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Tag: Oyo

  • Oyo to pass anti-open grazing law in three weeks

    The Oyo State House of Assembly will pass the bill on anti-open grazing in the next three weeks, it was learnt at the weekend.

    Deputy Speaker Abdulwasiu Musa broke the news while featuring on the Ibadan-based Fresh FM radio programme, The Southwest Political Circuit.

    Musa said the bill had passed the first reading, adding that the Assembly was determined to pass it to cement the legal foundation which will prevent herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state.

    When reminded that the Minister of Defence had attributed the frosty relationship between herdsmen and farmers to the implementation of such laws in the states, Musa said the constitution vests the power to make laws for good governance on state Assemblies.

    The lawmaker said nothing would stop Oyo State from passing and implementing the law, though he acknowledged that farmers and herdsmen enjoyed a cordial relationship in the state.

    He noted that herdsmen and farmers lived peaceably together because the government, security agencies and community leaders sustained an established a security forum where potential crises were discussed and resolved.

    The deputy speaker, who hails from Saki, Oke-Ogun area of the state, insisted that the area was inching closer to producing the next governor.

  • Oyo, labour leaders resume negotiation over strike

    Oyo, labour leaders resume negotiation over strike

    Top officials of the Oyo State Government and labour leaders were, on Friday, locked in a five-hour meeting aimed at resolving the dispute that triggered a three-day warning strike by the state workforce, which ended on Friday.

    Leading the government team was the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, in company with the Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Seun Abimbola; Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, among others.

    On the labour’s large delegation were the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Waheed Olojede; State Secretary, Mr. Kofo Ogundeji; President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Mr. Titilola Sodo; and State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Niyi Akano, among others.

    Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Olojede said that the deliberation was fruitful and that it demonstrated the sincerity of the government to resolve the dispute, adding that the meeting would continue on Wednesday, next week.

    He, however, directed workers to resume at their duty posts on Monday, following the expiration of the warning strike, which was in solidarity with the sacked 256 workers of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, primary school pensioners and striking workers in the six state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Olojede said, “We hereby direct workers to resume on Monday, January 29, 2018, as deliberations continue with the government. The issue of tertiary institutions, who are currently on strike, continues for negotiation next week Wednesday.

    “We will continue to rub minds with the government on how best to make the current industrial peace in Oyo State sustainable. We thank our members for their strict compliance with our directives. We urge them to go back to work on Monday.

    “We have discussed extensively and negotiation and consultation for the purpose of resolving the matters that led to the strike are still on-going.”

    On his part, the SSG restated the commitment of the state government to the welfare and wellbeing of the workforce, stressing that it had all along operated an open-door policy with the labour to enhance a mutually-beneficial relationship.

    Alli said, “We have discussed extensively on the issues that brought us to this table, which culminated in the three-day warning strike. As you would expect, the government’s door is always open for dialogue and that is what this meeting today has demonstrated.

    “We sincerely believe that with the commitment that brought us to this meeting today, which we are adjourning until next week Wednesday, an end is in sight to the dispute. We are determined to sustain our robust relationship with labour.

    “On both sides, we remain committed to the advancement of this state, given the spirit of understanding that we have all demonstrated here today. Let me assure the citizens of the state and the workforce that there is no cause for alarm. We are resolute in ensuring that the industrial peace in the state is disrupted.”

  • Herdsmen set 150-acre palm plantation ablaze in Oyo

    Herdsmen set 150-acre palm plantation ablaze in Oyo

    HERDSMEN, on Monday night, set ablaze 150 acres of farm settlement at Lagun in Oyo State.

    This is coming two years after herdsmen invaded the same farm settlement, destroying N100 million worth of poultry, and maiming six attendants.

    Workers scampered for safety as the attackers unleashed terror on the farm.

    The owner, a former Secretary to Oyo State Government (SSG), Mr. Dele Adigun, addressed reporters yesterday.

    He said the “farmers may be forced to begin to take laws into their hands, if this stupidity and unguarded arson continues unabated”.

    Adigun said about 1,500 palm trees were destroyed.

    He added: “They (suspected herdsmen) set my farm ablaze and destroyed about 1,500 palm trees. You recall that six of my attendants were maimed and property destroyed two years ago, precisely in March, 2016. We reported to the police and nothing has been done till date.

    “In the 2016 attack, we lost about N100 million. We are yet to quantify this latest attack. That’s what we are contending with now. We have reported to the police and, till now, they are yet to make any arrest. I am disturbed; I am concerned because we are talking about diversification of the economy. But with these hoodlums, there is a problem as many people would not like to go and farm again.

