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Tag: Oyo state

  • Ajimobi condems alleged violence at Olubadan’s palace

    Ajimobi condems alleged violence at Olubadan’s palace

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condemned the alleged act of brigandage that occurred during a ceremony at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Monday.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, the governor directed security agencies to ensure that the masterminds are swiftly arrested, interrogated and brought to justice.

    He vowed not to brook anyone or group of people desirous of bringing back the regime of violence and brigandage to the state.

    Ajimobi reiterated his commitment to the security and protection of lives and properties of all citizens of Oyo State, which he said that
    his administration laboured hard to restore and maintain in the last six years.

    Five yet-to-be identified gunmen invaded the Olubadan palace at Popoyemoja in Ibadan where the monarch was conducting an installation ceremony of newly appointed traditional rulers.

    The gunmen, who arrived the scene in a space bus, fired gunshots but  no casualty was recorded in the incident.

    One of the gunmen was said to have released volleys of gunshots into the air via the open roof of the vehicle, while others reportedly shot through windows of the vehicle.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen wore black clothes and tied red clothes around their heads displaying pump action rifles and A-K47 rifles.

    Men of the state joint security task force ‘Operations  Burst’ arrived the palace within five minutes of the incidence to restore normalcy.

    NAN reports that the incident had occurred at a time when the monarch was about to commence the installation of four new Baales (village heads) in his palace.

  • Ajimobi condems violence at Olubadan’s palace

    Ajimobi condems violence at Olubadan’s palace

    Gov.  Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condemned the alleged act of brigandage that occurred during a ceremony at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji on Monday.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, the governor directed security agencies to ensure that the masterminds are swiftly arrested, interrogated and brought to justice.

    He vowed not to brook anyone or group of people desirous of bringing back the regime of violence and brigandage to the state.

    Ajimobi reiterated his commitment to the security and protection of lives and properties of all citizens of Oyo State, which he said that
    his administration laboured hard to restore and maintain in the last six years.

    News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN )   reports that  five yet-to-be identified gunmen invaded the Olubadan palace at Popoyemoja in Ibadan where the monarch was conducting an installation ceremony of newly appointed traditional rulers.

    The gunmen, who arrived the scene in a space bus, fired gunshots but  no casualty was recorded in the incident.

    One of the gunmen was said to have released volleys of gunshots into the air via the open roof of the vehicle, while others reportedly shot through windows of the vehicle.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen wore black clothes and tied red clothes around their heads displaying pump action rifles and
    A-K47 rifles.

    Men of the state joint security task force `Operations  Burst’ arrived the palace within five minutes of the incidence to restore normalcy.

    NAN reports that the incident had occurred at a time when the monarch was about to commence the installation of four new Baales (village heads) in his palace.

     

  • Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    Oyo 2019: Re-alignment against ruling party will end in futility – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Oyo State chapter, says the on-going re-alignment of forces by the opposition political players in the state ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election would fail.

    This was contained in a statement by Mr Olawale Sadare, the party’s Public Relations Officer in Ibadan on Saturday.

    The leaderships of opposition political parties in the state, including the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party have initiated a move to regroup against the ruling APC.

    The re-alignment is aimed at dislodging the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the state in the 2019 elections.

    Prominent among the state political leaders in the move were former Gov. Rasheed Ladoja, former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, Mr Seyi Makinde and Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli.

    “We are a governing party that has distinguished itself as the only vehicle of good governance, peace and wholesome development desired by the majority of the people of Nigeria, including the good citizens of the state.

    “What they are planning is a civilian coup against the electorate but it would not see the light of day for many reasons.

    “Most characters involved in the gang-up have had opportunities in the past to impact positively on the lives of the people but they failed as a result of incurable traits of incompetence, selfishness and cluelessness,’’ it said.

    The party stated that many of the arrow heads of the alignment are ignorant of how government works from the way they criticize government policies and condemn its projects.

    The party stated that Nigerians would not support any alignment, re-alignment or gang-up from the same set of people that plunged the nation into economic mess.

