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Tag: Oyo Govt

  • Row over Oyo workers’ warning strike

    Row over Oyo workers’ warning strike

    The Oyo State government and organised labour in the state are trading words on a three-day warning strike, which workers in the employ of the government started yesterday.

    While the government blamed labour unions for violating the rules stipulated in Section43 (1)(a) of the Trade Dispute Act 2010, thereby failing to honour government invitation to resolve the industrial dispute, the labour unions accused the government of peddling lies to cover up its shortcomings.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) announced a three-day warning strike on Tuesday, which started yesterday, following the expiration of a seven-day notice to the government last Wednesday.

    Few workers turned up for work yesterday.

    Most of the offices were deserted.

    At some ministries, offices were open for work, but only few workers were seen.

    The entrance gates into the secretariat were manned by armed policemen, with three police patrol vans stationed in front of the gates.

    Dissatisfied by the reasons the unions gave for the warning strike, the government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Olalekan Alli, expressed dismay about how organised labour ignored government invitation for talks to resolve their grievances.

    The government warned the workers not to abandon their duty posts, saying it would enforce a “no-work, no-pay” rule, in line with the Trade Dispute Act 2010 Section 43(1)(a).

    The statement said: “The Oyo State government received a letter yesterday (January 23) from Labour, conveying its decision to embark on a three-day warning strike from January 24 to 26, on the following issues:

    • alleged 17-month arrears of salaries of workers in the state’s tertiary institutions
    • alleged 56-month arrears of pension and gratuity of retired primary school teachers, and
    • sack of 256 workers of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.”

    He said the government invited Labour leaders to a meeting, which they promised to attend at 4 p.m yesterday but did not attend.

    The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Waheed Olojede said: “For the purpose of setting the records straight, the unions, last Wednesday (January 17), issued a seven-day strike notice to the government, which expired on Tuesday. They never responded, even after the last day. So, at the close of work on Tuesday, the union called a congress of the workers, where it declared a three-day warning strike, beginning on Wednesday (yesterday).

    “It was on Wednesday, when the union received a letter from the government, inviting us to a meeting by 4 p.m. But we explained, through a letter to the government, that since the unions’ leaders do not live within Ibadan, the meeting slated for 4 p.m would be impossible. And we suggested that the meeting should come up at 12 noon on Thursday (today).”

    The NLC described the government’s threat of “no work, no pay” as empty.

    The government said it was doing everything humanly possible to make workers happy with the resources at its disposal.

    It added: “Salaries and pensions of workers at the state level have been paid up till and including November 2017 with only one month salary and pension (December 2017) outstanding.

    “By the laws setting up the tertiary institutions, government is not responsible for the payment of salaries of workers in those institutions. In order to assist them, government is ONLY obliged to grant the tertiary institutions subventions, which each institution would apply to whichever area of need that its Governing Council and Management may decide upon.

    “The recent forensic audit reports on the tertiary institutions revealed a great deal of shortcomings such as inefficiencies, leakages, poor management, and other ineptitudes.  Some institutions were even declared unsustainable and unviable. The consultant further recommended their closure.  However, the recently constituted Governing Councils have been mandated to review their statuses and act suitably.

    “Contrary to Labour’s allegation, although Government on assumption of office in 2011, inherited Local Government Pension arrears totalling N4,736,741,934.49, it is on record that Government has disbursed pensions and gratuity of retired primary school teachers to the tune of  N11,729,534,282.54.

    “Meanwhile, to avert further build up and eliminate the hardship arising therefrom, the Contributory Pension Scheme has been adopted as a solution to effectively address the issue.

    “In view of the foregoing, and while dialogue continues, Government views the unilateral declaration of a 3-day warning strike by Labour as absolutely illegal, unwarranted and unjustifiable.  Government hereby appeals to Labour to shelve its illegal unilateral industrial action.”

  • Cattle colony strange to us, says Oyo govt

    Cattle colony strange to us, says Oyo govt

    The Oyo State government has said the Federal Government’s cattle colony is alien to the state.

    The government warned against any form of cattle rearing that allows herds to roam around and infringe on other people’s rights and destroy their farms.

    The Federal Government, at the weekend, said work would begin next week on cattle colonies in states that have shown interest to establish them.

    But Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development Mr. Oyewole Oyewumi said the government was working hard to stop farmers’/herdsmen clashes, which have become rampant.

