The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Secretary to the State Government

  • Obaseki orders NDDC contractors to stop work

    Obaseki orders NDDC contractors to stop work

    …NDDC: It is a good step

     

    Few days after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) asked its contractors to return to projects site, Governor Godwin Obaseki has given a counter directives to the contractors ordering them to stop work immediately.

    Obaseki had in March said his administration would not allow NDDC execute any projects in the state without meeting the state’s specifications and designs.

    In a press statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the NDDC contractors were given seven days to submit the design drawings, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation of their respective projects to the State Ministry of Works.

    According to the statement, “No NDDC contractor is allowed by the state government  to resume work until their designs and documents are scrutinized and certified by the Technical Committee set up by the government in this regard.”

    Commissioner of NDDC in Edo, Mr. Saturday Uwulekhue, in his reaction said the directive was to change the narratives, the negatives postures of the NDDC as regards execution of shoddy and substandard jobs in the state.

    Uwulekhue noted that part of the Act establishing the NDDC was that the commission should implement measures put in place by member states.

    He stated that any contractors whose designs and specifications did not meet the state requirement would go back and redesign them to be in line with the state masterplan.

    According to him, “We are poised to ensure the proper thing is done. We want everything to be done as specified in the Bill of Quantity. It is not for a contractor to come to Edo and do shoddy jobs like they did in Erediauwa, Amagba road and others. If the State is putting measures in place to correct the ills of NDDC, I am not against it.

    “We have over 300 projects in the state and few have been completed. NDDC has problem with implementation and execution. The contractors usually play smart during execution of projects.”

     

  •  Meningitis: Yari visits over 500 patients in hospitals

     Meningitis: Yari visits over 500 patients in hospitals

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State on Monday paid unscheduled visits to no fewer than 500 victims of meningitis currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in the state.

    The governor was accompanied on the visits by members of the state’s Meningitis Control Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, and other top government officials.

    The governor interacted with individual patients, sympathized with their conditions and encouraged them during the visit to no less than 10 hospitals across the state.

    Yari said the state government had made adequate provision for their treatment and assured them that his administration would continue to handle such emergency cases free of charge.

    The governor, who, said he was sad with the way many of the patients were lying on only mats spread on sand ordered immediate supply of mattresses to all the centres.

    He said anyone caught selling drugs meant for the treatment of the patients would have himself to blame.

    He said that the chairman of the committee should be briefing him regularly on its activities, especially, on why some patients had to be buying drugs or sleeping on the ground.

    Yari said this was also exposing the patients to other diseases.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the patients were receiving treatments in camps located in Gusau, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi, Moriki and Talata-Mafara hospitals and others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been an outbreak of the diseases in neighbouring states that claimed several lives.

  • Abegunde appointed Ondo SSG, Ale Chief of Staff

    Abegunde appointed Ondo SSG, Ale Chief of Staff

    The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has approved the appointment of Honourable Ifedayo Abegunde as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
    Chief Olugenga Ale was also named as Chief of Staff to the Governor.
    According  to a statement from the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, other appointments approved by Governor Akeredolu include:
    SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SSA , ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY PLANNING — MR. JONES OGUNMUSIRE
    SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SSA , LEGISLATIVE MATTERS —  RT. HON. TAOFEEK OLAWALE ABDUSALAM
    SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SSA , RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION —MR. KUNLE ADEBAYO
    SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SSA , INFRASTRUCTURE— ENGINEER RAHEEM OLAYIWOLA AMINU
    SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SSA , SPECIAL DUTIES AND STRATEGY — DR. DOYIN ODEBOWALE
    CHIEF OF PROTOCOL, COP, — TOSIN OGUNBODEDE
    DEPUTY CHIEF OF PROTOCOL — BOLA ALABI.
    All the appointments take immediate effect.

     

    Ondo state Government on Monday named Mr Ifedayo Abegunde as the Secretary to the State Government.