    It counselled the sponsors of alignment and those who intend to benefit from it to realize that the effort would end up in futility.

  • Clouds over LAUTECH’s resumption

    Clouds over LAUTECH’s resumption

    The reopening of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, last week, ought to be cheery news for students, who were sent home for six months due to a workers’strike. But after the resumption announced by the institution’s Governing Council, students were worried about the “disheartening responses” from their lecturers who have vowed not to resume until their demands are met. ISRAEL FAWOLE reports.

    Six months after activities at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) were paralysed following an industrial action by teachers and non-academic staff, the institution’s Governing Council, last Thursday, announced its reopening. But, strike-weary students are not cheered by the news.

    In an email by the Registrar, Mr. Jacob Agboola, the management urged students and employees to resume at the Ogbomoso and Osogbo campuses, adding that registration would commence on October 3, after the Independence holiday.

    Mixed reactions have been trailing the announcement of the school’s resumption. Besides, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other workers’unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), have vowed not to return to work, until their demands are met.

    ASUU Chairman Dr. Biodun Olaniran and the JAC leader Mr. Muraina Alesinloye said their members would not resume, because the unions were not aware of the resumption directive.

    Olaniran said the union was unaware of the university’s announcement of a resumption date. He said members would remain on an indefinite strike until its demands were met by the Visitors to the school – Oyo and Osun state governments.

    The ASUU demands, according to Olaniran, include payment of 11 months’ salaries, earned academic allowances, gratuities and pensions, health insurance and promotion, among others.

    He said: “ASUU will not obey any resumption directive until our demands are met. If our demands are not addressed by the Visitors to the school, the strike continues indefinitely.”

    Alesinloye said none of the three unions under JAC was aware of the resumption. He said: “I am the chairman of SSANU, but I am speaking as the chairman of JAC now. We are not aware of the resumption and you will agree that you cannot obey any directive you are not aware of.”

    For students, the unions’ responses to the resumption are worrisome, raising anxiety that the resumption could be a mirage at the end of the day.

    Seleem Adeniyi, a 500-Level Chemical Engineering student, said the reactions of the academic staff indicated that there was no agreement between the Governing Council and workers before the announcement of the resumption date. He urged the owner-states and the school management to meet with workers and accede to their demands.

    Adeniyi said: “I am not elated about the resumption, because it could be temporary. The lecturers’ demands have not been met, yet we want them to come to teach. They also have heavy financial responsibilities to meet. They have children and family members to care for. They also need to pay for healthcare and other services. If they are not paid, we would be foolish to expect them on campus. The management needs to give them strong assurance on their demands.”

    Having spent months at home, Oyekunle Oyedijo, a 500-Level Biochemistry student, said it would be disappointing if students’ hopes were dashed because of the ASUU’s no-resumption comment.

    He said: “This crisis has caused a irreparable damage to students’ psyches. Some of us have died in the course of the strike. Some are on sickbeds. Even, some of our lecturers died because there was no money to pay for treatment. In the interest of students, the government and the management need to create a lasting solution to the crisis. Our hopes in the school would be dashed if this resumption is short-lived.”

    Sodiq Babatunde, an Agricultural Science student, expressed concern about the rumour making the rounds that there could be hike in tuition fee.

    “The burden of paying for hostels we have not stayed in for months is on us already. Yet, we are hearing that tuition fees could be increased, to drive up the school’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR). How do they expect us to balance this? They need to consider our plight, because the economy is not in good shape,” he said.

    Enike Oleghe, a Pure and Applied Chemistry student, said: “I was so excited when I heard the news about our resumption, but it is unfortunate that the demands of the workers have not been met. This is pertinent to solving the crisis. The management, as a medium between the workers’unions and the government, should consider students’plight and hasten up the process of engaging the lecturers. They need to ensure that nothing disrupts this resumption. We are tired of staying at home.”

    Damilola Abodun, a students’ leader, warned against tution fee hike, saying it would be counter-productive. He said the solution was not to increase tuition fee, but the effective management of resources. He added that students would move against any  fee hike.

