Category: Featured

The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the Akure South local government area of Ondo State, Oluwatuyi Olasoji, is dead.

A news tabloid in Ondo state, ODUDUWA NEWS reports that Olasoji slumped last week while trying to purchase fuel at a filling station in Akure and was subsequently rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Owo.

The deceased reportedly underwent an operation prior to his death.

Details later.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration would make available 100 brand new 18-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for the use of transporters in the state.

The Governor, who made this known in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Monday, also said that the Federal Government would make available 20 CNG-enabled buses and 500 conversion kits to the state government during the week.

Governor Abiodun disclosed this at a meeting with transport unions on how to ensure fair transportation pricing in the state.

Prince Abiodun also announced the inauguration of an enforcement committee, comprising the State Police Commissioner, his counterpart in the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE), and heads of transport unions, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Transportation and Trade and Investment.

He said that the meeting was called because of events over the last week, including fuel scarcity, which is already abating, and the associated increase in the pump price of the product.

Prince Abiodun noted that there has always been an astronomical rise in transport fares anytime there is a slight adjustment in the pump prices of fuel.

According to him, the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not unmindful of the impact of the recent hike in the pump price, adding that the government is putting in place measures to lessen the impact on the people.

“The plans that we have as a state government, our plans are to, in the first instance, make 100 buses—100 18-seater buses—available to our transport unions. These will be 100 brand new CNG buses, and these buses will be brand buses, not no-name buses. We are talking about Toyota Hiace buses that we will give to you under a purchase agreement.

“We will make them available to you, and you can pay in installments over a period of time. You have demonstrated commitment and seriousness, and we are confident that when we give you these buses, you will utilize them responsibly and pay back on time.

“The Federal Government has also started an Energy Transition Program through the Presidential CNG initiative, and I can confirm to you that the Presidency has confirmed that they are making 20 buses available to Ogun State in the first instance—20 CNG buses. We will be getting those buses in the next week.

“They are also making 500 CNG conversion kits available to Ogun State for the immediate conversion of vehicles to CNG-enabled.

“I have been assured that the conversion kits, which is the first batch of 500, will reach us in the next five days. You know that we have a conversion center in Ogun State. We are a major conversion center for the Southwest, and we will begin the conversion of vehicles in accordance with how we agree in terms of scheduling who will come first and what vehicles we will begin to convert,” he said.

Governor Abiodun, while disclosing that the Federal Government is gradually leaving the business of sales and distribution of petroleum products to the private sector, noted that there was no need for transporters to increase transport fares by over 1000% when the price of PMS was just increased by 30%.

“We’ve seen in the past that when there is a change in pump prices by maybe 10%, we have noticed that our transporters also naturally increase fares because the cost of their operational equipment—be it motorcycles, tricycles, trucks, or buses—is impacted.

“What we’ve noticed is that when there is a change in the pricing of petroleum products by 10% to 20%, the impact that we see play out at times is like 2000%, and we want to dialogue to ensure the people are not stretched.

“The change in price is about 25% or 30%, so if pump prices have changed by like 25% to 30%, we should not see a difference in transport fares that is more than 25% or 30%,” he said.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, while reminding transporters that fuel is just a component of their transportation cost, urged them to do all within their power to ensure that the people of the state are not over-stretched.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, on his part, disclosed that the increase in PMS isn’t such that should warrant the remarkable increase in the cost of transportation and called on transporters in the state to look at the possibility of having a more friendly transport fare regime.

Speaking on behalf of the transport heads, the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Prince Samsudeen Apelogun, commended Governor Abiodun for revolutionizing the transport sector with the establishment of the Ministry of Transportation and the introduction of the E-mobility program.

He promised to call the stakeholders together and come up with a more friendly transport fare that is within their control.

A 52-year-old farmer, Wasiu Sorunke, arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old SSS1 student in Ogun State has insisted that he was not the first man to sleep with the minor.

The suspect, who lives at Owode Egba, was arrested after the mother of the girl reported him to the police.

The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the arrest to the newsmen, said Sorunke, who admitted to being ‘randy,’ used to patronise a food vendor living in his neighbourhood and had become a family friend.

According to the PPRO, the food vendor’s daughter used to serve the suspect whenever he went there to eat. “She would also help her mother in the shop before going back home to do some chores and would return later to continue helping her mother,” Odutola stated.