    Oyewumi said: “Again, as a policy of the Oyo State government today, we encourage ranching over any other methods of cattle production and development. We have heard talks about grazing reserves and, recently, about what they call cattle colonies. They sound very strange to us, especially the issue of cattle colonies. I think the idea is being muted by the Federal Government. We await further explanations on what cattle colony is. But the underlining thing, for us as a state, is that having our cattle in an enclosed area for control purposes is very critical to us.

    “So, if the cattle colonies envisage a situation where the colony consists of an enclosure, no matter how large, where the movement of cattle is controlled, we may look at it. But if it has to be an open area where cattle will be allowed to just walk around in a free range, I don’t think the Oyo State government will be able to accommodate that. That is our position and that is where we stand on the matter.”

  • Oyo govt to enforce use of refuse bins

    The Oyo State government yesterday said it would, from January 15, begin a house-to-house inspection of refuse bins in residential, industrial and commercial areas.

    The government said it would arrest street scavengers, who are said to disperse refuse dumps in their search for scraps.

    The move, the government said, would ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the state’s environmental laws.

    It vowed to seal up houses, commercial centres and other property found to be without waste bins and fail to provide one after getting a three-day grace period.

    Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Chief Isaac Ishola spoke at a ministerial media briefing at the state secretariat in Ibadan, the capital.

    Ishola was with his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun; Managing Consultant of Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority, Mrs. Ololade Oresanwo, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Gabriel Oguntola.

    Ishola said the inspection was aimed at stopping indiscriminate refuse disposal in the streets.

    The commissioner noted that such a practice is frustrating efforts of waste managers and licensed operators as well as the state beautification efforts.

    He named Beere, Oje, Ojoo, Moniya, Akingbile, Olode and others as not cooperating with waste operators in complying with environmental laws.

    Ishola regretted that despite efforts at educating residents on compliance, many people simply do not care.

    The commissioner said 1,342 environmental law offenders were arrested and convicted last year, adding that this has not deterred people from indiscriminate waste disposal.

    According to him, the state has also shut four churches and sanctioned three mosques for alleged noise pollution.

    Ishola said 64 cases involving worship centres, commercial places, entertainment centres and others had been amicably resolved after the affected centres were petitioned by concerned residents.

  • DPR, Oyo govt seal 10 filling stations in Ibadan

    DPR, Oyo govt seal 10 filling stations in Ibadan

    Not less than 10 filling stations were sealed off in different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, following the enforcement by a combined team of the operatives of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and officials of the Oyo state government.

    Seven were sealed off yesterday in addition to the three sealed off on Tuesday.

    The filling stations sealed off were found guilty of hoarding and selling petrol above the approved pump price of N145.

    The team also forced four filling stations that were hoarding fuel to dispense at the Federal government approved pump price to the relief of the people.

    The government said it set up the special task force team to support the DPR officials to rid the state of the activities of economic saboteurs parading themselves as petroleum marketers.

    The enforcement took place in Akobo, Ashi, Apata, Olorundaba, among other areas.

    Some of the filling stations sealed include Kesbash Oil Nigeria Limited,

    Swort Oil & Gas, Oduwoye Global Services Ltd, JOSFRAD International

    Venture, Roylab International Venture and Baley Nigeria Limited

    DPR Deputy Controller (Operations), Oyo State Sadiq Ibrahim who led the team told reporters that the essence of the monitoring was to check hoarding and price hike.

    Ibrahim said: “Those filling stations caught hoarding the product will  be charged for hoarding, while those who were selling above pump price will also be sanctioned. “This is because government has not increased pump price. What we have been able to do is to compel those hoarding to sell to the public at pump price and later seal them,’’ he said.

    Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Community Relations Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade said the team would continue with the enforcement until sanity returned.

    Residents of the areas visited across the metropolis lauded the initiative, saying the efforts would go a long way in alleviating the hardship.

    Mr Awoniyi Babatunde, a resident, said: “This is a great mess and we can’t continue like this. Our people cannot continue to blame the government on the issue but face the reality. Some marketers are just wicked. We are happy about the enforcement,’’ he said.

  • Oyo govt alerts residents to phony travel agencies, job scams

    Oyo govt alerts residents to phony travel agencies, job scams

    The Oyo State government has urged the residents to be wary of phony travel agencies, job scams and illegal tax collections.