    Titilayo Robert, a Transport Management student, said: “Announcement of resumption without the workers’unions looks like a political propaganda. We are begging the government to stop toying with our future. We are not getting any younger. If their own children attend schools abroad, they should remember children of the poor masses who can’t afford to send their own children overseas.”

    Busayo Oyedele, another student, lamented that she had remained on the same level since 2015, describing the perennial strike as “disturbing”.

    Busayo said: “The state of LAUTECH is pathetic. Our mates in other schools are ahead of us in many ways. How can university students remain on the same level for two years? We will keep begging them until they consider it right to do what is needful to restore the lost glory of LAUTECH.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) held a congress with some students’ bodies on Wednesday, last week, to discuss the way forward for LAUTECH. The congress was attended by the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neo-Liberal Attacks, Liberal Movement, National Liberty Vanguard, and Democratic Socialist Movement.

    In their joint communiqué, the students’ bodies said they would mobilise against the Oyo and Osun states’ government should the school fail to re-open. They vowed to move against the Governing Council.

     

  • Oyo community needs education facilities

    Oyo community needs education facilities

    There stands a decrepit block of classrooms with the roof partially detached. The walls are dotted with large clusters of algae, creating an air of desolation.

    This is the feeling one gets upon arriving at Methodist Secondary School, Fiditi, Oyo State, where only one block of classrooms serves a community of 70, 000 people. These conditions exist despite N15 million earmarked for its renovation in last year’s federal budget.

    However, the project in Fiditi, one of the major towns in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, is not the only one abandoned.

    In Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area, millions of Naira was earmarked for a borehole project . The construction of this project is yet to begin, while in Jobele, Afijio Local Government Area, the residents have remained in perpetual darkness for over two years despite the installation of a transformer provided for the community in last year’s federal budget.

    Poor learning conditions in Fiditi

    In Fiditi, the residents lamented the dilapidated state of the classroom blocks and other buildings at Methodist Secondary School. While construction of Alaafin High School had been completed, the buildings at Methodist Secondary School had been neglected despite N15 million budgetary allocations for both projects.

    Ademuyiwa Adeyemi David, an Oyo State Project Tracking Officer for TRACKA, an initiative which tracks community projects in Nigeria, confirmed the approval and award of contract for the reconstruction of Methodist Secondary School, even as he could not explain why the project has not taken off.

    “I came to this town last year and I told an uncle that Oyo State government intends to build a block of three classrooms for the school. The uncle said he would relay the information to the principal of the school.

    “The project was supposed to be undertaken in two phases at both Alaafin High School and Methodist Secondary School. When we discovered that the other project at Alaafin School had been completed, while the one here (Methodist Secondary School) was yet to commence, we decided to write letters to the community’s elected representatives,” David said.

    Fiditi population relies on this school for its post-primary education. Fortunately, the school has been functional because of the contributions of the members and leaders of the community.

    Mrs. Aina Ogunnubi, a resident whose child attends the school, stated that it took the intervention of the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA), to maintain the only functioning block of classrooms.

    She said: “Look at the school’s surroundings; it took the efforts of parents to have this last block of classrooms standing. The roofs of the buildings fell off. Even the other buildings have become decrepit.”

    Her complaints were further corroborated by the Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. John Adebayo, who said the needs of the community transcend provision of classrooms.

    He noted that while education was a major challenge confronting the community, there were others challenges as well.

    With respect to the school, Adebayo said: “…the school buildings are in bad shape. Only one block of classrooms is available at Methodist Secondary School.

    “The rest have been destroyed by wind. Floodwaters come inside this classroom and if nothing is done in about a year, these classrooms will be gone.”

    He pleaded with the government to provide roads, electricity, jobs, and reconstruction of the schools.

    The schools are part of the constituency project attracted by Hon. Akeem Adeniyi, who represents Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West/Atiba Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

    • Ilevbaoje is a Project Manager with Tracka/BudgIT Nigeria

     

  • ‘We must have a say in how we’re governed’

    ‘We must have a say in how we’re governed’

    Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was again chosen as a place of history as many Yoruba leaders, including governors and traditional rulers, converged on the city penultimate week for a summit. At the historic meeting, similar to that of 1956, a common position was taken on the need for the restructuring of Nigeria and the model to be adopted.

