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Tag: LCDAs

  • PDP warns Ekiti Assembly over result of Ekiti Assembly on LCDAs

    PDP warns Ekiti Assembly over result of Ekiti Assembly on LCDAs

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has urged the House of Assembly to disregard the results of the last Saturday’s referendum on the creation of  Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, said the position arose from the fact that the Assembly had been served notice of the suit filed by it (the party) challenging the exercise.

    The PDP added that the suit, filed on behalf of the party by its Chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, was duly served on the Assembly and that the appropriate thing to do in line with the custom of a legislative body was to “stay action” on such matters.

    “The proof of service on the Assembly is there and the Assembly leadership knows the right thing to do, stay action on any matter in court until such is determined by the court’

  • Ekiti holds referendum on new LCDAs

    Ekiti holds referendum on new LCDAs

    The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC)  yesterday held a referendum on the creation of new 18 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Controversy had trailed the creation of the new LCDAs and the referendum, with the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) kicking against the creation, while also calling on the people to shun the referendum.

    The exercise, which held at designated primary schools in the 137 wards across the 12 affected local government areas, commenced at about 8 am with the registration of interested voters and ended at 4pm.

    Describing the exercise as a huge success, Chairman of SIEC, Mrs. Cecilia Adelusi, noted that the turnout of the people for the exercise was an indication that the state government took the right decision to conduct the referendum.

    She disclosed that there was a massive turnout in Iyin, Ogotun, Ikole, Iloro, Ifaki and other areas where the referendum took place, as people trooped out in large number, to vote.

    The SIEC boss added, “However, there were areas where election did not take place. In places like Osi and Igbole, there was total blockage of the road, because the people there were protesting the choice of the headquarters.

    “It is not our duty to look into such agitations, because we will still compute our results and send to the House of Assembly for ratification.”

    Speaking with journalists in Ikere Ekiti, the Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Funminiyi Afuye, said the people of the town were enthusiastic about the creation of an LCDA in the town, adding, “This must have informed the mammoth crowd that participated in this exercise (referendum).”

    Journalists who monitored the exercise in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, noticed a fairly large turnout of people in all the designated centres in the 13 wards of the council.

    At Ward 5, St. Michael’s Primary School, Ajilosun opposite Mobil Petrol Station, the turnout was quite impressive.

    Despite the relative success of the exercise, opposition parties allegedly boycotted the exercise, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing the creation of the new LCDAs as placing hurdles on the path of the incoming government of governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

    A few weeks ago, the PDP had gone to court seeking an injunction to restrain the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the State House of Assembly and SIEC from going ahead with the exercise.

    Defending its boycott of the referendum, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the State, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, hinged its stance on what he described as “insincerity of the outgoing government in its approach to the creation of the councils.”

    The PDP spokesperson noted that out of the 177 wards in the state, people in about 130 wards allegedly boycotted the exercise, while those who participated did so under duress and coercion from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

  • Ex-servicemen get new exco in Lagos

    Ex-servicemen get new exco in Lagos

    The Lagos State Government yesterday inaugurated a new executive committee for the state chapter of the Nigerian Legion for improved welfare of members.

    The exco, led by Col. Samuel Fola Akande, was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr Oyinlomo Danmole at the ministry’s conference room, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Danmole, who enjoined them to work together and promote love and unity among members, said the winner of the election emerged through a transparent process witnessed by duly-elected representatives of Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    He appealed to the new leaders to provide a leadership devoid of crisis and carry all strata of the Legion along in all their dealings and actions.

    In his inaugural speech, Akande pledged his commitment to the welfare of the ex-service men in the state. He also assured his members of an exemplary leadership style during his tenure.

    He also expressed gratitude to the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola for the vital contribution of the state to improving the lot of the Nigerian Legion.

  • ‘Encourage good sanitary habits in markets, communities’

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, has urged Community Development Associations (CDAs) to ensure that people observe good sanitary habits in their communities and markets.

    Ojelabi spoke at a sensitisation programme on hygiene and eradication of open defecation, organised by the ministry for traders, CDAs and Neigbourhood Watchers in the 57 local governments (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs).