    It said any organisation or individual found culpable should be reported to security agencies.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun said the government had been inundated with calls on its Ajumose Feedback Centre by victims of numerous scams.

    The commissioner said the victims had been advised to report their cases to security agencies while the government investigates such cases.

    He said: “Recently, numerous callers from across the state have been asking government to help them retrieve money paid to some phony travel agencies for pilgrimage and employment abroad. The callers said the agencies asked them to pay large sums to facilitate their sojourn abroad for jobs without a positive outcome over time.

    “Some of the callers also asked the state government to investigate some recruitment firms, which have swindled thousands of unsuspecting job seekers. They claimed that the scammers collected money from them and made them write examinations and attend interviews.”

    Arulogun said the state government was investigating complaints by some callers who said they were extorted by head teachers and officials of some public secondary schools in state in the name of collecting tax from pupils.

    The commissioner assured the residents that any individual found guilty would be dealt with according to civil service rules.

    He added that the government did not tax pupils but asked them to produce the tax clearance of their parents.

    Arulogun said initial investigations revealed that some school officials were allegedly accused wrongly while there were further investigations on those necessitating follow-ups.

    The commissioner urged the residents to do background checks on travel agencies, recruitment firms and other service-rendering firms before engaging them, adding that some of the firms engages in legitimate businesses and delivered on their promise.

    He said the bad eggs among them were denting the reputation of the credible ones.

    According to him, the media should separate the good ones from the bad ones whenever they need to promote such businesses.

    Arulogun said: “Our media organisations in the state have a major role to play in saving people from the hands of these scammers. They advertise their phony businesses in the media to the unsuspecting public. The media need to verify the legitimacy of such businesses and make them sign indemnities.”

     

     

  • Oyo govt donates N5m as Faleti’s burial rites begin

    Oyo govt donates N5m as Faleti’s burial rites begin

    The funeral rites of the late actor, broadcaster, cultural icon and elder statesman, Alagba Adebayo Faleti, begin today with a Day of Tributes and Performances.

    Also, the Oyo State government presented a cheque of N5 million to his family for a befitting burial.

    Information, Culture and Tourism Commissioner Toye Arulogun said the day of tributes and performances would hold at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI) at 4 pm.

    The commissioner said the “government’s widow’s mite” was part of measures to celebrate the late Faleti.

    He said the government would provide logistics for the burial of the man, whose “contributions to the exposition and development of Yoruba culture …cannot be underestimated”.

    Arulogun said the commendation service for the late Faleti would hold tomorrow at Salem Baptist Church at Yemetu at noon, while there the lying-in-state at his home holds September 7 at 8 am.

    The commissioner said the lying-in-state will hold at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) at Ile Akede at 10 am and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan at 11 am.

    He said the body of the late cultural icon would leave for Oyo town for service of songs/Christian wake at First Baptist Church, Isokun in Oyo on Thursday.

    According to him, there will be Artist Night to celebrate the late Faleti at Plaza De Haruna in Oyo, about 8 pm.

    Arulogun said the funeral service would hold on September 8 at First Baptist Church, Isokun, and interment at Agboye Village in Oyo via Ogbomosho.

    He enjoined stakeholders in theatre arts, culture, broadcasting and Yoruba literature to attend the events as a befitting honour to a worthy ambassador of Oyo State.

    Responding to the government’s donation, Mr. Ayoola Faleti, who spoke for Faleti’s family, thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the government for their support.

  • We have only spent 14% of World Bank loan – Oyo govt

    We have only spent 14% of World Bank loan – Oyo govt

    Oyo State government said on Tuesday it has spent only 14 percent of the $200millon loan received from the World Bank following the August 26, 2011 flood disaster that claimed hundreds of lives and property worth several millions of naira.

    The loan repayment is spread over a period of 20 years with a single digit interest rate of two percent.

    The government said the loan repayment would start after 15 years.

    The Director General of Oyo State Bureau of Physical Planning and Development Control, Alhaji Waheed Gbadamosi, stated these during a press conference held at the state Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

    Part of the loan, Gbadamosi said is being spent on reconstruction of bridges, roads and dredging of rivers and water channels to control flooding in the state.

    According to the DG, the government has listed many of the affected sites under the Ibadan Urban Flood Control, and the project will last eight years.

    He also said the 70 –year- old Eleyele water dam would be upgraded to a world class dam, adding that construction work is expected to commence soon.