    “It is as if law enforcement agencies are helpless to tackle this menace. What is the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies doing that they cannot make arrests? They (suspected herdsmen) go to farm at night and set it ablaze so that when it rains, their cattle can be fed with the new grass.

    “How can you destroy someone’s property to feed your animals for your business to thrive? If care is not taken, farmers may be forced to take the law into their hands. I hope we won’t get to such a situation. I am seriously disturbed.”

  • Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District has applauded the return of the former legal adviser of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke and his supporters to the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ondo State.

    Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN ), and a 2016 governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy ( AD ), defected to APC on Thursday in Akure with his supporters.

    Boroffice commendation is contained in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Fakuyi, on Friday in Akure.

    READ ALSO: I’m a loyal deputy, says Olusola

    “The senator is delighted to note that the laudable efforts of himself and other party leaders to woo politicians from other political parties to join the APC have started yielding positive results.

    “As a matter of fact, the wave of defection is currently blowing across Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos States,” it read.

    The statement added that in the weeks ahead, APC would receive more political gladiators into its fold.

    It urged the defectors to quickly perfect their membership registration in order to join hands with party leaders to build a united and formidable party in the state.

    NAN

  • Oyo embarks on massive road repairs

    Oyo embarks on massive road repairs

    OYO State government has declared zero tolerance on potholes, pledging to maximise this dry season to maintain all category of roads.

    The government urged residents to bear the discomfort when plying roads being rehabilitated.

    It assured them that the work will be ready soon as workers of the Public Works Department are to work day and night, including weekends, to fix the roads.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure Mr. Gbenga Akintola addressed reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the capital.

    The governor’s aide said Trunk A roads are federal, Trunk B state, while Trunk C local government roads.

    Akintola, who was with the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the State Public Works Department was carrying out routine maintenance on Command-Apata-Odo Ona-Dugbe-Mokola-Sango-UI-Ojoo-Moniya roads in Ibadan.

    He said other roads undergoing maintenance include Molete-Oke-Ado-Oke-Bola-Dugbe-Ekotedo-Queen Cinema, Mokola-UCH-Gate with spur to Parliament Road, Secretariat-UI with spur to Government House, Customs, Awolowo, Osuntokun, Mary Hill and Challenge-Molete-Beere-Oje-Gate roads.

    The governor’s aide said the department had completed the maintenance of asphaltic improvement of Beere-Oranyan-Orita Aperin Road; asphaltic rehabilitation of Ogbomoso High School–Baptist High School Road (Phase I); reconstruction of failed double 3m x 3m x 11m box culvert on Akoko stream along Ilero-Iganna Road and provision of traffic signs around the State High Court at Ring Road and Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    Others are: asphaltic rehabilitation of Oroki-Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo (Phase I); asphaltic rehabilitation and underpinning of eroded concrete base of existing culvert outlet near Heritage Bank, Iyana Church and Oyeniyan Bus Stop on Iwo Road, Olodo Road; asphaltic rehabilitation of Ariyo box culvert approaches, Olorunsogo/Akanran Road, Ibadan and asphaltic rehabilitation of Idi Arere-Popo Yemoja-Oke-Ado with spur to Bode Market.

    The completed roads also included asphaltic improvement of Iyaganku-N.T.C. Road; asphaltic improvement of Eleta-Odinjo-Muslim Overhead Bridge; repair/reinstatement of vandalised steel barricade under Mokola Flyover at Mokola, Ibadan; asphaltic construction of Ologuneru Junction–Abanla–Alafara Junction and asphaltic rehabilitation of Oje Ibadan-Mobil, Yemetu Junction with spur to Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu Road.

    Akintola urged residents to bear the discomfort, saying the department would ensure the maintenance was completed on time.

    He said: “We are strategic about our work and we have injected feedback mechanisms. We get enquiry and treat same with the utmost urgency the enquiry might require. We are on the road to make our roads better and we know there will be discomfort during this period but the discomfort is time-bound.

    “We want to maximise this dry season to cover a lot of grounds. The routine maintenance will be carried out across the state. Where we cannot engage in routine maintenance, we might resort to palliative measures. We appeal to our people to bear with us and get in touch with us, in case our attention is needed.”

     

  • Oyo State welcomes 11 Libya returnees

    Oyo State welcomes 11 Libya returnees

    The Oyo State government yesterday welcomed 11 indigenes who were repatriated from Libya.

    It is expecting eight others from the last batch that arrived the Port Harcourt Air Port yesterday.

    The 11 returnees comprise six females and five males.

    They were conveyed by the State Emergency Management Agency and received in Ibadan, the state capital, Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo at the Governor’s Office.

    Some of the returnees blamed the bad economic situation in the country for their plight in seeking greener pastures in Libya en route Europe.

