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Tag: Oyo

  • Man kills wife, commits suicide in Oyo

    Last Wednesday evening at Awe town in the Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, a middle-aged husband, Jimoh Yussuf, was said to have strangled his wife, Adeola, to death.

    Jimoh, a commercial motorcycle operator, was said to be fond of beating his wife whenever there was a misunderstanding between them. On the ill-fated day, Jimoh was said to have returned early from work and headed straight to a local gin base where he got drunk. He returned home and an argument ensued between the couple, according to reports. In the early morning of next day, Jimoh was said to have quietly left his wife at home and put the door under lock and key.

    Few hours after, Jimoh was said to have appeared at the local gin base where he openly confessed to have killed his wife and locked her up inside the room. The utterance attracted the attention of Jimoh’s contemporaries who resolved to visit the house, in order to ascertain what was actually happening.

    Sensing danger, Jimoh left the base to search for herbicide chemical, which he found and drank. While this lasted, his contemporaries had contacted the community Divisional Police Station to lodged complaint, as well as mobilise the youths for Jimoh’s manhunt.

    Some policemen, accompanied by the deceased brother, Kabiru, proceeded to Jimoh’s residence, where the door had to be broken before they could gain entrance. Inside the single room, Adeola’s lifeless body was found naked on the bed. Her remains was later taken to the mortuary.

    Jimoh was later found and taken to the police station amid a large turnout of residents who trooped out to catch a glimpse. But for the quick intervention of the police, Jimoh would have been burnt to death. He was later rushed to a private hospital in the town for treatment. On Thursday, Jimoh died on his hospital bed. His remains had also been deposited at the State hospital in Oyo town.

  • Pharmacist Council seals 234 outlet in Oyo

    Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), has sealed off the outlet of 222 Patent and proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and 12 pharmacy stores during their inspection and monitoring tour in Oyo State .

    The Director, Head of Inspection and Monitoring, PCN, Pharm Anthonia Aruya disclosed this while addressing journalist in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    She stated that the medicine outlets were sealed during the Council’s visit to Iseyin, Oyo, Saki and Eruwa/Igboora axis of Oyo State as a result of lack of licenced or expired licenses, adding that 11 facilities were also ‎given compliance directives.

    “Pharmacists and PPMVS are expected to undergo continuous training to keep them up to date in the provision of quality pharmaceutical services. The situation on ground is that a good number of these PPMVS do not want to submit to regulation, neigther do they appreciate the delicate natur of the critical services rendered by them that directly affects life.

    “A case in point is the death of 14 year old Amina who was treated by an illegal PPMV which resulted in her dea‎th. Our investigation as far show that the PPMV shop is illegal and stocking well above the approved drug list for which he had no ability to handle. In line with this mandate, the PCN inspects, approves, register and issues license to pharmaceutical prmises and shops to ensure that minimum standards are in place in terms of storage conditions, capability of personnel to handle the level of practice in each facility and the quality of pharceutical services rendered in the interest of public safety” PCN boss said

    Aruya said the law of the country clearly states clearly that every pharmacy or patent stores without license or renewed licensed should be sealed, noting that:” to register for a license with the council cost N16,500 annually and to renew the license subsequently cost N10,500″

    She ‎urged the general public to look for the license issued by the PCN in any outlet before sourcing their drug needs, adding that they should visit only PCN registered outlets for all their drugs.

  • Oyo arraigns two civil servants for ‘receiving multiple salaries’

    Oyo arraigns two civil servants for ‘receiving multiple salaries’

    Oyo State Government yesterday arraigned two civil servants for allegedly receiving multiple salaries running into several millions of naira.

    The two suspects – Oluwaseun Adegoke and Ojo David Olanrewaju – were arraigned separately at the Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The government recently announced the suspension of payment of salaries for over 16,000 civil servants for irregularities in their personal information as captured in the government record.

    Adegoke, who appeared before Chief Magistrate A. F. Richards of Court Two, faces an eight-count charge bordering on fraudulent collection of sums totalling over N2 million.

