by N3.7 billion, representing 1.5 percentage decrease in the appropriation.

    Read Also; Five vigilance members to die by hanging in Kano

    Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, presiding over the plenary, hailed his colleagues, management and workers of the House, especially the Appropriation Committee, for the due diligence and success of the exercise and called for sustained efforts to ensure the budget is substantially implemented and that the state gets value for the public fund to be expended.

    Danladi-Salihu said the budget passed put Capital Expenditure at 61 per cent of the total budget size, while Recurrent Expenditure now takes 39 per cent as presented by the governor, adding that Kwara State had adopted the newly introduced budget template of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that has been designed in line with global best practices in budgeting.

  • 2,000 Kwara students benefit from lawmaker’s scholarships

    2,000 Kwara students benefit from lawmaker’s scholarships

    • Deputy Senate leader to train 350 youths on digital skills in Kwara

    The Coordinator, Saliu Mustapha Foundation Education Committee, Prof. Binta Suleiman, has said no fewer than 2,000 indigent students have benefited from Senator Saliu Mustapha’s 2024 edition of external examinations scholarships.

    The examinations are those conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the National Examination Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) scholarships.

    Suleiman, who made this  known  at the kick-off in Ilorin, said the lawmaker representing Kwara senatorial district paid external examinations scholarships for indigent and orphan pupils in his constituency.

    She said over 2,000 students benefited from the scholarship across the four local government areas and beyond.

    Congratulating the beneficiaries of the scholarship for this year, the don urged them to be focused, dedicated, disciplined and highly committed to their educational pursuits by coming out in flying colours.

    She urged the recipients to see themselves as blessed individuals.

    The don expressed the lawmaker’s commitment to the educational development of his constituents.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashiru has announced the sponsorship of 350 youths in his senatorial district at Offa and Environs Innovation Hub (ONEIH), Offa in the state.

    Senator Ashiru, who is representing Kwara South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, also promised to collaborate with ONEIH on a new complementary project.

    He added that the sponsorship would be done under Lola Ashiru Foundation, adding that the beneficiaries would be selected from the seven local government areas of the state that make up the senatorial district.

    Senator Ashiru said this in Offa during a visit to ONEIH-Kola Balogun Technology Centre (O-KBTC), and ONEIH-Sports Academy being implemented by the Offa Industrial Park.

     He stated his plans to position Kwara South on the global map of prosperity.

    Read Also: Constituents petition NJC, NBA, others over sacked Kwara PDP lawmaker

    The lawmaker hailed the establishment of the park and called for the replication of same in other areas of Kwara South.

     He also pledged to facilitate a significant portion of the Nigerian Senate’s budget for ICT development at the hub.

    Chairman of ONEIH Board, Dr. Waheed Olagunju, praised Senator Ashiru for his exemplary representation and consistent support for the advancement of Kwara State and the country.

    Waheed said the ONEIH and its subsidiaries were parts of Offa’s 10th Development Plan (2022- 2032) that was launched in Offa in December 2022.

    He said: “What we are doing here is implementation of aspects of the 10-year development plan which is in line with Nigeria National Development Plan 2021 – 2025, the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the High 5s of the African Development Bank. All we are trying to do is to ensure our people become productive.

    “Luckily for us, as we were concluding the development plan, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released a report on multi-dimensional poverty index in Nigeria and that provided the areas affected by senatorial districts. We studied the report on Kwara South senatorial district and the identified shortcomings as well as recommendations, and incorporated them in the Offa 10-year development plan.”

  • Kwara subsidises BECE 2024 fees for 55,150 candidates

    Kwara subsidises BECE 2024 fees for 55,150 candidates

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the subsidisation of the cost of 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for students in public schools across the state. 

    A total of 55,150 candidates are writing the exams in Kwara State. 

    A statement from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development said all candidates in public schools will pay N2,500 only, the same amount charged last year — instead of N5,000 or more which it was meant to be reviewed to owing to inflation and rising cost of conducting the examination. 

    Read Also: Senator, Kwara community push for varsity in Oro

    The subsidy is part of the efforts of the administration to support the students and their parents, as well as avoid any student dropping out of school on account of the inability to afford the examination. 

    The statement said the subsidies will be enjoyed by all the candidates that will sit for this year 2024 BECE .

    The statement warned public officials against extorting money from parents under any guises, saying that anyone caught will face the consequences of such an action. 

  • Senator, Kwara community push for varsity in Oro

    Senator, Kwara community push for varsity in Oro

    Senator representing Kwara South at the National Assembly ‘Lola Ashiru has pushed for the siting of the proposed Kwara University of Education in Oro, Irepodun local government area of the state.

    Senator Ashiru, who is the Deputy Senate Leader spoke with our correspondent in his Offa country home.

    He said that “the importance of education in any society cannot be overemphasized, it is the bedrock of any society.”

     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, he informed came up with the idea because it’ll go a long way in bridging the educational and human resources deficit in the state.

    “Kwara is mature enough to own even more Universities, because education is key, to our developmental dreams.While all the three senatorial districts are eminently qualified to host the proposed University of Education. I will advocate for it to be sited in the College of Education, Oro, Irepodun LG. The college already has all the needed infrastructure to support the establishment”.

     In addition, the Oro Community   Association, members urged the state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to upgrade the Kwara State College of Education, Oro to Kwara State University of Education.

    The community said this in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, of the Education Committee Prof. Tinuoye Adeniran, and the Committee Secretary, Mrs Theresa Oluwatoyin Ojo. 

    The community added that “it presently offers programs in sciences, languages, humanities, social sciences, and vocational studies, has the requisite facilities and manpower to take off as the Kwara State University of Education.

    Read Also: Tinubu advocates equitable capital market access for developing countries

    According to the Professor of Mathematics, the people of Oro profoundly appreciate the passion of Governor Abdulrazaq in transforming the state’s educational sector. The community is ready to collaborate with the present administration in ensuring a more conducive environment for the students and staff if the College of Education, Oro which was established in 1973, is eventually upgraded to the Kwara State University of Education.

    The community described Governor Abdulrazaq as granting their request as Kwara South is presently the only senatorial district without a government-funded University in the state. 

    The community added that the college is already affiliated with Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti in producing degree holders since 2003, maintaining such development will help in driving students’ enrolment if the institution is considered for the proposed varsity.

    It added that the college is equipped with modern lecture rooms, lecture theatres, an upgraded library, laboratories, and halls that are conducive and support learning activities.