    The summit brought several Yoruba socio-cultural and political groups together under one platform to tackle a common problem. For the first time in many years, for instance, members of Afenifere sat together with their peers in the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and members of the two factions of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) sat together and spoke in one language.

    So were governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Members of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Atayese also addressed the gathering. Former ministers, traditional rulers, activists, professionals, artisans, students, market men and women and others coalesced at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan to be part of history.

    After the meeting which lasted six hours during which frank contributions were entertained, the summit made what it described as the ‘Ibadan Declaration,’ urging the Federal Government to urgently restructure Nigeria along regional lines. They called for a return to the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with relevant modifications which gave more powers to the regions.

    The highlight of the summit was the participation and endorsement of the position by Southeast and South-south ethnic groups which were represented by their leaders.

    In his goodwill message, Chief John Nwodo, who led a delegation of the Igbo nation to the summit, expressed strong support of the Southeast people for the agitation for restructuring. He said the Igbo are clear in their agitation for regionalisation to allow rapid development.

    “I came here with a large delegation to show solidarity for this summit. Today’s event shows that democracy is growing in Nigeria. Since after 1963, Nigerians have not been allowed to have their say in the way they are being governed. The Igbo are saying it loud and clear that we must have a say in how we are being governed,” he said.

    While highlighting the potential of Nigeria in wealth creation and ability to become great, Nwodo referred to the example of Netherlands which he said earns about $18 billion yearly from its agriculture sector.

    According to him, the size of Netherlands is not up to the size of Niger State of Nigeria. With fertile land all across Nigeria, Nwodo said restructuring would allow each federating unit to untilise its resources for advantage.

    Chief Albert Hosefall, who led a delegation of South-south ethnic groups, also lent the support of his people to the agitation, saying the Yoruba are welcome to the move for resource control.

    “We thank you because you have caught the fire of agitation. We don’t want a federation run on unitary system of government,” he said.

    The contributions and support of the South-south and Southeast regions widened the scope of the agitation for restructuring in Nigeria. Observers believe that the wind of restructuring blowing across the entire three regions in Southern Nigeria is a call for change which is too strong to be defeated.

    However, the new position is a revival of the idea and move by former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2000. Tinubu had established the Southern Governors’ Forum in 2000 with a clear aim of making all the states in Southern Nigeria speak with one voice for the progress of the three regions in particular and Nigeria in general.

    The former governor, at the time, looked beyond political party affiliations by extending invitation to all the other 16 governors in the South. Tinubu also added a seat for the governor of Kwara, suggesting that the state is largely southern in composition given that over 70 per cent of those indigenous to Kwara State are Yoruba. Shortly after, the Northern Governors’ Forum was formed.

    Though the idea succeeded for a while, political factors and suspicion that Tinubu was trying to force himself as a leader on other governors made the project crumble. But the Ibadan Declaration, which came 16 years after, confirmed that the agitation has always existed in the deep part of the heart of southerners.

    This time, the summit, which was chaired by legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), issued a 16-point communique which emphasised the urgent need to practise true federalism. The communique also highlighted the details of the expected reform including fiscal analysis of a restructured Nigeria.

    Babalola, who set the tone for the summit, said many of the problems confronting Nigeria currently derived from the partitioning of Africa by the European colonialists for their selfish economic interests.

    Tracing Nigeria’s development, the legal icon recalled that the country witnessed its greatest development under the 1963 Constitution.

    He said: “Our country’s history is replete with the incontrovertible fact that Nigeria witnessed her greatest and fastest economic, political, social and educational development during self-government and the First Republic. Each of the regions was fairly autonomous and could legislate over a number of items which have, at present, been taken over by the Federal Government. It was during this period that each region began its own regional developmental efforts. There were mutual healthy rivalries to compete for development.”

    Drawing the gains of the 1963 period over the current system in a thorough comparison, Babalola said the next generation of Yoruba children will condemn their leaders’ silence if we refuse to speak out and take the right position now.

