The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun

  • Ogun cautions against illegal forest operations

    Ogun State government has warned forest users against illegal operations and the need to  abide by the rules governign their businesses in the government forest reserves.

    Commissioner for Forestry Kolawole Lawal gave the warning at a conference at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He was addressing delegates of the Association of Timber Contractors, Ijebu branch.

    According to him, the primary responsibility of the ministry is to ensure rapid cultivation and conservation of forest resources for socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability. He said the government will not watch while the forest reserves are destroyed.

    Lawal vowed that the ministry would resist all forms of illegalities in the forest reserves, ban ‘flitches’, unauthorised logging and establishment of new settlement within the forest reserves.

    He warned that any village Chief culpable for allocating land without government permission would be dealt with.

    The commissioner hinted that the obsolete forestry laws have been reviewed and are awaiting necessary legislation by the House of Assembly, stressing that when passed into law, it would prescribe necessary punishment for perpetrators of illegal activities in forest reserves.

    Chairman of the associaiton Mukaila Adekoya said the association appreciated the efforts of the ministry in curbing illegalities, and pledged its support to further wage war against all forms of illegal operations in the reserves.

  • Ogun residents decry state of community roads

    The residents of Orile Iloye in Adalemo, Sango/Ijoko Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ogun State have appealed to the state government to come to their aid and construct drainages from Ojo Oladiran to Iya Alfa Road.

    They described the lack of the drainages on both sides of the roads as a major challenge facing the community.

    The residents lamented that the decrepit state of the roads has impacted negatively on their standard of living. They said some landlords had abandoned their property, while commercial activities had been affected due to the poor state of the road.

    The residents, comprising those of Ojo Oladiran, Sanyaolu, Community, Iya Alfa, spoke during the inauguration of a local bridge constructed at Iya Alfa Junction. They said they had spent over a million naira to construct the bridge, adding that more has been spent in repairing the roads.

    They also said their appealed to the state government has been to no avail.

    The Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Sanyaolu Oguntoyinbo, said the communities contribute periodically for repairing the roads.

    He said the residents could not afford to construct the drainages because they are capital intensive and above their ability. He appealed to the state government to come and assist them.

    He said vehicle owners among them had been finding it difficult to drive to their houses due to the deplorable conditions of the roads.

    He said residents ride on commercial motorcycles. He lamented that the cyclists also hike their fares anytime there was a downpour.

    He noted that Johnson Market, Tarmac and Ariya roads that should have been their escape routes were also in same conditions.

    According to Oguntoyinbo, this has led some residents, including landlords, to pack out of the communities.

    He said Ojo Oladiran-Iya Alfa road, should have been another major link to Ijoko, Itoki and Agbado Oke Aro, if the roads were tarred.

    He appealed to Governor Amosun to assist the communities.

    He appealed to the residents to use the bridges with care, urging them to avoid dumping of refuse under it and avoid driving heavy duty trucks over it.

    Oguntoyinbo thanked the residents for their support to community developmental projects.

    The former CDC Chairman, Philip Olorunsola also lamented the flooding.

    He confirmed that the residents had over the years contributed for repairs.

    He said: “The road is worse now; many vehicle owners have even stopped plying the road.

    “Ogun State government has some years back promised to repair the road before the rainy season but all to no avail.

    “Tenants and some landlords are already leaving the communities because the road is bad. Shop owners are leaving in droves.”

    One of the commercial cyclists Gbenga Adedipe said business  was dull anytime it rained. ‘’For instance, I make close to N2,500 daily on the average, but anytime it rains, I barely make up to N800.

    “The situation, apart from its possible environmental impact, kills business activities.”

    Another cyclist, who identified himself as Chime Ambrose, told The Nation that the problem had affected their trade as passengers shunned motorcycles when it rained.

    He said people were scared of riding on motor cycles when it rained, adding that they prefer walking. He used to make between N2,000 and N3,000, but now he barely made  N900.

