Category: Featured

Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) under the Contributory Pension Scheme, Osun Chapter, have lauded the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for taking their welfare and general wellbeing as priority.

The retirees, who belong to the pressure group, also commended Governor Oyetola’s administrative acumen and noble approach to governance, saying, ‘God has given Osun the right man to do the job.’

This is even as the Governor reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to continuously making life comfortable, worthwhile and meaningful for the citizens in general and both active and passive workers in particular.

The members of the Osun Contributory Pension Scheme, an arm of the State Chapter of NUP, gave the commendations on Friday during an interactive session with the Governor at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo.

Speaking, the leader of the Group, Mr. Oyadare Gbenga, applauded the governor for the continued hands of fellowship being extended to them.

He attributed some of the peaceful negotiations and dialogues between the government and the workforce to the rare leadership quality displayed by the Governor whenever there is an agitation.

“We are here for few reasons and one of them is to thank you for the hands of fellowship extended to us since your assumption of office. We must commend you because you have been taking us as your own people.

“Your listening skills and capacity are unsurpassable and unparalleled just as your gentility is second to none. We equally want to appreciate you for your swift response to our plight, particularly when we had little challenge then. This has given us joy and conviction that we have a Governor that we can be proud of.

“I remember vividly the rare leadership quality that you displayed the other time when we took our matter to a Human Rights Radio station (Berekete Family) in Abuja. With that, you have once again proved to us that indeed you are a father to us.

“The calibre of people in the committee that you set up to handle the issues even before we went to Abuja are very superb. That is why we have the confidence to go back to our people with smiles on our faces after we have had fruitful meetings with members of the committee.

“One thing I appreciate most about you is the fact that you are very tolerant and accommodating and this fact can be attested to by your approach to issues that concern the welfare of the people, particularly workers.

“We acknowledge all you have been doing for us. I have taken my time to study you, particularly to know why you have been doing so much for us. I went through your profile and I saw the empirical facts. When I also heard that you always insisted on the barest minimum for every expenditure, including the ones that concern you personally as Governor in line with the economic mood of the State, I concluded that we have got the right man to do the job in Osun.

“It takes high intelligence to be doing all you are doing. When you promised full salary, minimum wage among other benefits, many thought it would be difficult. But today, they are living witnesses to all of those things.

“This is a government that has devoted N35 billion into pensions payment. This is not a small amount. We shall continue to be grateful to you and your government for the passion and love you have shown to us

“Aside this, your Administration has taken socioeconomic and infrastructure development as priority. In my Local Government Area, Egbedore, we have felt the impact of your government in this regard, particularly the road network spanning towns and villages, even to Ejigbo.

“We shall continue to sing the song of your good works because we have confidence in you and your government to continue to champion our course. We can assure you that your re-election is guaranteed since you are doing what we want.

“All we humbly demand from you is to speed up our bonds and work towards offsetting the backlog pensions arrears. We need about N50 billion to do that. We are of the view that FG can give us bailout and give us five years holiday or moratorium before they begin deductions and spread the repayment over 20 years,” Mr. Gbenga said.

In his remarks, Governor Oyetola commended the NUP members for their unflinching support and show of understanding.

“I am happy to receive you. I commend you for the courage at fighting for your colleagues to claim your rights. One thing is that if we have money, we will pay, as you all know that despite the meagre resources, we have been faithful to our obligations.

“I want you to exercise patience. As things improve, we will be fulfilling our obligations. We want you to be more tolerant, patient and perseverant. We are working assiduously to do all that is necessary to make life meaningful and worthwhile for you. Let us continue to dialogue and negotiate.

“As we all know, Contributory Pension Scheme is the best, but it requires discipline. As you have attested to it, we are moving and progressing in fulfilling our obligations.

“We are doing regular deduction and remittance. If not for the outstanding, we would have offset everything. You all know what we are passing through. You know what we earn from Abuja and what we generate internally.

“Osun is not the only State that is challenged as far this backlog of pensions is concerned. Therefore, I doubt if FG will single us out for a bailout. The country is challenged economically. So, we must all put on our thinking caps and devise creative strategies and means of resolving the issue; and that is what we are doing here in Osun. As I speak, those whose outstanding are N500, 000 and below have been cleared up till December, 2020. They are collecting their bonds as we speak. This is our way of taking care of the less privileged. Soon, we will look at those who have between N550, 000 and 650, 000 and so on. Like I said earlier, be patient with us. This phase, too, shall soon pass,” Oyetola added.

Earlier, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, attributed the successful parley to high level of understanding displayed by the pensioners during the Abuja encounter.