    He was a member of the House of Representatives.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Bode Agusto heads Lagos 12-member Economic Advisory Committee

    Bode Agusto heads Lagos 12-member Economic Advisory Committee

    Renowned accountant and financial expert, Dr. Bode Agusto has been appointed to head a 12-member Economic Advisory Committee set up by the Lagos State Government with a mandate to spearhead the government’s drive to improve the business environment and advance economic development in the state.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello disclosed this Wednesday after the State Executive Council meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa.

    According to Bello “the Economic Advisory Team is expected to bring an independent perspective to economic and business issues with the primary role of offering advice to the State Government for the purposes of fostering and advancing economic and business opportunities; provide an effective mechanism for engaging the private sector on matters relating to economic development of the State as well as provide advice and strategic direction along the lines of the Lagos State Development Plan.”

    The Economic team is saddled with the responsibility of specifically advising on the overall finance strategy to bridge the massive infrastructure gap in the state; analyzing any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Governor and to act as champions for certain initiatives.

    The SSG stated that it had become imperative, especially in this period of strong economic ‘head winds’ for the Government to better engage the private sector to get independent views on economic and business issues in delivering the government’s mandate to the people.

    Other members of the Committee are Mr Kehinde Durosinmi- Etti, Mr Kenneth Igbokwe, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe, Mrs Adenike Ogunlana, Dr Laolu Mudashiru, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Mr Moruf Oseni and Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi who would serve as the Secretary.

    The State Government would be represented on the Committee by the Commissioners for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo, and Commerce and Industry and Cooperatives, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye.

    Bello affirmed that the private sector members of the committee were carefully selected based on their known track record of integrity, independence of thought and outlook as well as diverse industry experience.

    He added that members of the Committee would be expected to commit to serve for at least two year while they would meet regularly and send reports to the State Executive Council, adding that the team would be allowed to invite industry experts to provide support during its deliberations.

  • Obaseki promises to reduce cost of governance

    Obaseki promises to reduce cost of governance

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to reduce the cost of governance not by sacking workers but by realigning the current workforce.

    Governor Obaseki said his team would work with the Permanent Secretaries in the next six weeks with a view to understanding the processes and redefining the system to make it more efficient.

    He spoke while swearing-in the new Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.

    It was his first function when he assumed Monday.

    Obaseki said the total monthly revenue including Internally Generated Revenue of the state has dwindled to about N4bn unlike when it stood at about N7bn six years ago.

    He reminded the newly appointees and Permanent Secretaries that his purpose in governance is to serve the people because expectations from the people are high.

    Obaseki assured that his administration would deliver on its promises but it began from the way he organise government right from the quality of people who head government.

    He disclosed that he started working with Ogie nine years ago when he (Ogie) was asked to join the team that drew the blueprint for Oshiomhole’s administration?

    His words, “Our project is God’s project. God has given us strength. God has given us the power. Ogie and I started this project nine years today. Both of us have been at the integral part of the Edo project. I feel secure that he is somebody who understands what this is all about.

    “It requires a lot of hardwork, commitment and dedication to our people. I have no doubt that the task is daunting. We do not have the kind of resources we had six years ago. Everywhere we travelled to during the campaigns; people had demand for better schools, healthcare system and new lease of life. We cannot afford to make excuses. Even though we have these challenges, it is incumbent on us that we must deliver and it starts from the way we organise government right from the quality of people who heads government.

    “We will tackle the challenges ahead of us. We are cognizant of what is going on around. Government has to work for politics to succeed. Initially, We will emphasize more governance.

    “Let us put in place a governance structure so that our political structure can survive and endure. For the next six weeks we are going to work with the Permanent to understand the structures of government so that we can make governance much more efficient. We cannot afford with the high cost of governance we run today. The money is not there. We can restructure how we work. We can get more from the people we already have.”

  • Obaseki appoints SSG, Spokesman

    Obaseki appoints SSG, Spokesman

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on Monday in Benin announced the appointment of Mr Osarodion Ogie as the Secretary to the State Government.

    Also appointed were Mr Taiwo Akerele as Chief of Staff and Mr John Mayaki as interim Chief Press Secretary.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki had before making the announcement, met with the state Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries.

    He directed the permanent secretaries to take full charge of the affairs of their ministries, pending appointment of commissioners.

