Author: oduduwanews

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has paid N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, assured that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months.

The governor gave this disclosure while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.

He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.

He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.

“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.

“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.

Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.

The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.

The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.

“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.

“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.

The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.

While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.

On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.

Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his condolences to the people of Ikogosi-Ekiti following the passing of their monarch, Oba Elijah Abiodun Olorunishola.

The Governor who visited the palace of Onikogosi to offer his condolences to the royal family, council of chiefs and indigenes of the town, also signed the condolence register where he extolled the virtues of the late monarch.

The monarch, from Otutubiosun royal dynasty, died last week Friday, at the age of 97, and after reigning for 33 years.

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun on Saturday, said he had extracted a commitment from the contractors handling the Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway that the part of the road would be completed and open to traffic on or before the 30th of April, 2023.

Abiodun, who has been expressing his worries over the discomfort motorists experience on the portion of the expressway, disclosed that got the commitment on Friday from the contractor througj the Federal Comptroller of Works when he had an on-the-spot assessment on the cause of the constant gridlock on the road which had been causing the people discomfort.

“On Friday, I stopped at Kara and made a piece of my mind known to the contractor handling the Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, my stopping there was in respect to the very poor traffic management and the resulting traffic gridlock subjecting innocent travelers to untold hardship.

“I am glad to note that I was able to extract from the firm handling the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway through the Federal Comptroller of Works a commitment to complete the construction causing the bottleneck on or before Sunday 30th April and open the road to allow free flow of traffic both out bound and inbound Lagos,” he said.

Governor Abiodun, however, expressed optimism that the commitment he extracted from the contracting firm would go a long way at ensuring that the persistent gridlock affecting road users on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway becomes a thing of the past.

He urged road users plying the road to be a little bit patient with government as the road is about to be opened to vehicular traffic.

The road which was flagged off by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 at a cost of N167 billion naira and contracted to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company Limited respectively, is expected to be commissioned before the end of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

A building apartment within the courtyard of the Palace Of The Ooni Of Ife was at about 11:30pm yesterday engulfed in flames of fire incident triggered by power surge which exploded through electrical appliances in the affected apartment.

According to a statement signed by Ooni’s Spokesman, Yera Moses Olafare, “the inferno did not spread beyond the affected building located at a section of the palace premises as it was swiftly put off through the combined efforts of the Government Fire Service, OAU Fire Service & Palace Emergency Control Unit.

“The report coming from the Palace infers that no casualties recorded as speculated from certain quarters”.

The gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has worsened due to the lingering road reconstruction.

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, said that he had extracted a commitment from the contractors handling the Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, promising that the part of the road would be completed and open to traffic on or before Sunday, April 30.

The traffic outward and Inward Lagos on Lagos – Ibadan expressway is so chaotic that people sleep on the road yet dozens of media houses in Lagos – Ogun axis aren’t giving it the needed coverage.

Many motorists have been lamenting how the traffic has effected their businesses and well-being as some of them sleep for several hours on the road due to the obstruction of movement caused by the road construction.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has sworn-in four new Permanent Secretaries, charging them to brace up to meet public expectations by diligently apply themselves to the “Building our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

The new Permanent Secretaries are; Mr. Timothy Ayoola Olatunji; Mr. Samuel Adeogun; Mrs. Moriamo Oluwatosin Oloko and, Mr. Wasiu Kuye.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, governor Abiodun noted that the new Permanent Secretaries were appointed from a pool of erudite members of different cadres in the Ogun State Public Service, as part of his administration’s efforts to reform and strengthen the service for optimal performance.

“This event is yet another symbolic representation of our Administration’s commitment towards a continued strengthening and reform of the Public Service. It is believed that this continuous process will also place the Public Service in good stead so that it will perform its duty as the engine room of Government.

“The challenge staring us in the face is not just that of sustaining our delivery capability, but improving on it so as to meet the ever increasing expectations of our people. This task pre-supposes that all stakeholders are conscious of the high public expectations and are committed to meeting them”, the governor explained.

He said the State has been lucky in attracting high quality personnel into its Public Service, adding that it was imperative to followed the natural course and progression expected in the career of persons who have consistently given their best in the service of their fatherland.

While congratulating them for being found worthy of their new positions, the governor said, “I must say that by your deeds, on and off the statutory duties, as Public Servants, you have demonstrated that you are of excellent parentage and thorough bred.

The governor stressed that he did not influenced the appointment of any of the new Permanent Secretaries, has their alleviation was based on merit, hard work, dedication and seniority.

“Without mincing words, you are joining a group that has carved an enviable niche for itself in our Administration with its superlative performance. You have all demonstrated uncommon commitment to the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda. I must also say that you must do more than what you did to merit these appointments.

Governor Abiodun admonished them to continue distinguishing themselves as they have greater individual and collective responsibilities to ensure efficient and effective service delivery of their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to sustain the tempo of good governance that would engendered development of the State and increased individual prosperity for the people.

While imploring the new appointees to make probity their watchword, and be prudent in the management of both human and material resources under their care, the State helmsman charged them to provide leadership, be exemplars of virtues, integrity and consciously mentor their subordinates, to achieve the greatness of their MDA as they have been empowered to perform greater tasks as a reward to their dedication and hard work.

Governor Abiodun disclosed that his administration has cleared the backlogs of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 promotion exercises, while the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise is ongoing, maintaining that government is working towards off-setting all outstanding dues and other workers entitlements as the financial status of the State improves.

“Let me use this opportunity to reassure our Public Servants that we have not, and will not renege on all our promises. We are developing all sectors of the State economy through the creation of needed ambience for the optimal development of our dear State”, governor Abiodun submitted.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the missing 400 level student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso LAUTECH, Oluwatobi Ogunmola who was declared missing few days ago has been found dead.

His lifeless body was was found in a bush at Gambari Ogbomoso in Surulere LGA in Oyo state.

He was said to be an easy going and very cheerful person.

It was learnt that the Oyo State Police have swung into action to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the young undergraduate.