    Olanrewaju faces a seven-count charge bordering on the same offence totalling N4, 930, 486. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. Adebisi of Magistrate Court Three.

    According to the charge sheet, the suspects used fictitious names to con the government of the sums between February, 2014 and December, 2015.

    They were alleged to have also used names of corps members and retired civil servants to receive the sums as salaries.

    But they received the money through their own bank accounts.

    Counsel for the suspects, Mr. Akeem Agbaje, applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Adetunji Gbadegesin.

    While Adegoke was granted bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a civil servant on grade level 14, Olarenwaju was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with three sureties in like sum, one of who must be a civil servant on grade level 15, another who must be a resident of Ibadan with landed property worth N10 million and the third a relative of the suspect who is gainfully employed.

    The two cases were adjourned till July 22 and 25.

  • Court adjourns Oyo, labour suit till July 12

    Court adjourns Oyo, labour suit till July 12

    THE Ibadan Division of the National Industrial Court (NIC) has adjourned ruling in an application filed by the Oyo State Government in the suit seeking to stop the ongoing workers’ strike.

    The government had applied to withdraw and substitute a motion against the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    The government sought the leave of the court to withdraw the motion seeking the court’s injunction to stop the workers’ strike.

    But the teachers union urged the court to dismiss the application.

    Counsel to the teachers union, Waheed Olajide, said the application required notice, which the claimant did not comply with in line with Order 19 Rule 17 (1) of the NIC 2007.

    Joined in the suit as respondents are the NLC, its Oyo State chapter and the state TUC.

    Counsels to other respondents did not oppose the application.

    The Director of Civil Litigation, Oyo State Ministry of Justice and Advisory Services, Mr. S.O. Adeoye, brought the application for withdrawal of the suit.

    Adeoye said the government wished to join in six respondents in the substituted suit.

    But Olajide said the claimant could not have multiplicity of actions against the same person.

    He said: “We are objecting to the withdrawal based on the fact that the required notice was not given and the claimant did not comply with Order 19 Rule 17 (1) of the NIC.

    “We have also joined issue by filing preliminary objections contesting the jurisdiction of the court and the competence of the suit.”

    According to the lawyer, justice is not only meant for one party, but for all parties involved.

    He added: “We are contending at this stage that the appropriate order is an order of dismissal and not of substitution.”

    Adeoye, however, opposed the objection, saying the proceeding was for the hearing of a motion on notice and not for the substantive matter.

    According to him, the submission of the respondent is an attempt to mislead the court.

    Justice Faustina Kola-Olalere adjourned ruling on the application for withdrawal to July 12.

    Workers in the state had on June 13 embarked on industrial action to protest the alleged non-payment of over five months’ salaries.

  • Oyo to conduct council election in September

    The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) will conduct local government elections in September, almost nine years after such an election took place in the state.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi broke the news while inaugurating the OYSIEC members at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Friday.

    The governor said the election would be conducted three months after the electoral umpire was put in place in line with the provision of the constitution.

    Ajimobi pledged to support the commission to ensure that it conduct transparent, free, fair and credible election to build the confidence of the people in the sanctity of balloting.

    The OYSIEC Chairman, Mr. Ajeigbe Olajide, a native of Itesiwaju, Oke-Ogun area, was a former Head of Department (Operations) and later Training at the Oyo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Other members are Mr. Adedeji Raheem; Mr. Abdul-Hamid Akuru; Mrs. Omolola Odekunbi; Mr. Rasheed Oyekanmi; a lawyer, Mr. Sunday Aborisade, Mr. David Adeagbo and Alhaji Bello Alabi.

    Ajimobi said: “Today is a very remarkable day. This occasion is significant because we are taking a giant step today towards providing good governance at the grassroots.

    “We are ready with all sincerity to conduct the local government election and I assure members of OYSIEC that the task before them is surmountable.