    The governor solicited for maximum cooperation from the civil service to enable him discharge his mandate effectively.

    He expressed confidence in the civil service, and pledged that his administration would build a stronger, vibrant, trusted, competent and reliable workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

    “I have no doubt about the capacity of the civil service, but we will also need to clear the clog on the wheel of progress,” he added.

    The governor said the administration would re-evaluate the recruitment process into the service to ensure that merit and objectivity were not compromised.

    He promised to study the report of his transition committee alongside that submitted by the permanent secretaries, before setting up a policy group to outline specific programmes for the administration.

    Obaseki noted that the state would not afford a government unable to create value across board.

    He assured the people of Edo, that he would be a listening governor, who discharges his responsibilities firmly and professionally.

    The governor assured that the administration would be fair to all, and would sanction any civil servant found wanting.

    Responding, Mrs Gladys Idahor, the Head of Service assured the governor that civil servants in the state were ready for the task ahead and pledged their support and loyalty.

  • Photo:University of Osun inaugurates governing council

    Photo:University of Osun inaugurates governing council

    Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Chairman Governing Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali, during the Inauguration of Osun State University Governing Council Members, at the Governor's office, Osogbo.
    Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Chairman Governing Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali, during the Inauguration of Osun State University Governing Council Members, at the Governor’s office, Osogbo.

     

    The Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, (3rd left), his deputy, Mrs Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori (2nd left), Chainman Governing Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali (3rd right), Dr Abeke Omotoso, Member of the Council (2nd right), Sir Demola Aladekomo (left) and Others, during the inauguration of University of Osun Governing Council Members, at the Governor's office, Osogbo.
    The Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, (3rd left), his deputy, Mrs Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori (2nd left), Chainman Governing Council of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali (3rd right), Dr Abeke Omotoso, Member of the Council (2nd right), Sir Demola Aladekomo (left) and Others, during the inauguration of University of Osun Governing Council Members, at the Governor’s office, Osogbo. Photo- Sikiru Deoye

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Oyo Workers suspends seven months indefinite strike

    Oyo Workers suspends seven months indefinite strike

    The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has ordered the suspension of seven weeks indefinite strike against the non payment of workers salary and allowances in the state.

    It will be recalled that the state government based on the agreement with the national leaders of the union, set up a 14 man committee two weeks ago from both the government and labour sides to deliberate on how to resolve the industrial impasse.

    The strike was called off after a joint Memorandum of Understanding signed by the 14 man committee which includes: the Secretary to the State Government, Ishmael Alli, Chairman of NLC in the State, Waheed Olojede, Head of Service, Soji Eniade, and Commissioner for Finance, Abimbola Adekanmbi.

    The National Vice-President (Southwest), of NLC , Comrade Solomon Adelegan declared the strike off around 11:15pm on Monday.

    Also, the Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Waheed Olojede confirmed the suspension of the strike around 11.30pm on Monday, said it was based on the agreement among the parties.

    He disclosed that the leadership of the union agreed to suspend the strike based on the fact that the state government has decided to pay two months salaries arrears of workers, plead with the banks to exclude workers who are owing them from deduction of their debt from the two months salaries to be paid as well as the release outstanding promotion letters to workers.

    Olojede said both parties have agreed to continue with the negotiation on all the outstanding issue, adding that the suspension of the strike was consider in the interest of members of the union.

    Also confirming the suspension, the Secretary of the union in the state, Kofo Ogundeji said the national leaders of the congress has ordered the suspension of the strike based on the above agreement.

    The MOU reads in part:” That the total amount received from the federal Account for the month of June, 2016 was N2.1 billion and that an additional sum of N1.39 billion, being the first tranche of the budget support facility, was equally received from the Federal Government, bring the total available sum to N3.495 billion in in the government coffers that could immediately be utilized for payment of salary, wages and pensions of the state workforce.

    “That the total sum of N3.495 billion which is readily available will be immediately disbursed to honour the State’s obligations on salaries, wages and pensions for the month of January 2016. That an appeal be made by the State Government to banks to grant concerned workers a moratorium of two months on their January and February 2016 salaries and pensions on their debt service obligation.