    The commissioner said a situation where people defecated in the markets and communities should not be encouraged by the CDAs.

    Ojelabi noted the terrible situation at Maidan community near Mile 12 Market where people defecated everywhere.

    He enjoined the CDA chairmen, particularly the newly-elected ones, to ensure that their members observed proper hygiene by not dumping refuse in the drains “now that the rainy season is approaching.”

    Ojelabi said they should ensure drains and gutters are emptied, to complement government’s efforts to be free from diseases caused by stagnant water.

    The commissioner advised them to be proactive and show concern about their people and environment, so that the money spent in hospitals could be used for developmental projects.

    Ojelabi said residents should make use of government hospitals, which were well-equipped with trained personnel and cheaper.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mrs. Yewande Adesina, urged CDAs to be good ambassadors of the Ministry of Health by promoting government health programmes and policies

    The guest speaker, Dr. Ismail Abdul Salaam, an epidemiologist with the Ministry of Health, said people spent so much in hospitals because of their poor sanitary and hygiene habits.

    He added that cholera, typhoid and other diseases “are rampant in our communities because of poor hygiene in our markets and homes.”

  • Petitions stall Osun’s council creation bill

    Petitions stall Osun’s council creation bill

    Members of the Osun State House of Assembly have deferred consideration of the Local Government Creation and Administration Bill, 2013, due to petitions.

    At plenary, the Speaker, Najeem Salaam, said the bill would not be considered for second reading for now due to petitions from the public on the proposed creation of local council development areas (LCDAs).

    On Dec.16, Governor Rauf Aregbesola presented a bill to the House for the creation of 27 lcdas.

    The bill scaled through its first reading on Jan. 8.

    Salaam said the technicalities and petitions arising from the bill would have to be resolved before considering it for second reading.

    He said: “Due to the technicalities and petitions arising from the bill, it cannot be considered for second reading for now. The second reading of the bill will lead us to presenting it to the committee of the House and then its passage. But there are other assignments we have to do before consideration of the bill.”

    The bill, when passed, would raise the number of councils in the state to 57.

    The bills seeking to amend the State University Development Fund and State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) were read on the floor of the House.

  • ‘No plan to sack Ekiti council workers’

    ‘No plan to sack Ekiti council workers’

    The Ekiti State government has said it has no plan of sacking council workers as is being speculated in some quartres.

    The Special Adviser, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, spoke yesterday at Oye Local Government Secretariat during a meeting with council workers.

    Oguntoyinbo said the administration had no plan to sack any worker, urging them to shun “negative rumours” peddled by the government’s enemies. He said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration plans to create more jobs with the proposed creation of more Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Oguntoyinbo said the LCDAs would stimulate rapid development at the grassroots and bring governance to the people’s doorsteps.

    He said the ongoing restructuring in the local government was necessary, adding that workers’ redeployment to the teaching service was in their interest as they are placed in the appropriate level and now earn more than they used to.

    On arrears and pending promotions, Oguntoyinbo said efforts are on to address them at the appropriate quarters.

    He urged the workers to vote for Fayemi during the governorship poll, adding that the governor had their interest at heart.

    Some of the workers praised the governor for being “a man of his words” and for the various achievements of his administration.

  • APC hails Aregbesola on council creation bill

    APC hails Aregbesola on council creation bill

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has hailed Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the presentation of the bill for the creation of 27 local council development areas (LCDAs) to the House of Assembly.

    In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, APC described the governor’s move as “a great step in imprinting himself in the hearts of the people”.

    Stressing that the governor has fulfilled all his electioneering promises, the party said: “Aregbesola is changing the face of politics from that of deceit to unimaginable credibility within a short period of three years. Aregbesola is not just about to create new councils, but set a precedence by making them more cost effective to run through a parliamentary system.

    “This is typical of a leader that is thinking outside the box; a blessing for which Osun people are grateful to God. New councils will bring governance closer to the people and make it more participatory.”

    APC alleged that some politicians in the opposition were planning to destroy the billboards of its aspirants.

    It urged residents to be vigilant and report billboard vandals to the police.