    “Our government has not been able to conduct local government election due to some legal entanglement that has stalled our desire to fulfill the aspirations and yearnings of the people to elect their choice of chairmen.”

  • Workers insist on strike as Oyo complains

    Workers insist on strike as Oyo complains

    THE Oyo State workers have resolved to continue their indefinite strike following the meeting between labour movement and the state government that reach a deadlock on Wednesday evening.

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) revealed this while briefing its members about the outcome of their meeting with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, after a congress that was held at the union’s state secretariat in Ibadan.

    NLC Deputy Presidents, Mr. Kiri Mohammed and Mr. Peters Adeyemi, said there was headway in the first issue, where Ajimobi assured that the charges in court against the labour leaders would be vacated.

    On the proposed privatisation of schools, they said Ajimobi insisted that the intention of the state government was misinterpreted, maintaining that the government did not intend to handover public schools to the private sector.

    The labour movement had requested a formal document showing that the state government had rescinded its decision, but Ajimobi requested that a committee be set up to look into the issue.

    The labour leaders said both parties resolved that a committee, comprising both labour and government representatives, be set up to consider how the new education policy would evolve.

    Kiri said the governor declined on their request to pay up at least three month from the over six months’ outstanding salaries, noting that the state did not have the capacity to grant such request.

    “Owing to the governor’s stand, the labour leaders had requested for an adjournment to consider the next option. Afterwards, we reconvened to request that two months be paid immediately, rather than their earlier three months request. But Governor Ajimobi, again, maintained that the state did not have enough funds to venture into such payment, adding that the even the payment of one month salary was challenging.

    “At this point, our meeting came to an end and that was why we promised him that we will brief our members and get back to the state government,” he said

     “The congress then resolved that since the governor said that funds were not adequate to pay salaries, the strike should continue until workers are paid. Workers want to eat, they can’t go to office hungry, they want to pay their debts and they need transport fares to go to their offices.

    “How can workers live perpetually on hunger and perpetually on debt? So, we decided that the strike continues indefinitely until salaries are paid. It is the obligation of the employer to pay workers’ salaries. So, he must find a way to pay the salaries. We worked for six months, we must be paid,” he said.

    A committee composed of seven persons each from labour and government has been set up with a mandate to seek ways out of the impasse.

    With the setting up of this committee, the governor had requested that the labour movement call off the strike to allow further negotiation.

  • Oyo govt vs Labour: Who blinks first?

    Oyo govt vs Labour: Who blinks first?

    The last two weeks have been tough in Oyo State. The government and the workers have been sparring over sundry issues, especially salary and schools’ ownership. Some labour leaders arraigned for allegedly disrupting a stakeholders meeting in education and destroying government property.

    The aggrieved labour leaders called out workers on an indefinite strike. Secondary school pupils protested alleged plan to ‘sell’ public schools.

    They were caused by the goverment’s decision to partner with some stakeholders on the management of some public schools as a way of improving quality of learning in public schools.

    The government on May 31, in an advertorial, published an advertisement invited interested stakeholders to apply for partnership in managing some schools. The advertisement also invited all interested stakeholders to a meeting slated for June 1.

    But operating on the belief that the initiative was aimed at selling off public schools, labour leaders went to the venue and protested  that government was planning to sell the schools under the guise of the planned Public Private Partnership (PPP). They also led protest disrupt to the stakeholders’ meeting held the following day.

    Government reschedule the meeting to the following week. Law enforcement agents arrested seven of the labour leaders including the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Waheed Olojede.

    They were arraigned the following day and granted bail the same day. But the bail conditions could not be fully met until Monday. They spent the weekend in Agodi Prison, Ibadan.

    While in detention, their colleagues served a seven-day ultimatum on the government to clear salary arrears and drop the charges against their leaders or face an indefinite strike.

    After their leaders lease, labour ordered workers to begin indefinite strike last Tuesday.

    Since then, workers have stayed away, while government closed down public schools indefinitely to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    But the stakeholders meeting was held on last Wednesday with labour and teachers shunning the talk shop which held under tight security.

