Tag: Makinde

The Joint Action Committee of the Oyo State Tertiary Institutions (JAC) has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to implement the 35 percent and 25 percent salary increases for staffers of tertiary institutions in the state.

The JAC chairman, Comrade Olusegun Oyewumi made this call in a release made available to newsmen in commemoration of this year’s International Worker’s Day.

Comrade Oyewumi, who lauded the governor for being a statesman who is always committed to his promises, appealed to him to graciously allow the enjoyment of the increase by the tertiary staff members just like their counterparts in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

He said: “The harsh economic realities have clearly pointed to the need for the government of Oyo State to follow suit with the Federal Government’s implementation of the 35 percent and 25 percent salary increase which to my knowledge, our respected colleagues at LAUTECH has started enjoying since January.

“On behalf of the JAC, Oyo state, I hereby appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to order the commencement of the payment across the board to mitigate the suffering.

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“Your Excellency Sir, as the Visitor to all tertiary institutions in Oyo State, I must state that payment of the 35 percent and 25 percent increase to only Ladoke Akintola University of Technology since January 2024 in a way, indicates selective treatment which without doubt, makes a mockery of other institutions.

“We are happy that our people at LAUTECH are enjoying it which shows your readiness to implement it. I therefore plead that this injustice is addressed, Sir.

“I congratulate our dear members and colleagues for their commitments and dedication to duties while trusting His Excellency for the anticipated gesture. He is undoubtedly a father for all.”

Residents and road users in Olodo area of Ibadan on Tuesday, April 30, lauded the Oyo state government for keeping up to its promise to open up a section of the bridge under construction for pedestrians on April 30.

Recall that the bridge was devastated by flood following a torrential rain on July 23, 2023, a situation that left residents and road users in agonizing experience. 

The state governor, Seyi Makinde had during a recent inspection of the bride project, promised to make a section of the bride accessible for pedestrians on April 30, while motorists would also ply the road by May 30, 2024. 

The state Commissioner for Public Work and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin in an interview with newsmen, appealed to residents and road users to be cautious and abide by the directives of the construction workers while using the bridge as works is still ongoing. 

The commissioner restated the determination of the state government towards ensuring that the section of the bride opened for pedestrians is made use of by other road users by May 22, 2024.

Read Also: Makinde on 2027: aspirants above 52 won’t get my support

He said: “His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde has directed that this bridge be completed and be used by our people and I am delighted today that we have actually opened the bridge for pedestrians. 

“What is next for us is to do the complete job and open it for vehicular movements. I can promise you that before May 22, 2024, we will open the first half of the bridge for vehicular movement and pedestrians.”

One of the residents who spoke with newsmen, Evangelist Elizabeth Olalowo described the development as a great relief for the people of the area just as he expressed appreciation to the state government for the prompt response to the cries of the people.

An High Court sitting in Awe has struck out a case filed by kingmakers in Oyo (Oyo Mesi) against Governor Seyi Makinde, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo over administrative defect.

Alaafin stool became vacant after the death of the Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, at 82 after ruling for 52 years.

The claimants in the suit no HOY/14/2023 are the Bashorun of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

The claimants were seeking court injunction restraining Makinde and his agents from overruling their choice on the selected candidate for the vacant stool.

According to them: “Due diligence was followed in the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

While ruling on the notice of preliminary objection as filed by the defendants, on Tuesday, Justice Ladiran Akintola said there was no proof of service to notify the Governor of the outcome of the selection process as carried out by the kingmakers.

The failure to serve the notice of the outcome on the Goverrnor made the  court strike out the case.

The Court ruled: “This court found merit in the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the defendants/applicants against the claimants/respondents in this case.

“The same succeeds, accordingly all the issues raised for determination of this court by learned counsel on both sides are thereby resolved in favour of the defendants/applicants but against the claimants/respondents.

“Consequently, the suit initiated by the claimants/respondents in this case against the defendants/applicants is thereby struck out.”

The lead counsel for the claimants, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), said a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal have been filed at the Court of Appeal and Oyo High Court, respectively.

Sobaloju said the judgment passed, on Tuesday, was on a preliminary objection filed by the defendant which is the Governor of Oyo State, Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

Read Also: Makinde, Saraki, Fayemi others for students’ legislative summit in Ibadan

He said: “By that preliminary objection after we filed our case which they challenged against on the ground that we did not comply with the condition precedence of filing an action of that nature.

“According to them, what was the condition precedence, they said the Secretary of the Local Government, Atiba Local Government did not notify the governor of the Oyo Mesi on the selection of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the candidate to fill the stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

“Our response to that objection is to the effect that that duty is imposed on by the law, that is Section 19 of the Chieftancy Law on the Secretary to the Local Government and not on the kingmakers and we exhibited evidence that the kingmakers forwarded their decision to the Secretary of Atiba Local Government.

“We also exhibited a letter from the Secretary of Atiba Local Government acknowledged by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. That is the only means to which the governor can be involved. You can not go to the governor and serve him directly.

“We also argued that even the issue is an issue of evidence that the governor can only prove whether he was served or not with proof of evidence. It is not the issue that the court can determine by way of preliminary objection.

“However, it is the failure to serve the notice of the decision of the kingmakers on the governor that affects our case, and as such, it was struck out.

“We have filed a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal. What was considered on Tuesday was the notice for preliminary objection. The merit of the case is yet to be considered.”

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde will on April 24, 2024 at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan host former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki; former Ekiti Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi and other dignitaries for the maiden edition of Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin Students’ Legislative Summit.