  • Aregbesola seeks Assembly’s approval to create 27 councils

    Aregbesola seeks Assembly’s approval to create 27 councils

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is seeking the House of Assembly’s approval to create 27 local council development areas (LCDAs).

    Presenting an executive bill for the creation of the councils to the Assembly yesterday, Aregbesola said more councils would accelerate development across the state.

    He said the bill was to re-engineer the local government system to serve as a pace setter for other states.

    The governor said he earlier set up a committee, headed by the former Speaker of the House, Mojeed Alabi, a Professor of Political Science, on the creation of more councils in line with Sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He said the committee recommended the 27 councils to be created.

    Aregbesola urged the House to give the bill positive consideration, adding that the new councils would operate a parliamentary system of government to avoid financial constraints.

    The bill also seeks the Assembly’s approval for the creation of the office of council managers for the proposed councils.

    Aregbesola said the council managers would be civil servants in the employment of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) from Grade Level 14 and above. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, said the House would give special consideration to the bill.

    The State Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Abdulhamid Hammed, in a statement, said more councils would bring development closer to the grassroots.

    Hammed said: “We have seen what is happening in Lagos State. Lagosians are better for the creation of LCDAs by our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. What Aregbesola did today (yesterday) is good.”

    He pledged to mobilise the people of his constituency to support the bill.

    Youth Leader of the defunct CPC Majeed Yahaya said: “The creation of LCDAs will add value to the life of our people as it did to Lagosians. This is the beginning of a new dawn in our state.”

    Secretary of the defunct CPC Garuba Hammed said the bill should be supported by everyone.

  • Ekiti begins council creation process

    Ekiti begins council creation process

    •Falana: I’m shielding no one

    The Ekiti State government began yesterday the process of creating Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs).

    The Ministry of Justice submitted a document containing the various legal steps to be taken to actualise the dream to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    The development followed requests for LCDAs by many communities during the governor’s tour of the state last month.

    Presenting the document to the governor in his (Fayemi’s) office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapounda, said Sections 3 (6), 4(6); 7(7); 9 and 162 (3),(5),(6) of the 1999 Constitution explain conditions for the creation of LCDAs.

    Fapounda said a bill must be presented to the House of Assembly on the issue, with a proposal for the creation of the councils approved in a referendum by, at least, two-thirds majority of the people where the new councils are demanded.

    Fayemi directed Fapounda and Secretary to the State Government Ganiyu Owolabi to set up a panel to get the input of the people and communities for the proposed councils.

    Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu; activist lawyer Femi Falana; members of the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly were present.

    Also yesterday, Falana lashed back at his critics, who accused him of maintaining “criminal silence” over some killings in the state.

    He said he was not shielding any official of the Fayemi administration as is being alleged.

    Falana spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the presentation of awards to winners of the Femi Falana Human Rights Essay Writing Competition.

    He said he was trained to work based on evidence and had no cause to point accusing fingers at any government official, when those making the allegations could not provide any information linking them to any killing. Falana said: “To those, who, out of sheer blackmail, have accused me of keeping silent over human right violations in Ekiti State, I make it clear that there is no government in the state’s 17 years, that has been more harassed by me than the Fayemi administration, but the difference is that unlike previous governments, I have the listening ears of the governor.”

    He urged residents as well as his accusers to give him and law enforcement agencies information on the killings, so that the perpetrators can prosecuted

    Falana said: “Having known Fayemi for close to 30 years, I can vouch that under no circumstance will hejoin anybody or plan with anybody to kill anyone.”

    On the proposed creation of the Office of the Public Defender by the state government, Falana pledged to work with the office to defend the public.

    Fayemi said as a rights activist, he would never harass or deprive people of their rights or shield anyone culpable of doing so.

    He said as the governorship election draws nearer, mudslinging would be the order of the day to paint his administration black.

    Fayemi will today sign into law the Equal Opportunity Act.

    Miss Alake Iretomiwa, who won the competition, got N100,000 and a mini iPad. Oduba Eucharia got N75,000 and an iPad; Ibitoye Jumoke got N50,000 and an iPad while Adetoyese Adetola and Omotola Ranti got books.