    At the meeting, however, Governor Abiola Ajimobi appealed to stakeholders for the embarrassment of the previous week while acknowledging that the government might have made some mistakes in its approach to the initiative.

    Since then, there has been a stalemate. Government has stuck to the project and continues to engage interested corporate organisations, individuals and communities. It insisted that it would not interfere in the affairs of the court but indicated willingness to move forward. Labour has also rolled out the conditions government must meet before participating in any dialogue or ending the strike.

    The NLC insisted that the government must drop the charges against its leaders, clear all salary arrears and abandon or review the school management initiative.

    The situation will compound the poor financial condition of the government and also put ordinary workers in more severe financial straits as they have only been paid till December, last year.

    While insisting that some people are deliberately misleading the public on the idea, the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, explained that the initiative was still at the preparatory stage, not yet a government policy.

    Layinka emphasized that the idea was not about returning schools to missionaries or sell to anyone but to partner with willing communities, corporate bodies and others that can raise the quality of learning.

    His words: “This initiative is not about returning schools to anybody. The government is simply inviting all interested stakeholders (not necessarily former owners, missionaries and communities) to partner with it in the sustainable management of public secondary schools.

    “We are NOT ceding, selling or privatizing public schools. The government’s intention is to partner with interested stakeholders who wish to support the government in the management of these schools. They may be alumni associations, communities, or philanthropists.

    “Presumably less than 10 per cent of the 631 public secondary schools in Oyo State are likely to be involved in this partnership.”

    Layinka added that the initiative would not take education out of the reach of the poor because “government will moderate fees in the affected schools to ensure affordability, apart from the availability of alternatives within the same environment, whose facilities will also undergo facility upgrade.”

    He added: “ The beauty of the proposed partnership is that students in the schools likely to be affected is that current students from JSS II to SSS III will continue to enjoy free education and not pay school fees until they graduate.”

    In the fate of those schools not captured in the project, Layinka explained: “All public schools in Oyo State are currently undergoing assessment and improvements, not only in the areas of infrastructure but even in terms of curricular development.

    “The recently introduced N1,000 education levy in public schools is meant for this purpose in addition to other investments intended for their upgrade and development.”

    The government spokesman added that the planned programme is open to all senatorial districts of the state, without restriction to any particular areas.

    Layinka further explained that the idea had been undertaken in Lagos, Ogun, and many eastern states. “They have successfully run various partnership models that ensure the engagement/support of the private sector working alongside their respective ministries of education.”

    He added: “The main reason is to allow for the participation of interested stakeholders in the management of our secondary schools for the greater good of our students, their parents/ guardians as well as our education management system.”

    Speaking about fears of possible religious conflicts, he said: “There shouldn’t be any fears. The government intends to ensure freedom of religious preferences through  its regulatory mechanisms and shall stoutly resist any form of religious imposition or intolerance. Our religious diversity will be maintained.”

    Also explaining how staff will not be negatively affected by the initiative, Layinka emphasized: “Fist of all, all teachers are at liberty to choose between staying with their present employer (government) and whoever the partnering entity becomes. In either case, such employee/employer issues can easily be sorted out on terms and conditions that are mutually agreeable to both parties. Suffice to say that government will not leave any teacher at the mercy of any of its partners since government will always remain an active regulator of the relationships and standards of engagement.”

    However, labour leaders are not yet showing signs they want to back down on their demands even as Ajimobi insisted that they must apologize for allegedly disrupting the stakeholders’ meeting. The government also condemned the strike, saying it did not follow laid down guidelines.

    In the coming days, the public is expecting some surprises from, particularly the government, with many also looking in the way of elders across the state to intervene ending the logjam.

  • Oyo Senator empowers constituents with multimillion naira tools

    Oyo Senator empowers constituents with multimillion naira tools

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial district, has empowered 1500 persons comprising youths and artisans in his constituency.