    He emphasised the imperative of restructuring, stressing that the wind of restructuring is blowing over Nigeria.

    The lawyer posited that “restructuring would enable each state to control its population, set internationally-acceptable standard for admission to tertiary institutions to ensure quality education, which will, in turn, restore our universities’ glorious years.”

    Others who addressed the gathering included National Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Chairman Afenifere Renewal Group, Hon. Wale Oshun; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Femi Fani-Kayode; Chief (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, President-General Yoruba Council of Elders, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Tokunbo Ajasin and representatives of the governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Osun states. They all spoke in favour of restructuring.

    The summit was also attended by former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Prof. Banji Akintoye, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr Yinka Odumakin, Yoruba social cultural groups, professional bodies, market leaders, youth groups, friends of the Yoruba nation and Yoruba from Kogi and Kwara states.

  • I’ll succeed Ajimobi in 2019 – Shittu

    I’ll succeed Ajimobi in 2019 – Shittu

    Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, has expressed confidence that he would succeed Gov. Abiola Ajimobi as governor of Oyo State in 2019.

    Shittu made the declaration when he spoke with newsmen in Ibadan after a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) from Egbeda Local Government and Ajorosun Local Council Development Area.

    The minister, who is a governorship aspirant, said he would take over from Ajimobi to improve on the good work already started.

    According to him, he is the most experienced of all the aspirants, having held several public offices and learnt politics from late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    “I was a member of the State House of Assembly in 1979 and two-time Commissioner in the State. I have also contested the governorship seat in the state twice before I became a minister.

    “These are experiences you cannot buy. Oyo is advanced and sophisticated to be handled by inexperienced administrators,’’ he said.

    Shittu dismissed the ongoing re-alignment in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party was a non-starter at the state and federal level.

    He stated that no fewer than 38 road contractors had abandoned work across the country two years before President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.

    The minister stated that the development had contributed largely to unemployment as several workers, including labourers, bricklayers and iron benders were laid-off.

    He alleged that the PDP administration’s negligence and incompetence in handling the Boko Haram at inception was responsible for the magnitude of the present security challenges the country was confronted with.

    “Boko Haram would have overrun the country if not for Buhari’s emergence.

    “The Buhari administration on assumption of office had evolved several efficient and effective strategies at reducing the threat drastically,’’ he said.

    Speaking on the call for restructuring, he stated that the APC was presently collating views of Nigerians so as to ensure the people chart a new course for the future.

    He said that the outcome would subsequently be presented to the National Assembly.

    The minister said that the National Assembly was the only constitutionally recognised institution vested with the powers to amend the Constitution.

    NAN reports that the minister donated an 18-seater bus and cash to the party in the local government.

  • ‘Crowning of new kings will boost Olubadan status’

    ‘Crowning of new kings will boost Olubadan status’

    Chief Mukaila Balogun, the Osi-Balogun Afijagba in Oyo State, says the recent elevation and crowning of 21 high chiefs and baales as kings will  boost the status  of the Olubadan stool.

    Balogun  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that  the development  would  not desecrate the Olubadan stool as some people believe  but  enhance its  status.

    “The elevation should be a thing of joy for all Ibadan indigenes because we have been yawning for long for the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    “In the past, three governors had  tried to carry out the review but could not succeed and history has been made as regards  successful review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy System that paved way for the installation of 21 new kings in Ibadan land.

    “All these kings are under His Imperial Majesty, Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, so there is nothing like relegation in the position of Olubadan.

    “Even those who opposed the elevation of the 21 high chiefs and baales knew that government action was in order but were politicising the issue,’’ he said.

    Balogun implored those opposed to the elevation  to have a rethink and support Gov.  Abiola Ajumobi in bringing rapid development to Ibadan land.

    NAN recalls that 21 high chiefs and baales in Ibadan were elevated to kingship status by the Oyo State Government following  the recommendations of a committee.