  • Ogun 2019: APC acting chair warns against breaches

    The Acting Chairman of Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, has urged the party’s governorship aspirants to abide by its rules and constitution.

    He warned that whoever flouts the party’s rules risks “disqualification”.

    Tajudeen said politics should be for good governance and service, adding that it should not be an avenue to pursue self-interest or enrichment.

    The acting chairman noted that as a party known for discipline, APC will not tolerate disrespect to its guidelines and rules among those seeking elective offices.

    Tajudeen spoke at the weekend at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, when a federal lawmaker, Adekunle Akinlade, accompanied by his supporters, signified intention to participate in the 2019 governorship race on the platform of APC.

    Akinlade hails from Ogun West, which has not produced a governor since the creation of the state over 40 years ago.

    The lawmaker represents Ipokia and Yewa South  in the House of Representatives.

    He pledged, among other things, to consolidate and sustain the Rebuilding Mission of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, if given the mandate to lead the state on the ticket of APC.

    Tajudeen urged the lawmaker not to restrict the pursuit of his governorship ambition to Ogun West, but to reach out to people in Ogun Central and Ogun East.

  • Ogun gets panel to check illegal drug

    The Ogun State government has set up a committee to fish out illegal drug dealers and those patronising them, to rid the state of drug-related crimes.

    The government said it would not tolerate illegal drug dealers in any part of the state.

    Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Ministry of Health Mr. Olufemi Fafiolu addressed reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, on the increase in illegal drug dealers and outlets.

    Fafiolu said the committee would raid and picket illegal and counterfeit drug premises, outlets and unwholesome processed food outlets this month.

    He warned those engaged in illegal drug businesses to desist.

    The director noted that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

    The state government, according to the director, “is worried by the influx of illegal drug dealers from Lagos State into the state, and the government will not fold its arms while unscrupulous elements perpetrate illegal drug deals”.

  • Peaklane celebrates class of champions

    The Balmoral Hall of Peaklane College, Akute in Ogun State, teamed with family and guests last Wednesday who came to felicitate with the 156 SS3 graduands of the school called the class of champions.

    The joy of completing six years of secondary education was crowned with excellent performance in the recently-released May/June 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    Even though not all the results had been released to the school, its Director, Mrs Ify Nwachukwu, told The Nation in an interview that all the 60 pupils who had checked their results recorded A1 in Mathematics.

    She attributed the good performance to the dedication of the teachers in preparing the pupils for excellence.

    “So far, they have released 60 out of the results.  The least we have seen so far is three As.  All of them finished with A1 in Mathematics.  That is our strength.  We give our students adequate exposure to Additional (Further Mathematics).  Even Art students are made to do the subject in SS1 and SS2 just to strengthen their maths.  They can drop it in SS3.  We do extra classes at no additional cost in the evenings and at weekends,” she said.

    In her speech, Mrs Nwachukwu thanked the teachers for their hard work, saying: “I also want to thank the entire staff of the school for diligently pursuing the fulfillment of our set goals and objectives geared towards providing an enduring learning experience for our students.”

    Addressing the graduands, former presidential spokesperson and renowned columnist, Dr Rueben Abati, told them to be deliberate in their actions as they would reap the fruit whether for good or for bad.

    Sharing his own story, Abati told the graduands that his father, rather than celebrate him when he excelled, used to tell him his success was for himself.  He said he did not understand it for a long time but he continued to work hard. Today, he said he has five Masters degrees in various disciplines, charging the graduands to cultivate success as a habit.

    “Everybody talks about success, but success is a habit. That means you must be focused and hardworking. You must work smart, set objectives and pursue them with determinations, he said.

    In her goodwill message, a parent and guest speaker, Mrs B. Makinde, urged the graduands to imbibe the values of honesty, disciplined, hard work, dedication, humility and faith.

    Chairman of the school’s Parent- Teacher Association, Mr Gboyega Oloniyo, said the young ones had been trained to be good leaders and hoped they would get a chance to display their talent in Nigeria.