    Adeyemo urged the returnees to seek positive means of livelihood and productive engagements in the country, adding that the government had approved N10,000 for each of them to enable them settle down.

    He said: “We thank God that you all arrived safely. When people complain about how bad Nigeria is, is it as worse as where you are coming from? Now, you can see that all it takes is that if someone is ready to use his strength and power, he or she could be meaningfully engaged. But when people run away from the country and end up in suffering and pain, it is still unfortunate.

    “We want you to go back home and be gainfully engaged. You must get a means of positive engagement, even if it requires that you learn a trade or business. Don’t mind starting afresh. We are happy to have you back alive and well.

    “The governor has approved that you get N10,000 each. It will get to you soon. Please, you might need to do a medical check-up to know your state of health. Those of you who have got certificates, it is just an avenue of learning something, in addition to your academic qualifications.

    “Nowadays, you know the number of tertiary institutions in the country – private and public – and the number of graduates they are churning out.

    “The most important thing for all of us nowadays, particularly parents, is to ensure that our wards and children learn something, apart from their academics. The youths must learn something else, apart from the search for white collar jobs. I am not saying people should not be educated, as education is the best legacy for anybody. If you have a degree, you can still learn a trade, and if you are unable to get a white-collar job, you can still keep body and soul together.”

  • Akeredolu expresses commitment to South West integration

    Akeredolu expresses commitment to South West integration

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State  says his administration is committed to the integration and  socioeconomic growth of the South West Zone.

    Akeredolu made this known at a  Youth Regional Integration Summit  in Osogbo on Wednesday.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, said  one of the cardinal programmes  of his administration was  job creation for the youths and women through sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship.

    He also said his administration was committed to achieving the vision by creating an enabling environment that would  attract investors to the state and  across other south west states.

    Read also: Akeredolu approves committee on first year anniversary

    The governor revealed that his administration  had taken practical steps to make the dream a reality by signing an MoU with the NDDC for the construction of the road linking the southern senatorial district to Epe-Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State.

    “Other roads connecting our states to our neighbours in Ogun, Lagos and Edo States are receiving considerable attention,” he said.

    Akeredolu stressed that he had also put in place measures to  ensure  that the state  did not become a haven for miscreants and other deviants.

    He noted that the fresh amnesty programme had yielded positive result by reducing  the rate of crime in the coastal areas of Ogun, Lagos and Ondo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which  began on Tuesday,  ends  on Wednesday.

    Dignitaries at the event  organised by the Osun government included  Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as well as  representatives of Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti governors.

    NAN

  • Oyo appoints governing councils for six tertiary institutions

    Oyo appoints governing councils for six tertiary institutions

    The Oyo State government has announced the constitution of the governing councils for six state-owned tertiary institutions.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, which quoted the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan Alli, said Prof I. A. Adeyemi will chair the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, while members of the council are: Prof Lasun Olayiwola, Prof. Olusola Babalola, Dr Ajibola Eesuola, Dr Ehinlanwo, Messrs Kareem A. Abidoye, E. A. Adegun and Deji Akande.

    For Oke Ogun Polytechnic at Saki, Prof. Tijani Moshood is the Chairman, while Prof. O. D. Akinyemi, Dr Funmilola O. Omotayo, Dimeji Okunlola, Mr. Taoreed Adeleke, Mr. Ayinla Lanre Musibau and Alhaji Raji Rasaki are members of the board.

    The Governing Council of Ibarapa Polytechnic at Eruwa will be chaired by Dr Ogundiran S. Ogunwale, while Dr Yemisi Obalowo, Dr Peter Olamakinde, Messrs Solomon Adeseun, Remi Olajire, Adewuyi Moruf Adebayo and Adegbite A. Ayodeji are board members.

    Dr. Sulaiman Adediran is the Chairman of the Governing Council of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education at Oyo, with Prof. Fasasi Musibau Keulere, Olusanjo Akanmu, Omotosho Kinsley Kayode, Messrs. Adesiji Gbadegesin, Olatunji Quadri Arowolo and Adebayo Abiodun Tirimisiyu as members.

    The Governing Council of the College of Education at Lanlate has Prof. Olanrewaju O. Ademola as Chairman, with Dr. Daud Amoo Alaga, Prof. Muritala A. Bidmoz, Mr. Olaseni Adio, Mrs. Rasheed Raliat Yemi, Adenrele James Olayiwola and Bamidele Ojo Samson as members.

    The Chairman of the College of Agriculture and Technology at Igboora, is Prof Lateef Sanni, while Mrs. Yemisi Iranloye, S. R. T. Oketobo, Rufai Oladejo, Mrs. Mercy Aboyade, Joshua Oluwole Olukunle, Alayande Rahman Abdulahi and Temitope Samson are members of the council.

