Author: oduduwanews

Detained Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho is in urgent need of medical attention, his spokesman has said.

Olayomi Koiki, spokesman for Igboho, who is being detained in Benin Republic, on Tuesday said the secessionist leader needs urgent medical treatment.

A statement by the Koiki titled ‘On behalf of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho’, called on the government of Benin Republic to grant Igboho permission to receive urgent medical attention.

The statement read, “After speaking with his legal representatives, I would like to confirm that his health needs urgent attention and we are using this medium to plead with the Government of Benin Republic, President Patrice Talon to please allow Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho to seek medical treatment due to his health.

“He needs urgent medical treatment and giving him this would help him with his health problems. We know you are just a man and one that wants progress for his country too. We have seen all the wonderful things you have done to bring good change to your country.

“President Patrice Talon, please we need your intervention to enable his quick release because his health needs urgent attention and we know that this would be granted to him, because we don’t want anything to happen to him while in the custody of your country.

“Chief Sunday Adeyemo has been held in Benin since 20th of July 2021 and now his health has been affected badly.

We would like to say thank you in anticipation

“Also we would like to use this medium to appreciate his lawyers and everyone that have stood by him during this very difficult time.

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Tuesday, presented cars, computers, cash and other gift items to teachers adjudged the best in primary, secondary and technical schools in the state.

The gesture was in commemoration of the 2021 edition of World Teachers’ Day and in fulfilment of the Governor’s pledge to continuously motivate teachers in the state to enhance excellence.

Governor Fayemi while making the presentation, said his administration would continue to improve on the condition of service of the teachers in order to ensure that all schools in the State have qualified and highly motivated teachers.

The Governor stated this just as the Ekiti Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Emmanuel Oke and Ekiti Chairman of the Academic Staff of Union of Secondary Schools, Mr Sola Adigun in their different presentations, lauded the Fayemi administration for its huge investment in the education sector.

They commended the Governor for regular payment of salaries of teachers; introduction of compulsory, free and quality education for primary and secondary school students; distribution of furniture to schools; car and housing loans for teachers, a hundred percent increase into the budgetary allocation for the payment of gratuities for retired teachers; provision of instructional materials and establishment of four new model schools to address overcrowding in some schools.

Dr Fayemi, clad in one of the ankara uniforms reiterated the commitment of his administration to the provision of needed technological tools to enhance digital literacy, which would allow teachers cope with the alternative platform anchored on technology.

He maintained that despite the need for technology to support teaching and learning, there was need for more human and student-centred approaches to the use of technology and artificial intelligence in education.

“The theme of the World Teachers’ Day 2021 “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery” is very apt especially for us in Ekiti State where education is experiencing unprecedented recovery. Even though the last 18 months have been challenging in all sectors of the economy with our schools shut down for more than six months, our teachers have been unrelenting in ensuring that we make up for lost times.

“We promptly swung into action to safeguard our education sector from total collapse during the peak of the 2020 lockdown, by organizing “School on Air” for the pupils, a clear lesson from the pandemic is the need for alternative pedagogical platform anchored on technology.

“This administration is committed to providing technology enhanced teaching and learning because we believe that technologically aided teaching and learning is essential to effective teaching” he added.

At the event where teachers in their hundreds gathered, were the Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye; Head of Service, Peju Babafemi, the Chief of Staff, Hon Biodun Omoleye; National President of Asuss, Comrade Samuel Omaji, National President of NUT, Dr Nasir Idris represented by Mr Aderemi Adeniyi.

The Governor, who applauded the dedication and steadfastness of the entire teachers in the state, both in the public and private schools, charged them to continue to sustain industrial harmony, promote diligence in the performance of their tasks and display utmost dedication to the discharge of their responsibilities.

Dr Fayemi said priority would continue to be accorded teachers’ welfare, entitlement, improved service conditions, promotions and efforts in payment of backlog salaries owed by last administration.

As a demonstration of his efforts to open up Ekiti teachers to wider opportunities within and outside the country, the Governor disclosed that Mr Asubiojo who won the star prize of the last edition of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award has been nominated to represent Nigeria in the African Teachers’ Award Competition.

“I wish to appreciate the teachers who have continued to excel in teaching our students. As a responsible government, we shall continue to improve teachers’ welfare and ensure improved conditions of service. We are committed to fulfilling our pledge of clearing outstanding arrears of salaries from the last administration. The diligence of our teachers will only be noteworthy if it reflects in the outcomes in public examinations by the students.”

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of car gifts to Mr Olasoji Bamidele of Isan Secondary School and Mr Jimoh Akanni as best teachers’ public secondary and primary schools respectively. Also a cash gift of one million naira was presented to the best teacher ( technical education), Folake Abidakun of Government Technical College, Ado Ekiti while the Best Secondary administrator, Mr Olarenwaju Ebenezer clinched a cash gift of five hundred thousand naira, among other gift items like refrigerators, laptops and others given to best teachers in other categories of education in the State.

Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye expressed her appreciation to the Governor and wife of the Governor for making remarkable impact and legacies in the education sector by implementing policies and programmes key to the restoration of ekiti values and virtues in the sector.