    “My only fear is that people that have gone before them should create the political space for them to manifest what they have been imbued with. I am so sure that this nation will come out of the wood very soon with the quality of education children are getting in this school,” he said.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of prizes to deserving graduands and pupils in other classes.  The ovation was loudest for Oluwatimileyin Oyeniran, the overall best graduating pupil.

  • Ogun leads in quackery, says NMA

    THE Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in  Ogun State has said the  state has the highest number of  quacks in  the country.

    Chairman of the  association in the state Dr Abayomi Olajide spoke yesterday at the group’s  Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abeokuta.

    The conference theme is: “Anti-quackery: A  seemingly unending battle.’’

    Heregretted that despite   rigorous campaigns  against quackery,  the scourge continue  to plague the profession.

    According to him,  some  members are equally guilty of engaging quacks.

    “The war started in Lagos where many facilities were shut down and people started moving toward  Ogun State.

    “Perhaps, we (Ogun) should be ranked highest nationally as the state that habours quacks. Maybe, it is because of our proximity to Lagos.

    “From what we have seen, there is a lot of them that are thriving within the society,” he said.

    Olajide advocated a task force to shut down illegal health facilities.

    He called for a collaboration of stakeholders to stamp out “quacks and charlatans.’’

    The forum, he said, was to  sentisitise the public and ”remind our colleagues of how to manage their territory so that we can actually stamp out quacks in the profession.’’

    In his address, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Theophilus Ogunlesi, said the war against quacks ought to have been won a long time ago.

    He  said governments and stakeholders, however,  did not approach it with serious intent.

    Ogunlesi, who was represented by Dr Olusegun Feyisetan, called for  a radical approach by ensuring “critical reappraisal and screening of NMA members to battle quacks.’’

    Dr Adegboyega Ogunwale, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, in his lecture,  blamed the resurgence of quacks on poor licence strategy, ignorance, poverty, illiteracy, lack of monitoring team and poor facilities.

    Ogunwale said prompt resolution of industrial disputes  and adequate investment in the health sector as well as diligent prosecution of offenders would help in stamping out quackery.

    Dr Rotimi Ogungbe, a consultant on Health to Ogun, assured doctors of government’s commitment to the fight against quackery.

    He, however, challenged the association to “name and shame” quacks among its members  and ensure that doctors improve quality of  service delivery.

  • Ogun targets more revenue

    Ogun targets more revenue

    The Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) has said its revenue board is targeting additional one million people in the personal income tax paying pool.

    Chairman of OGIRS Adekunle Adeosun, who spoke yesterday at a Tax Walk to major markets in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, said the step could help the state garner about N40 billion from the informal sector in the next one year.

    Adekunle added that efforts were being made to re-route lost revenue in form of Pay-As-You-Earn mistakenly remitted to neighbouring states  of  Lagos and Oyo states  in compliance with the Tax Residency Rule, which demands that workers remit taxes to states of residency and not where their head office is located.

    According to him,  the initiative was taken following Voluntary Assests and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) recently launched by the Federal Government to drag more Nigerians into the tax net, prompting the Joint Tax Board to declare Tax Walk every Thursday.

    “It’s been encouraging, we are happy that people welcome us, we will be doing this on a regular basis every Thursday as part of Tax Thursday Initiative of the Federal Government. For us, we are in need to catch up, and where we need a lot of mileage is informal sector.

    “We need to register minimum, additional one million new tax payers; at the minimum tax of N3,100, that will give us a minimum of at least N4 billion and we are targeting up to N40 billion on informal sector; with a minimum of N3,100 for each tax payer and some of them on direct assessment, can pay as much as N5 million.

    “So, we are targeting minimum, N4 billion, maximum at least N40 billion in the first year, additional tax from informal sector alone. That is where we see the area of growth, even though the cost of collection on informal sector is higher that PAYE, that is where the volume is. Ogun State has 7.2 million people and there is no reason why we can’t enumerate to have additional tax payers on informal sector of one million people.