    The kings received their instrument of office after coronation on Aug.  27  inspite of  strong opposition by  the Oba Saliu Adetunji and one of the high chiefs, Rashidi Ladoja,  who was the governor of the state between 2003 and 2007.

  • LAUTECH student to embark on mass action

    LAUTECH student to embark on mass action

    Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso has expressed their displeasure towards the unjust close down of their institution and has promised another face off to embark on a mass action.

    Speaking with a vibrant student of the institution Oyedeji Ahmed he said, “For over six month we have been at home for no reason. Due to some reasons some of our students are dead while some had lost hope in education. We are not helpless but hopeless as a result of lack of thought of those at helms of affairs.

    “We are so sad and worried on why the Government has not taken the necessary step even after the submission of the audit interim report. The Oyo State Governor Sen. Abiola Ajimobi in one of his interview has promised that once the Government receive the audit interim report after the break that a maximum of 3 months grants will be paid to resolve the impasse. It’s very sad that up till now there has not been any traces from the government now that the Oyo state Governor is in London” he said.

    Our greatest fear now is that the release of the proposed fund will take longer than expected because that is when the Governing council can have a discussion with the Unions

    “We are therefore appealing to the two governors to do the needful before the end of this month as that will be the only reason why we would not have to go back to the street again”, he said.

    It should be recalled that the institution has been closed down for some months due to lack of poor funding of the Lecturers since December 2013 which led to the closure of the varsity It should be that the Academic Staff Union of University Lautech chapter has also joined the nationwide strike whereby prolonging the crisis of the University.

  • Oyo inaugurates education marshalls to instill discipline in students

    Oyo inaugurates education marshalls to instill discipline in students

    Ahead of secondary schools resumption later in the month, the Oyo state government is set to inaugurate a special group codenamed “Education Monitoring Marshalls.”

    The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela made the disclosure, Wednesday at the presentation of book list for 2017 to 2020 academic programs for schools in the state.

    He said the policy is imperative in view of the declining moral behaviours among secondary school students, and particularly the need to discourage students from wandering around during school hours. 

    Explaining the initiative, Professor Olowofela said that the policy will help in raising more disciplined school children as the special tax force will be empowered to arrest and discipline students caught wandering out of school premises.

    He assured the policy will in no long time change students attitude positively towards learning.

    According to the education commissioner, the problem of indiscipline on the parts of the students have made many gone wayward and engaging in acts capable of promoting moral decadence in the society.

    Speaking on the new list of books, he noted that the presentation of the books to the schools is response to the agitations for required book from different quarters across the state ahead of the school resumption slated for September 18.

    Related: Osun deploys 600 education marshalls

    While noting that the list of books will be available for free, Olowofela disclosed that, what is important is the contents of the books, which was the reason the reviewers checked the lists to ensure it is in line with recommended standard.

    •Graph of mathematical equations

    He further said that the effort is according to the requirements of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to reposition and restructure education in the state.

    He said: “The recommendations of 31 member committee birthed School Governing Board, SGB initiative, ‘No Automatic Promotion’ and among other policies on education and have repositioned education in the state.

    “The books recommended were carefully selected to achieve greater feat in education because Oyo State is the intellectual capital of the country and we have to maintain the tempo.

    “The state government is also sanitising the system by removing from service those that are working with fake results and the intention is to have an efficient workforce”, the commissioner said.

    Corroborating Olowofela’s view, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Ariyike Adekanmbi said the use of the list of books is sacrosanct because it is developed according to the curriculum used to set examinations.

    She encourage the Local Inspector of Education, LIEs to monitor the compliance of all Schools to conform to the state government’s directives on education.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Oyo House of Assembly, Hon. Musa Abdulwasi commended the Ajimobi-led administration for executing unprecedented achievements in area of education in the state.

    He said: “we have been engaging the ministry of education because it has greater impacts on the society and we thank the commissioner because he has not been found wanton.

    “The agitations recently that the state government wanted to sell schools in the state, was the handiwork of the mischief makers. And the last year’s WAEC rating where it was gathered that Oyo State scored 29 per cent was not also true as it is not a true reflection of students’ performances in the state”, the lawmaker said.