    “That a a letter of apology be tendered to government by principals, teachers and pupils of schools engaged in the breach of peace and destruction of government properties. That the government withdraws all all outstanding litigation against labour. That no worker would be victimised as a result of participation in the industrial action. That the industrial action be suspended forthwith”

    Similarly, the Chairman of the government/labour committee, Ishmael Alli, while briefing journalist on Tuesday accompanied of the Head of Service, Soji Eniade and Commissioner for Information, Toye Arulogun, Alli said deliberation will still continue among the members of th committee to forestall future reoccurence of industrial impasse.

    He promised that the state government would pay the workers two months salary within the next two weeks.

    “The state government appreciates the citizens of the state for their support during the strike action. We urged you to continue to support the Abiola Ajimobi led administration which strives to elevate the standards, promote ethical values and good governance in the state” he said

    Since the strike commenced, most of the workers have continue to decried their living conditions based on the non payment of their salaries.

    However, most members of the workers in the state are unaware of the suspension and they have kicked against collecting two months salary out of the seven months the government is owing them.

    They stated that their leaders should address them at the same place where the strike was declared, stressing that it was wrong for the seven months old strike to be suspended on the media.

  • Kidnapping: Lagos places security agencies on red alert

    Kidnapping: Lagos places security agencies on red alert

    …Partners FG, Ogun State on border patrol

    The Lagos State Government on Monday assured residents of the State that it was working hard in conjunction with security agencies to address the recent cases of kidnapping and armed robberies in some parts of the State, just as it disclosed that security intelligence has revealed useful leads towards identifying notorious syndicates behind the heinous crimes and their accomplices.

    In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the State Government said it is alive to its core responsibilities of protecting the citizens as the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will not shirk from its function of protecting the lives and property of its citizens in every part of the state.

    The government, while reassuring citizens of their safety in the State, said it was collaborating with security agencies to put in place upgraded security measures that will guarantee safety of lives and property.

    “We would like to inform Lagosians that we are saddened by the recent cases of kidnappings that appear not to be unrelenting. But we wish to assure that the government will not fold its arms and allow a few evil doers to prosper at the expense of innocent citizens.

    “We are working together with both Federal Government and Ogun State Government in particular in the volatile areas that have been identified. We will spare no effort in bringing every criminal gang to book,” the SSG said.

    According to Bello, the response of the State Government “will be swift, total and reassuring to the public in sending a clear signal to all and sundry that Lagos State will not tolerate any form of criminality.”

    While sympathizing with the families of victims in Iba and Ikorodu, the Secretary to the State Government urged residents of the state to go about their normal businesses without any fear or panic as government has placed security personnel on red alert throughout the State in a bid to checkmate this menace.

    He advised Lagosians to be very vigilant and security conscious as intelligence reports have shown that most of these heinous crimes are perpetrated through recalcitrant elements who have infiltrated the state and are carrying out this act in conjunction with friends, family members or close associates of the victims.

    Bello reiterated the commitment and capacity of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to go after and suppress any act of crime and criminality in any part of the State, urging residents to take advantage of the state’s toll free lines: 112 and 767 to report any case of crime or unusual/suspicious movement or strange faces in their neighbourhood to security agencies.

    While also noting the recent massive security equipment and vehicles donated by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to security agencies to beef up security in the state which has considerably curbed armed robbery cases, Bello said the State Government in consonance with the Police and other security agencies in the State will continue to do all within its means to halt the trend of kidnapping in the State and bring perpetrators to justice.

  • Oshiomhole sacks aide for dereliction of duty

    Oshiomhole sacks aide for dereliction of duty

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has terminated the appointment of his Executive Director on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilisation, Chief (Mrs) Evelyn Igbafe, for “dereliction of duty, incompetence”, among others.

    Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, in a letter dated June 1 stated: “I write to inform you that the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has approved the termination of your appointment as Executive Director to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilisation for dereliction of duty, incompetence and abdicating your responsibilities.”

    Consequently, you are to return all government property with you, including vehicles and identity card, to the Directorate of Administration, Governor’s Office immediately”

    The Governor wished her the best in her future endeavours.