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday presented a total sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira (N129,756,450,790.00) to the State Assembly as draft budget of the 2022 fiscal year.

This is even as the Governor reiterated his Administration’s commitment to sustainable development and the advancement of the State’s economy.

The details of the Appropriation Bill revealed that the larger chunks were earmarked for infrastructure, education and health sectors, with the Agriculture sector also getting its fair share.

The 2022 draft Budget size was higher than the year 2021 budget N109.8bn by over N20bn.

The draft Budget, which is christened “Budget of Sustainable Development”, was anchored on the commitment of the Administration to providing conducive living and working environment for the people of Osun.

According to the draft Budget, the Total Recurrent Expenditure was N53,593,627,990.00, representing 41.30%, while the Total Capital Expenditure was N76,162,822,800.00, representing 58.70% respectively.

The Appropriation Bill revealed that a total sum of N26,609, 441, 740.00 went to Education; over N19 billion to Infrastructure Sector; about N16 billion to the Health Sector and about N7 billion to the Agriculture Sector.

Presenting the 2022 budget before the lawmakers, Oyetola said the budget was aimed at further cementing and pursuing the policy thrust of his Administration, and consolidating various achievements so far recorded in each sector of the economy of the State.

Governor Oyetola said that in view of the prevailing economic realities, the main focus of the budget would be aggressive improvement of the Internally Generated Revenue drive to ensure optimum performance in the coming years.

He said workable strategies have been put in place to boost the revenue of the State without putting unnecessary burden on the residents.

The Governor also disclosed that all the General Hospitals across the State would be rehabilitated, just as he hinted that government would embark on massive construction of more roads in 2022.

“In line with our Administration’s commitment to ensuring that there are no abandoned projects in the State, all existing on-going road projects are being worked upon and will be delivered soon. Notable among these Roads are the 17.5km Oba (Sir) Adesoji Aderemi (East by pass) Road; 30km Gbongan – Akoda Road; 40km – Osogbo – Ikirun – Ilaodo – Kwara State boundary Road which are on-going, as well as the complete rehabilitation of 30km Ilesa – Iperindo – Ipetu Ijesa Road. This Administration has also embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of roads across the State. While some are completed, others are on-going. Notable among these are the construction of 18.1km Osogbo – Kelebe – Iragbiji Road (including Orita Idiodan – Araromi – Anaye Mkt.); Rehabilitation of 25.8km Ede (Army Barrack) – Ara – Ejigbo Township Road; Construction of 0.68km Flyover at Olaiya, Osogbo; Rehabilitation of 1.3km Kuta Palace junction – Isale Oba Road – Asamu Junction Road; Rehabilitation of 2.3km Iloro – Aganun – Division C Police Headquarter, Ile-Ife; Reconstruction and completion of 8.1km Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa Road; Rehabilitation of 2.6km Nike Gallery – Ido – Osun Township airport with palace spur; Rehabilitation of 2.5km Ikirun – Eko-Ende Road; as well as the construction of 0.31km access road to Fountain University, Osogbo which are on-going.

“In a matter of days, work will commence on Lawyer Atanda Road in Iwo. For network of roads in Ikire and Ife, they are undergoing procurement process, while work has commenced on the Ila-Arandun-Kwara Boundary Road, to mention but a few. All these are designed to aid ease of doing business, facilitate easy and smooth movement of citizens and help in the transportation of farm produce to urban markets. I want assure the people of Osun that more notable road projects would be awarded as part of Government’s efforts to improve the socio-economic activities of the residents of the State. This is also in furtherance of the present Administration’s goal to deliver adequate, quality and equitable services to the good people of Osun.

He further said “We have laid important foundations for the development of our State’s economy over the past three (3) years with various developments in infrastructure, security, environment and major improvements in the Ease of Doing Business and growing our Internally Generated Revenue.

“We must now focus on gearing up the momentum of building on the achievements so far, and by so doing, delivering accelerated economic growth and development for all.

“As a state, our vision of the future is clear. Our goal is to achieve inclusive socio-economic growth that is rooted in our 10-Year Osun Development Plan (2019-2028). Our plan rests on four developmental pillars: Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Human Capital Development and Security, and Environmental Sustainability.

“To achieve this, we commit ourselves to deepening the foundation for revenue diversification and economic sustainability by focusing on Agriculture, Mining, ICT and Innovation, Culture and Tourism and Creative economy without neglecting other important sectors like Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, Commerce and Industry, Education and Health.

“In a broader view therefore, the central focus of our Administration is to make Osun a prosperous State in a secure and sustainable environment through pragmatic, transparent, accountable and inclusive governance.”

On Tourism, he said “another innovation of our administration is the conscious use of arts and culture to re-energise our state economy. In line with this, the State government had announced the wearing of ‘Adire Osun’, especially by Cabinet members and other political functionaries in the State on Thursday of every week. The idea is to stimulate interest in the promotion of our culture, encourage others to embrace the idea so as to boost our local economy in the long run. Enumeration of local producers of ‘Adire Osun’ is ongoing. Our intention is to link producers with finance to boost production so as to match expected surge in demand as a result of this policy pronouncement. This will be aided with the Government intervention to open ‘Adire Osun’International Market in the nearest future.