    The SSG said the state government was working to resolve the challenges facing the institutions, adding that the constitution of the governing councils would address some of them.

    He said the new governing councils would be sworn in by Governing Abiola Ajimobi in due course, adding that the institutions will soon resume academic activities.

  • Oyo appoints Governing Councils for six Tertiary Institutions

    Oyo appoints Governing Councils for six Tertiary Institutions

    The Oyo State Government on Tuesday announced the constitution of the Governing Councils for the six state-owned Tertiary Institutions.

    The government, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun quoting the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, said that Professor I. A. Adeyemi would chair the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan while members of the council include Professor Lasun Olayiwola, Prof. Olusola Babalola, Dr Ajibola Eesuola, Dr Ehinlanwo, Messrs Kareem A. Abidoye, E.A. Adegun and Deji Akande.

    The OkeOgun Polytechnic, Saki has Prof. Tijani Moshood as Chairman, Prof. O. D. Akinyemi, Dr Funmilola O. Omotayo, Barr. Dimeji Okunlola, Mr. Taoreed Adeleke, Mr. Ayinla Lanre Musibau and Alhaji Raji Rasaki as members of the board.

    The SSG added that The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa Governing Council would be chaired by Dr Ogundiran S. Ogunwale while Dr Yemisi Obalowo, Dr Peter Olamakinde, Messrs Solomon Adeseun, Remi Olajire, Adewuyi Moruf Adebayo and Adegbite A. Ayodeji will be members.

    He stated that Dr. Sulaiman Adediran will be the Chairman of the Governing Council of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, with Prof. Fasasi Musibau Keulere, Olusanjo Akanmu, Omotosho Kinsley Kayode, Messrs. Adesiji Gbadegesin, Olatunji Quadri Arowolo and Adebayo Abiodun Tirimisiyu as members.

    Mr. Alli stated that the Governing Council of the College of Education, Lanlate has Prof. Olanrewaju O. Ademola as Chairman, Dr. Daud Amoo Alaga, Prof. Muritala A. Bidmoz, Mr. Olaseni Adio, Mrs. Rasheed Raliat Yemi, Adenrele James Olayiwola and Hon. Bamidele Ojo Samson as members.

    The Chairman of College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, is Professor Lateef Sanni while Mrs. Yemisi Iranloye, S.R.T. Oketobo, Hon, Rufai Oladejo, Mrs. Mercy Aboyade, Barr. Joshua Oluwole Olukunle, Alayande Rahman Abdulahi and Engr. Temitope Samson are members of the council.

    The SSG noted that the state government is working assiduously to find lasting solutions to the problems affecting the institutions, noting that the constitution of the governing councils will address some of the issues being faced.

    Alli stated that the new governing councils would be sworn by Governing Abiola Ajimobi in due course, assuring that all the institutions would resume academic activities soon.

  • Oyo targets N112b IGR to fund 2018 budget

    Oyo targets N112b IGR to fund 2018 budget

    •Revenue board to earn N4b monthly 

    The Oyo State government yesterday said it would generate N112 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) this year.

    The money, it said would finance 41.91 per cent of the N267 billion budget estimate.

    Revenue from other sources are unspent income, statutory allocation from the Federation Account, capital receipts and transfer from Local Government Joint Allocation and Appropriation Committee (JAAC).

    The Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the capital, while giving a breakdown of the 2018 budget.

    The commissioner said restructuring of the Board of Internal Revenue would soon be completed to enable it meet the target.

    To join the revenue board in raising the fund are: revenue-generating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) would generate N48 billion, the MDAs N64 billion.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on December 14, presented N267.4 billion as the 2018 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly.

    It was christened Budget of Stabilisation.

    Some stakeholders at yesterday’s programme were members of the State Executive Council, Heads of MDAs, representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), non-governmental organisations (NGO) and trade groups.

    Adekanmbi noted that despite the low performance of last year’s budget, the 2018 budget was drawn from what he called a “zero-based budgeting approach”.

    This, the commissioner said, made it mandatory that every budget item (revenue and expenditure) was included after a thorough justification.

    In a review of the 2017 budget, the commissioner said the budget did not perform as expected, mainly due to the global economic downturn, which negatively impacted on the national income.

    He added that the IGR also did not fare better in 2017, performing at 16.84 per cent.

    Adekanmbi said the restructuring and repositioning of the revenue board would enhance its ability to meet target.

    The board would soon be made autonomous.

    The state government said it expected increased revenue from the informal sector, deepening of enforcement action and back duty audit as well as continued and aggressive taxpayer engagement and enlightenment, among others.

    The 2017 budget was N208 billion, as passed by the Assembly.