Saraki is expected to give a keynote address while Fayemi will be the guest speaker at the summit.

The three-day event organised for about 1,000 members of Students Representatives Council, (SRC); Students Union Governments (SUG) and other students drawn from tertiary institutions in the Southwest, Kwara State inclusive is tagged “Roles of quality legislation in nation building.”

Also invited as resource persons, panelists and moderators are accomplished political leaders, seasoned legislators, cerebral administrators as well as erudite academics and scholars

The final day of the summit will feature panel discussions, interactive sessions and insightful presentations by the delegates on key components of national development.

The honoree of the summit who is Oyo Speaker and Chairman, Confernce of Speakers of Nigeria State Asseblies, Adebo Ogundoyin, said the event is in line with his avowed belief in nurturing and grooming students and youths for leadership responsibilities and national development.

He said the summit was designed to increase and advance students’ knowledge and understanding about legislation, highlight the vital importance and significance of good laws to national development, as well as discuss and expound legislative constraints and bottlenecks.

“Grooming next generation of leaders is tantamount to laying a solid foundation for the rapid transformation and development of any nation. This has been one of my focal points in the last few years. If the argument that leaders are made and not born is true, then we must constantly put together programs and activities that will impact our youths positively and prepare them for the task of nation building as future leaders of Nigeria. 

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“This Summit is also another way of bridging the gap between the current leaders and the next generation of leaders. It is meant to connect the students with the cream in the society for tutoring, mentoring and learning.

“The maiden edition of the summit will be used to harness the students perspectives on key issues of national development which will bring about inclusive engagement. Youths voices must not only be heard but must also reflect in government policies. They are stakeholders in the building of a strong and virile nation,” the Oyo Speaker said.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that another tranche of N2 billion has been paid to the immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Chairmen in the State as part of their entitlements.

The Governor maintained that the money was released on Friday, noting the action put an end to the long-drawn battle the ex-ALGON members had with him following their sack in 2019.

Governor Makinde made this known on Saturday at the burial and thanksgiving service in honour of Mama Ruth Adenihun Dare, mother of former Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare at Sabo Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The State Government in 2021 released N1 billion to the ex-chairmen in fulfillment of the Supreme Court judgment that the sacked chairmen be paid their entitlements.

But speaking on Saturday, Governor Makinde reiterated that residents of the State must be cautious not to fight one another over politics, as politicians always have a way of settling their differences.

He added that his presence in Ogbomoso to honour Chief Dare, an APC chieftain, was an indication that politics should never be in the way of humanity.

Describing the event as the celebration of the life of Mama Dare, whose good characters can be seen in her children, the Governor prayed to God to continually uphold Chief Dare and everyone Mama left behind.

He said: “We are here to celebrate our Mama. It is a day of celebration because Mama was 92 before she died.

“I am sure Chief Sunday Dare must have thought I wouldn’t attend this event because we don’t belong to the same party. I tell people not to fight because of politicians, because it is not worth it. This is because we do a lot of other things together behind the curtain. 

“When I took over as governor in 2019, I decided to sack all the Local Government chairmen because we felt their election was unconstitutional.

“As a result, they also took me to court for government to pay their entitlements. We dragged the matter up to the Supreme Court level. But, on Friday, I paid N2 billion out of the debt. So, we are no longer fighting.”

Governor Makinde also noted that he would return to Ogbomoso in a few weeks to commission the 78.6km Ogbomoso-Iseyin-Fapote Road named after former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to developing the infrastructure across all zones of the state and linking the zones together in line with his economic expansion agenda.

Read Also: Makinde signs Rule of Law Enforcement Authority bill into law

“I am coming back to Ogbomoso to commission the 78.6km road from Ogbomoso to Iseyin. I passed through the road on my way to this place and it took us two and a half hours. 

“In less than six weeks from today, it will be commissioned. The road has nothing to do with politics. It is named Governor Alao Akala Expressway.”

…appoints Justice Aderemi as chairperson

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has signed the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority Bill passed by the state’s House of Assembly into law.

This is as he announced the appointment of Justice Aderonke Aderemi as the chairperson of the enforcement authority, and the establishment of mobile courts across the state.

The event held at the Governor’s Boardroom on Friday, April 12, had in attendance the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal; Deputy Speaker, Abiodun Fadeyi; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Adenike Adeyemo; Commissioners for Land, Environment, and Chieftaincy Matters; and the newly appointed Chairperson of the enforcement authority, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retired).

The governor said the new law aims to provide swift justice for lawbreakers noting that the state has been unable to fully enforce some of the laws in the state because of a lack of cooperation from the law enforcement agencies regarding issues between state agencies and federal agencies.

He added that the new law will allow for quick dispensation of justice for the lawbreakers.

Read Also: Makinde urges residents to elect preferred candidates for councils

Makinde said: “I have just signed into law the bill passed by the House for the establishment of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.

“We have not been able to fully enforce some of the laws we have made, either because we have not heard cooperation from the law enforcement agencies regarding issues between state agencies and federal agencies.

“What this law is going to do is to allow quick dispensation of justice for the lawbreakers. With the signing of the law, we will put everything in place to give a bite to the people who will run this authority.

“If you are caught doing the wrong thing or contravening this law, you will face court immediately.”

The governor urged residents of the state to play a proactive role in the state’s progress by adhering to laws and regulations.

He stressed the significance of maintaining a clean environment, curbing street trading, and obeying traffic laws to foster an investor-friendly atmosphere.