“We have not relented in the promotion of our cultural activities in the State. Osun Osogbo festival, Iwude Ijesa, Olojo festival Ile-Ife, Isinro Ila-Orangun, Oke Iragbiji and others, will continue to enjoy necessary government support in the coming year. Although we may not be where we are supposed to be, we are certainly making steady progress in our effort to make our Tourism Sector a money spinner for the State. For instance, we have progressed from generating cumulatively less than Two Million Naira (N2m) in three years combined (2017, 2018 and 2019) to generating more than Twenty Million Naira (N20m) in 2020 alone and so far made over Ten Million Naira (N10m). We are determined to make it better in the coming years,” Oyetola added.

Earlier, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for prioritising accountability, probity and prudence in the management of the scarce resources accruable to the State.

He promised that the legislature would display the commitment needed to ensure speedy passage of the budget as it has been doing in the past saying “we will continue to play a supportive role to the executive arm to continuously better the lives of the citizens.

“I wish to commend Governor Oyetola and everyone who took part in the implementation of the 2021 budget for the wonderful job. With a 97% performance in 2020 and 77% as at the second quarter of 2021 budget, our performance has greatly increased our standing in the comity of States and also makes us an investment destination for local and foreign investors.

“It is important for us as a people to commend the Governor and his team for their probity and exceptional strategy in managing the finances of the State. Our people must also begin to reciprocate that gesture by paying their taxes accurately and promptly,” Owoeye added.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has thrown into a dustbin an ex parte motion brought by the 68 ex-council chairmen in the state, seeking to garnishee the account of the state government over Governor Seyi Makinde’s refusal to comply with the Supreme Court judgement, which ordered the state government to pay all their salaries and entitlements till their last day in office.

The Supreme Court had in its judgement of May 7, 2021, ordered the Oyo State Government to pay all the salaries and entitlements of the chairmen on or before August 7, 2021. The chairmen still has two years to spend in office before Makinde removed them on May 29, 2019, few hours after he was sworn-in.

The governor had asked the sacked chairmen to go back to the apex court for clarification and interpretation of the judgement, saying his administration needed further clarification regarding who should be paid salaries.

Makinde further noted that the 68 chairmen that went to court were not recognised under the law because the number of councils in Oyo State, according to the constitution, is listed as 33.

Following the governor’s refusal to comply with the August 7 deadline ordered by the apex court, the former council chairmen filed an ex parte motion to garnishee the state government’s account.

Ruling on the application on Monday, Justice Ademola Adegbola, struck out the suit, saying the sum of N7, 345, 072,979.69, claimed by the applicants in their reliefs was not stated in the Supreme Court judgement.

The judge held that garnishee proceedings must be certain and inputed, adding that it can’t be left to conjecture.

“The amount is not stated in the Supreme Court judgement. The reliefs the judgement creditors are claiming cannot be given to them. I have read the Supreme Court judgement on which this ex parte application was premised and I did not see anywhere where the sum was stated.

“Therefore, I will not grant the motion. The reliefs are hereby refused and the ex parte application is hereby struck out with the preliminary objection of the judgement debtors, ” Justice Adegbola held.

Earlier, counsel to the chairmen, Barrister Abiodun Amole, had said that the N7, 345, 072,979.69, claimed by the applicants was the sum of their salaries and entitlements the Supreme Court asked the Oyo State Government to pay. He said the amount was computed by an auditing firm based on the current scale being used.

Amole said the computation has been sent to the defendants since mid-June, adding that they didn’t dispute it.

He said:”It is for the judgement debtors to dispute the said amount being claimed. It is after both parties have argued their case that the court can determine the authenticity of the sum. It is settled. There is nothing before your Lordship to counter that sum.”

Amole urged the court to grant the application since the respondents did not disapprove the computation and also treat the reliefs separately and on their individual merits.

Also, counsels to the defendants, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), who held brief for Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), and Y.O. Ogunrinde, told the court that both parties have reached an agreement and that the judgement creditors had given the judgement debtors till October 12, to pay 60 per cent of the money.

Alliyu sked the court for an audience and adjournment to enable both parties conclude their negotiation. He also prayed the court to grant them audience to present some facts he claimed the applicants had suppressed.

“If it behoves on your Lordship to promote reconciliation among parties, I hereby applied for an adjournment to enable us explore the opportunity of the offer they made to us. I also humbly request that you grant us audience on the application. In essence, we are still negotiating,” Alliyu said.

Ogunrinde alligned with Alliyu’s submission.

But Amole opposed both submissions, saying judgement debtors cannot be heard in a garnishee proceeding until the ruling has been made.

Ruling on Alliyu’s submissions, Justice Adegbola said a garnishee procedure stands on its own.

“The judgement debtor cannot be heard at them is stage of the proceedings. The judgement debtor is however not totally shut out by the proceeding because the debtor is allowed to be served the ex parte motion. The Court Registrar shall serve on all parties.

“Having regard to the present state of law in Nigeria, the application for right of audience cannot succeed. The right of audience and adjournment is hereby refused,” Justice Adegbola held.