    “We are engaging all stakeholders. It is true, we do have quite a large number of people living in Ogun State, who have not changed their place of residence to say they live in Ogun State and their taxes are still being remitted to Lagos State.

    “It is a challenge that we are addressing, it is an area of growth for us, we are making a lot of improvement,” Adeosun said.

  • Hon Akinlade raises his game

    When the stakes are at their highest, success cannot be achieved without a robust groundwork, cooperation and creative risk-taking. For suave politician, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, this is pretty much the case. He has no choice but to raise his game in the high-stakes of the Ogun governorship tussle which is set to mesmerise everyone as the hopefuls slug it out in the weeks and months leading up to 2019.

    The three-term member of the House of Representatives has been watering his governorship ambition like a patient gardener. The consummate politician who represented Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency has been building up his grassroots base and consulting with those who hold the keys of the door to the governorship seat, including the incumbent, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    Indeed, despite not being in office, the Baba Adinni of Yewaland is making himself felt in the political circles of the state. Coming from the Ogun West senatorial zone, Akinlade is banking on the total support of the people in a zone that has enjoyed little in terms of political appointments in the state since inception. Coupled with his anticipated move to the ruling APC to take advantage of a more robust political structure and the might of incumbency, Akinlade’s campaign is already generating massive excitement.

  • Better deal for Ogun workers

    Another tranche of N243 billion Paris Club Refunds was recently released to states of the federation, majorly for the payment of salaries and pension. The funds were released to state governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

    The release was conditional upon a minimum of 75 percent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for states that owe salaries and pension. Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Oshinowo, said Governor Ibikunle Amosun had approved that N4.5 billion of the N5.7billion received should be spent on cooperative deduction arrears to all categories of workers.

    Oshinowo said N3.4 billion had been disbursed for the payment of six months’ arrears of outstanding cooperative deductions to all categories of the workforce at the state level; N1.1 billion was disbursed for the payment of three months of outstanding cooperative deductions to workers at the local government level. The balance of N1.2 billion would go into state expenditure.

    He said whereas the Federal Government had advised state governments to use at least 50 per cent for payment of workers’ emolument, Amosun had apportioned 79 per cent to the workforce.

    In December 2016, Governor Amosun had also approved the total sum of N12.5 billion for the payment of gratuities, cooperative deductions arrears and severance allowance of former political office holders in the state. In the earlier transaction, the sum of N5.5billion was disbursed for the payment of six months arrears of outstanding cooperative deductions to all categories of the workforce.

    Another N6 billion was disbursed for the payment of gratuities to pensioners covering the period between November 2012 and January 2014. Not less than 2,429 retirees benefitted from the gratuity payment.

    The Amosun-led administration on assumption of office in 2011 started clearing the backlog of gratuity payments from 2007.

    It should also be noted that in December 2016, the governor had approved the payment of N1 billion to clear the balance of severance allowance due to political office holders who served the immediate past administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel between 2007 and 2011 as well as those who served between 2011 and 2015. The payment in 2016 came from the N10.6 billion Ogun State government received from the Paris Club refund, which the federal government shared to different states of the federation.

    Whereas the federal government had advised state governments to use only 50 per cent of the fund for payment of workers’ emolument, the Ogun State governor decided to spend it all on the workforce.  “Ogun State is not only using the entire fund it received but has also added N1.9 billion,” the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa had said.

    He added then that this was aside the fact that the state government had paid December 2016 salary plus 13th month salary to all categories of workers at both state and local government levels.

    The Civil Service remains the engine room of every successful administration and a vital instrument for the formulation and execution of all government policies in Nigeria. It is the organ of government established by the constitution to ensure continuity through the provision of records and procedures guiding the activities of the successive administration. They also often use historical precedents for reference and guidance, and ensure that similar cases or problems are treated according to the extant laws, rules and regulations.