……Asks Other States To Emulate Oyo By Establishing Anti-Corruption Agencies

The Oyo State Camp Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Comrade Odoba Abel has on Monday disclosed that corps members from the camp have been working as ambassadors of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), towards orientating people in rural areas.

Odoba disclosed this in a media chat after a sensitization programme, held at the Oyo State Permanent Orientation Camp, Okeho-Iseyin road in Iseyin, by the management members of OYACA.

The Camp Coordinator said the corps members came from different backgrounds and orientations, but are imbued with good moral standard at the camp, adding that the periodic sensitization campaign by OYACA has succeeded in reshaping the characters of the young minds for developmental programmes of the present administration in the State and their lives after the compulsory orientation programme.

He commended the State government for establishing the agency and equipping it with needed resources and human capacity to deliver on the task to rehabilitate the young ones.
“The corps members come to the orientation camp with various tendencies, and NYSC is seen as a moralistic ground where morals are taught and where Corp members are graduated with good moral and character.

“The presence of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency at orientation camp every time is to reshape their character towards the developmental programme of the present administration. Your coming to orientation camp is to reawake their sense of reasoning toward a better path in life, we are guiding them not only for NYSC, but also for their lives after NYSC.

“Your coming always to the orientation camp is yielding great impact in their lives. They are passing your messages to the rural dwellers, even secondary schools and their places of primary assignment on how to shun corruption. These students are like your extension in the rural areas. Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency is very important and I wish that all states of the federation have an independent anti-corruption agencies to continue this work. there should be anti-corruption agency of each state.

In her speech at the event, the Chairman, OYACA, Justice Eni Esan (rtd.), who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the agency, Barr. Ibrahim Tijani Esq., said the enlightenment campaign was necessary because the corps members have been serving as the ambassadors of OYACA by replicating the reorientation messages at their places of primary assignment.

She called on the young men and women to contact the OYACA office at Ibadan or the branch office at Iseyin, as well as the agency’s website (www.oyaca.ng) whenever they see or hear of any corruptive act or tendencies.

“We decided to extend our enlightenment campaigns to the NYSC members because you will soon be posted to the nooks and crannies of Oyo State for your primary assignments to serve in different MDAs (Ministries, Departments, Agencies) and other government establishments.

“In addition, as the future leaders of this nation, we want you to imbibe the anti corruption spirit from the onset so as to guard against corruption and prevent all forms of corrupt practices that are predominant in the society.

“Your petitions can be submitted directly to our office at Quarter 473, Fajimi Street, Agodi GRA, Ibadan and also at our branch offices at Iseyin, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki. Eruwa, Oluyole also at our website at www.oyaca.ng,” he stated.

Also present at the event was Deaconess Esther Olopade (a board member of OYACA, Mrs Folashade Ajibade, Director ICT, Mr. Lere Omotoso, Director Administration and Supply and Mr. Azeez Tajudeen, who is the Director Finance and Administration.

Operatives of the Department of the State Service, DSS, have arrested the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero. Vanguard reports that he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja this morning September 9.

Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment when he was picked up by the DSS officials.

Although details of the arrest and the reasons are still sketchy, sources said he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA. According to sources, Ajaero was billed to attend the conference of Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the UK holding today.

This comes barely a week after he was invited by the police to answer questions over his alleged involvement in terrorism financing.

As part of efforts to alleviate the impact of the current economic situation, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has approved a work-from-home policy for civil servants in the state.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, the hybrid work arrangement allows officers on Grade Levels 01 – 07 to work from home three days a week. Those on Grade Levels 08 – 12 will work from home for two days each week, while officers on Grade Levels 13 – 17 will be permitted to work from home for one day every week.

This arrangement, set to commence on Monday, September 9, 2024, excludes essential workers such as teachers, core health workers, and security personnel among others. The policy will remain in effect for two months and is subject to periodic review based on the prevailing economic conditions.

The governor has directed each Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) to develop a workable schedule for their staff to ensure that the new arrangement does not compromise the quality of service delivery.

Ekiti State Government remains committed to the welfare of its workers and will continue to implement measures to enhance their productivity and well-being, therefore, this initiative does not affect other palliative measures implemented by the state government, including the monthly wage award for workers and pensioners, as well as the free bus rides for workers and students.