    At the programme held in Saki, qualitative empowerment of the masses is far better than given them pittance.

    According to him: “It is my covenant to ably represent and do resoundingly well for my constituents through the intervention /constituency projects’ platform provided us by the National Assembly as representatives of the people, who knows the spots where shoes pinch the masses.”

    His words: “I will use every medium available to me as a Senator to bring dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of my people. In the next couple of years, issues of youth unemployment/empowerment and qualitative education of our pupils will be given priority in order to secure their future.

    Items distributed at the empowerment programme include 16 cars, 300 motorcycles, 273 sewing machines, 637 grinding machines, 142 generators, 25 deep freezer, 12 tricycles and 55 spraying well for farmers.

    Also, a space bus was donated to the Oke-Ogun chapter of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ.

    While recounting his achievements since he assumed office, Buhari listed the roads projects as Ogbomoso-Oyo road, rehabilitation of Iseyin-Okeho road, as well as getting award letters for Otu/Ipapo road, Okeho Iganna road and Agunrege Irawo road.

    Others include  provision of wide area network for  Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, provision of tertiary virtual library  for schools of Nursing  and midwifery kishi, getting approval for school of  nursing  and midwifery kishi,  provision of  Knowledge access venue  (KAV) ICT  with chairs and table and other materials for  8 schools across the constituency.

    Buhari  also listed the provision  of free medical checkup with drugs worth millions of naira to over 10, 000  people of Oke-Ogun, training of over 10, 000 women and youth, N25,000  to 20 widows  and disbursement of  N25,000 bursary award to 20 indigents students of Oke-Ogun.

    Deputy Governor Chief Alake Adeyemo, who represented the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, said the empowerment programme was unprecedented in the state.

    “We are proud to have you as our senator; you are projecting the image of our great party and the government. We are very proud of you. You are an intelligent and responsible Senator. I wish other people to emulate your gestures and passion towards their people.“

    The APC vice chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, who led other executive members of the party to the event, said ‘We in APC are happy that our senator is doing this at these moment when the economic situation is not friendly, you are making us proud and we pray that God will continue to bless you and take you to greater height.”

    Some of the beneficiaries, including chief Goke Oyetunji, and Chief Wale Arowomole, commended Buhari for his gesture.

    The event was attended by party leaders, commissioner nominee religious leaders, students and members of different community and association across the state.

  • Workers’ protest: Oyo APC hails Ajimobi over peace stance

    Workers’ protest: Oyo APC hails Ajimobi over peace stance

    Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s “penchant for peace, egalitarianism and societal” growth.

    The commendation followed the spirited efforts made by the governor to tackle the crisis, which his administration’s education initiative, tagged: “Partnership Management of Public Secondary Schools in Oyo State”, has generated.

    In a statement issued through its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC expressed its satisfaction with the handling of the protests arising from opposition to the school management initiative.

    It reads: “Immediately it became obvious that some fifth columnists were ready to capitalise on the prevailing situation to cause civil unrest in order to continue their political war with the APC government in the state, Ajimobi personally took up the gauntlet and turned the challenge to an advantage by engaging the public in what has turned to be unprecedented crisis management approach through public communication.

    “The world has again been made to see the rare quality of leadership in the governor, who had to move from one media station to another as he faced both journalists and members of the public who sought clarification on many salient issues concerning his stewardship and challenges of governance.

    “For four days consecutively, the governor toured many media houses and played host to many others in an excruciating task simply to disabuse the minds of the people, give account of his stewardship and unfold his future plans for the state.”

  • Oyo school pupils protest return of schools to missions

    Oyo school pupils protest return of schools to missions

    •NLC orders indefinite strike •APC secretariat vandalised

    Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was locked down yesterday by pupils of public secondary schools who staged a protest around the city against state government’s plan to return some schools to their original owners.

    The pupils gathered at the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oke-Ado and vandalised the two buildings, which also house the Governor Abiola Ajimobi Vocational Centre.