    Governor Amosun has consistently reaffirmed the important roles that civil servants have played in the execution of major well-thought programmes embarked upon by his administration. In his words, “the Ogun State Civil Service has remained as an indispensable partner to the current administration in the state resulting in the monumental success so far recorded in the area of socio-economic development.”

    The governor is of the opinion that the success or failure of any government largely depended on its relationship with the workforce, admitting that though the economy of the nation was not buoyant; his government would not relent in providing better welfare package for the workers.

    His administration has always viewed Ogun State Civil Servants as the bedrock of any meaningful development in the state. The governor considers that any government that desires to have unassailable achievements must not down-play the all-embracing roles of the civil servants as a needed catalyst for the positive and rapid transformation of the society. It is the sincere conviction of the governor that this cooperation must not only be acknowledged but also celebrated.

    In the past six years, the administration of Governor Amosun has not only continually explored avenues to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Ogun State workers, he has also been able to put forward a series of exciting programmes and activities to foster amity among the workers across all agencies.

    It is part of the governor’s commitment towards the welfare of the civil servants that he approved the sum of N4.5billion for the payment of cooperative deductions arrears to all categories of workers in the state.

    This is because the governor is not oblivious of the fact that a well-rounded and productive Civil Service is deserving of a whole range of emolument: salaries, running cost, leave bonus and promotion. Governor Amosun has been giving tremendous support and inspiration to the entire Ogun State civil service since his assumption of the mantle of governance of the state in May 2011. To demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of the workers, Ogun was one of the first states to implement the new minimum wage across board in Nigeria. The state had set the base as N18, 250 which is more than the national minimum wage. It also ensures timely payment of workers’ salaries. Indeed, Ogun is one of the few states that have survived the biting economic challenge occasioned by the dwindling allocation from the federal government which has made it impossible for many of the states of the federation to pay their workers’ salary.

    While the governor is not unmindful of the fact that he needed to do more, the fact must be appreciated that the state government is being handicapped by the current economic challenges, which the country is gradually climbing out of. But, all efforts are in top gear to see that the government continues to deliver on its commitments and obligations in pursuit of further enhancing the welfare of its workers.

    As Governor Amosun pledges the commitment of his administration to continue to see to the welfare of the workers, it is important for the entire workforce to continue be partners in progress and avoid unwholesome tendencies that may lead both parties on the path of ignominy, retrogression and unnecessary confrontation. Together, both parties will reap the fruits of patience, sacrifices, pains and hard labour to the greater good of Ogun State.

     

    • Durojaiye is the Special Adviser, Information & Strategy to Governor Amosun.

  • Ogun steps up measures against flooding

    In the wake of the predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), which listed Ogun among the states to experience above-normal rainfall this year, the state government has put in place measures to stem flooding.

    The state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Director, Mr. Sakirulah Adebakin, in a statement signed by the Head of the Media, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Goke Gbadamosi, said the government had embarked on sensitisation programmes on the need to refrain from environmentally-unfriendly dispositions, such as dumping of refuse in drainages, and building of houses on waterways.

    Adebakin said his agency was collaborating with the 20 local government areas and 37 council development areas to identify flood- prone areas  and sensitise residents on flood prevention.

    He said SEMA had scaled up sensitisation through jingles on radio and television, saying the government was also working with the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives to reach out to the people through Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) across the state.

    “We are very proactive in dealing with the issue of flooding. Natural disasters like flood usually do not give notice before they happen. But it can be prevented. We have shifted our attention from mere provision of relief to prevention. That is why we have embarked on massive public enlightenment as well as sensitisation to inform the citizens on ways to prevent flood,” he said.

    Adebakin urged people living along river banks and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds, adding that it is better to avoid flooding than seeking succour after it occurs.

    He advised residents to keep government abreast of situations, particularly flood-related cases for prompt and adequate intervention, as government remains committed to the safety of lives and property of its citizens.