    Gbadamosi, who spoke on the final draft of Ibadan Master Plan, said 22 private radio stations operating without approved building plans in the city would soon be closed down.

    He said: “Over 22 radio stations don’t have approved building plans. They don’t have building plans. Most of them turned residential buildings into commercial ventures.”

     

     

  • Oyo govt visits family

    The Oyo State government, through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, yesterday visited the family of late broadcaster and elder statesman, Alagba Adebayo Faleti.

    It described him as a repository of Yoruba culture and rich library of the language.

    The government noted that the late Yoruba rare executant was a role model and ace broadcaster whose giant strides in broadcasting have inspired many people.

    It pledged to support and ensure a befitting burial for the late actor.

    Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, led the government delegation to the family of the late actor.

    Arulogun said the state government was not mourning the late sage but celebrating his life and legacy as a cultural icon.

    The commissioner noted that the late Faleti’s works would continue to live after him.

    He said: “Alagba Faleti was a repository of the Yoruba culture, a rich library of the Yoruba language, an ace broadcaster, a fine actor and, above all, a real gentleman.

    “His exit is a glorious one after a very much impactful and fulfilled life. We are, therefore, here on behalf of the governor, government and people of Oyo State, to celebrate a grandmaster of the arts and culture.”

    Elder Adegoke Faleti, the younger brother to the late poet, thanked the state government for its sympathy on the demise of the family’s patriarch.

     

  • Oyo govt seals poultry farm

    The Oyo State government has sealed off a poultry farm in Ibadan, the state capital, for allegedly causing bad odour and posing a threat to the health of the residents.

    The poultry farm, located in Ojoo, was shut down after the government reportedly gave several warning notices the poultry owners were said to have ignored.

    Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, ordered the closure yesterday during a check.

    A statement by the ministry’s Media Officer, Mr Olusoji Segun, quoted the commissioner as saying the factory belonging to Mayowa Akinwale and Samuel Oladiran.

    The statement said the owners had been served an Abatement Notice, since May, to vacate the premises because the farm’s operations posed a danger to the health of the residents.

    It said a reminder was also served on the farm last month, adding that it remained recalcitrant to the government order.

  • Olubadan Declaration Review a political, says Oyo govt

    Olubadan Declaration Review a political, says Oyo govt

    The Oyo State government has said the massive attendance and responses by various stakeholders to the current Olubadan Declaration Review panel vindicated its action on the review of the chieftaincy law.

    It noted that 91 of the 118 memoranda received during the open sessions requested for additional beaded crowns while the remaining 27 called for a review of ascendancy into the Olubadan stool.

    The government restated its position that the proposed review was not targeted at any individual or group of people.

    It said it is meant for the development, modernisation as well as growth of the traditional council of Ibadan city, Ibadan land and other parts of the state.

    It said change is the only constant in life, adding that all parties would be convinced of the sincerity of government’s proposition.

    The state government said its action was within the ambit of the law of Olubadan Declaration of 1957.

    It assured the stakeholders and other residents that it would be just and fair in examining the recommendations of the Justice Boade’s panel and align with the wishes of Ibadan residents.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Mr. Toye Arulogun said the action of the government had precedence and was in tandem with the aspirations of the people.

    The statement reads: “It is high time we reiterated  our earlier position and put issues in proper  perspective. The action of the government is  backed by law; there are precedents. The governor  has the power to review the declaration and, most importantly, the government is fulfilling the  yearnings of the people.

    “We are not being political with this issue and not targeting any individual. The purpose is to elevate the status of the Olubadan title and pave the way for the development and modernisation of Ibadan chieftaincy and Ibadan towns and city. We are running an all-inclusive government and our government believes in collective responsibility in the Ajumose spirit.

    “Our decision to review the Olubadan Declaration of 1957 was a response to several calls by stakeholders and we will follow the principles of openness, fairness and justice.”

    Arologun said members of the Olubadan-in-Council, many high chiefs in Ibadan as well as stakeholders, including Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ibadan Elders Forum, Ibadan Progressive Union, Association of Recognised Mogajis, the warlords’ families in Ibadan and eminent individuals attended the sitting of the panel for three weeks.

    The commissioner said the panel received 118 memoranda during its sitting.

    He added that the panel concluded its sitting on June 23 and requested for four weeks extension.