    Trouble started after the pupils were sent home by their teachers on resumption at 8am.

    The Nation learnt that the teachers told the pupils that the state government owes them salaries and that government was planning to sell their schools.

    With leaves in their hands, the protesting pupils moved from Oke-Ado through Dugbe and Mokola to the state secretariat in Agodi, where they demanded to see the governor.

    But they were prevented from entering the premises by security operatives stationed at the main gates.

    The pupils vandalised the garden to register their grievance. They stayed there for hours while some workers joined them in the process, singing against the government.

    They later left around 1pm.

    As the protest was going on, the seven leaders of the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) perfected their bail conditions and were released from Agodi prisons, where they had been detained since court granted them bail on Friday.

    At the prisons to secure their release were leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who arrived at the prison around 11:35am in a three white buses belonging to the union.

    The ASUU members were led by Comrade Deji Omole, Dr. Ademola Aremu and the Southwest Coordinator, Prof. Segun Ajiboye.

    On securing their release at about 12:40pm, the labour leaders trekked from the prison to the NLC Secretariat, Yidi area, a distance of about 1,500 metres. The three buses followed the unionists.

    The labour leaders later addressed reporters where they declared an indefinite strike in the state civil service.

    Led by their National Vice-Chairman, Mr. Solomon Adelegan, the NLC said the directive became necessary following a congress at the labour secretariat.

    He said the strike would continue until the workers’ demands are met.

    The demands, according to Adelegan, include: “Immediate withdrawal of all trump-up charges levelled against the incarcerated labour leaders; government must rescind its decision to sell-off any public schools in the state; proper and adequate funding of the education sector, including payment of living wages and other incentive for educational workers and immediate payment of six months outstanding salaries and pension arrears.”

    The labour leader added: “The National Secretariat of NLC is quick to bring to the notice of the public of how the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led government today mobilised hundreds of armed thugs  to Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court with a directive to allegedly attack innocent and law abiding workers whom are expected to be at the same magistrate’s court this morning to ensure the adequate perfection of bail conditions given towards the release of  the labour leaders, who  had been incarcerated since Friday 3,at Agodi prison in Ibadan.

    “Consequently, our members were beaten, harassed and intimated by these gangs of armed thugs.

    “This is a deliberate attempt to scare the workers away from the court premises with a view to frustrate the perfection of the bail conditions and ensure that our leaders continue to be incarcerated.

    “It is also disheartening to state that students who also stormed the court premises in a protest against an attempt to sell off their schools to a handful of capitalist profiteers were also tear-gassed by policemen.”

    Adelegan said the NLC and its Oyo State council condemned the “dastard approach of Ajimobi-led government”.

    He added that at the same time, the workers “remain undaunted and no amount of persecution and intimidation is capable to deter us in the struggle to resist the sale of any of the state’s public schools”.

    Reacting to the vandalisation of its office, the APC condemned the attack on some of its members and office, saying they were carried out by sponsored hoodlums.

    In the statement by the party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the party fingered opposition politicians and some members of the labour movement as the sponsors of the hoodlums, who, he said, destroyed property estimated at several millions of Naira.

    The statement reads: “Some pupils in their scores had been mobilised out of their respective classrooms in some public secondary schools in Ibadan- the state capital on Monday morning by a group of ‘politician-teachers sympathetic to the Accord Party’ and moved round the city with cudgels, broken bottles and other dangerous weapons as they chanted political and anti-government songs.

    “At about few minutes past 11am, hoodlums which comprised of some public secondary school students as well as some disgruntled members of the NLC/NUT and the opposition party- Accord – stormed our party state secretariat at Oke-Ado and began to vandalise everything on sight. They also beat up some members of staff who had to be treated for varying degrees of injury sustained in the hands of the attackers before they were dispersed by the security agents.”

    The statement called on the state Police Command and other security agencies to investigate the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators and their sponsors to book.

    It appealed to the labour movement and other concerned groups to sheathe their sword and toe the line of dialogue with the state government.