The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo State government

  • Oyo to revamp tertiary institutions

    The Oyo State government will continue to improve state-owned tertiary institutions, Commissioner for Education Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu said yesterday.

    He spoke during a tour of state-owned tertiary institutions, including the Ogbomoso main campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states; Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; as well as the Oyo and Lanlate campuses of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education.

    Olaniyonu said the tour was to assess the facilities on ground, identify the institutions’ challenges and address them.

    He said the government would continue to provide infrastructure and adequately staff tertiary institutions.

    The commissioner urged the schools to support the government in improving the education sector.

  • Oyo extends 14-day ultimatum to transporters

    THE Oyo State Government has extended the ultimatum given to all transporters to register with the state’s Transporters’ Enumeration and Registration Scheme (OYSTER) by a month.

    The extension was declared at a meeting with stakeholders in the sector within the week.

    The stakeholders, who included representatives of commercial motorcyclists and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), agreed at the meeting to fully participate in the scheme for the purpose of proper coordination of commercial transportation in the state.

    The scheme offers free insurance and registration of all transporters with visibility jackets.

    It is also aimed at reducing criminal activities perpetrated with commercial motorcycles and vehicles in the state.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders agreed to partner for the betterment of the state.

    They also expressed commitment to the rates charged for the scheme.

    Stakeholders also agreed with the decision to institute management and enforcement teams in all local government areas, which will include all the transport unions.

    The communiqué also explained that the government would work with the unions to agree on the specifications and standards of reflective vests, adding that it would continue to be the issuing authority for the vests.

    The communiqué was signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Mr. Yemi Aderibigbe.

  • Oyo splashes N15m on disabled persons

    Oyo State Government yesterday restated its commitment to enhancing the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities with the empowerment of 418 disabled persons drawn from the 33 council areas of the state with items worth over N15million.

    It added that it was when people with disability are not segregated against, but included in decision-making process, that the nation could be said to be on the right path.

    Oyo State Governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, spoke at the Ajumose Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Executive Governor on Persons with Disabilities, held at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.

  • Oyo issues Okada, tricycle operators 21 -day ultimatum

    THE Oyo State government at the weekend gave a 21-day ultimatum to operators of commercial motorcycles and tricycles to register or face ban.

    It said the move was to check the rising wave of robbery by Okada riders, especially in Ibadan, the state capital, lately.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Transport, Mr. Yemi Aderibigbe, explained that armed robbers using motorcycles have been on the rise in the state.

    He said it is now compulsory for all commercial transport operators to register with the state’s Transporters Enumeration and Registration Scheme (OYSTER).

    The ultimatum commences tomorrow (Monday). It read in parts: “All motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state will be issued reflective jackets and unique identification numbers to make it easier for the populace and law enforcement agents to identify them and differentiate them from the crime perpetrators.

    “The Oyo State government also wants to emphasise that no other organisation, agency or transport union in the state has the right to issue reflective jackets to operators except OYSTER, which is the agency of government empowered to perform this role.

    “Commencing from Monday May, 27, it will become an illegal act for any motorcycle or tricycle operator to ride in any part of Oyo State without the government issued reflective vest and unique identification number.”

  • Oyo seeks brokers’support

    The Oyo State government is seeking the support of brokers to render efficient services to the people.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Adedeji Adelabu, spoke when the management of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, including its President, Mrs. ‘Laide Osijo, visited him in his office.

    He said there was no better time to seek the assistance of professionals and their groups than now that the state government is embarking on massive infrastructural turn-around of the state for the long-term benefits of the people.

    He said the state government has realised the importance of risk mitigation and management of its numerous human and material assets and is ready to engage the services of qualified insurance professionals who have the requisite skill to assist the government achieve its goals.

    Adelabu said: “The notion of self- insurance, which governments, including that of Oyo State always felt they could undertake on their own, had failed severally, necessitating the need to cede such technical areas to the professionals.”

    He also said the state government, in conformity with the Pensions Act 2004, has put in place the group life policy for its civil service and mandated the clients, especially those in the construction industry to ensure they insure their workers.

    Earlier, Mrs. Osijo commended the state government for the structural development of the state, noting that insurance was a complementary service to the government’s developmental efforts.

    She noted that brokers give clients the advantage of competitive rates from underwriters through their regular advice.

    Meanwhile, President, NCRIB Mrs. Laide Osijo, at the Members Evening of the Council, urged brokers to cooperate with NAICOM in the implementation of the new premium regime. She advised them to avoid any infraction that may lead to sanctions.

    She stressed that the council has gathered from members and underwriters that the public and government are already adjusting to the new premium rule. She called on insurance operators to embark on enlightenment of client on the new rule.

    She said: “Reports reaching us from the underwriters and brokers indicate an adjustment to the new rule by insurance clients, including the government.

    “Even though it is not out of place of some pessimism about its workability from some quarters, the onus is on insurance operators, including our members to embark on enlightenment of clients on the new rule.

    “From my findings, it has become necessary to advise brokers to cooperate with NAICOM in the implementation of this rule as well as avoid any infraction that may lead to sanctions by the commission.”

    Osijo noted that the new rule would put to rest the unnecessary bickering between brokers and underwriters over the unpaid premium and remission of commission.