Omipidan, who facilitated the courtesy visit, lauded the members of the NUP in the State for allowing dialogue to rule their relationship with the government.

Also, the Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade, thanked the pensioners for their understanding.

He urged them to continue to support the Administration of Governor Oyetola, saying the State meant well for them.

Those in attendance were the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade; Accountant General, Mr. Sunday Igbaroola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Loan Board, Mr. Kayode Aliu; and Director, Bureau of Public Service Pensions, Mr. Bayo Raji.

Other members of NUP in the State in attendance were Local Government Representative, Mr. Adegeye Olagbaju; Primary Schools Representative, Mr. Isaac Olufemi; Secondary Schools Representative, Mr. Awodele Abiodun; and Women Leader, Mrs. Salami Bamidele.

The Oyo State Muslim Community has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure more Muslims are appointed in the next cabinet appointments. This they said was necessary to ensure balance and religious justice.

In a statement released on Friday which was signed by their Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni (Chairman) and the Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the group demanded a more representative ratio than the 11 Christians to 5 Muslims used in the first appointments.

It would be recalled that the community had earlier condemned what they termed lopsided appointment along the religious line in the first two years of Governor Makinde’s administration.

The statement below:

PRESS RELEASE – 8th July 2021

ENSURE RELIGIOUS JUSTICE IN YOUR NEW CABINET

It is no longer news that the Oyo State Governor, H.E. Engineer Seyi Makinde, in exercising his constitutional right, has dissolved his cabinet. Nobody conversant with the law can query the power of a Governor to hire and fire any of his political appointees.

The buck of Governance of the State ends on the Governor’s table.

If the Governor’s performance is perceived to be marvellous, commendable and praiseworthy, his aides don’t take the credit, he does. However, if his performance is lacklustre, poor, condemnable and worthless, his appointees are not blamable nor condemnable, the Governor bears the brunt and wholly takes the blame.

Only the Governor knows the qualities he found in who those he appoints before appointing them and why he decided to relieve them of their appointments.

What concerns us as a Muslim Community is, ensuring that the rights of the Muslims are not jeopardized in the hurly-burly and political gerrymandering In the State.

When Governor Makinde first came into office in 2019, he (in August of that year), appointed 14 Commissioners, as members of the State Executive Council. He had earlier appointed Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking members of the Executive Council, both of whom are Christians. In the same vein, while His Excellency and his Deputy were both elected, he inherited the Head of Service.

In this write-up, we are only going to be looking at appointments directly made by His Excellency, The Governor. Thus, the SSG, Chief of Staff and 14 Commissioners, totalling 16, were the only officials appointed by The Governor directly in 2019. The lion’s share of 11went to the Christians while only a smattering 5 were Muslims – ratio 11:5, against Muslims

Please find below the list of the 2019 appointed members of the Oyo State Executive Council:

1. Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun – Secretary to the State Government –
(CHRISTIAN)
2. Chief Bisi Ilaka – Chief of Staff –
(CHRISTIAN)
3. Hon. Barrister Adeniyi John
Farinto – Commissioner for Budget
& Planning –
(CHRISTIAN)
4.. Mr Adeniyi Adebisi –
Commissioner for Commerce
(CHRISTIAN)
5. Hon. Muyiwa Jacob Ojekunle – Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development – (CHRISTIAN)
6. Prof Oyelowo Oyewo –
Commissioner for Justice
(CHRISTIAN)
7. Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye – Commissioner for Establishment and Training – (CHRISTIAN)
8. Barrister Seun Asamu – Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources – (MUSLIM)
9. Mr Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem – Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development – (MUSLIM)
10. Chief Bayo Lawal – Commissioner for Special Duties
(MUSLIM)
11. Hon Funmilayo Orisadeyi – Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters
(CHRISTIAN)
12. Dr Bashir Bello – Commissioner
for Health – (MUSLIM)
13. Hon Wasiu Olatunbosun –
Commissioner for Information
and Mass Mobilization – (MUSLIM)
14. Prof Kehinde Sangodoyin
– Commissioner for Education,
Science and Technology
– (CHRISTIAN)
15. Mr Akinola Ojo – Commissioner
for Finance – (CHRISTIAN)
16. Rt Hon Kehinde Ayoola –
Commissioner for Environment
and Natural Resources
– (CHRISTIAN)

In our usual manner, we called the attention of His Excellency to this unbearable lopsidedness. While the Governor initially exhibited some gubernatorial taciturnity, some of his strong supporters attempted to pull the wool over our face by pointing to two of his appointees who bear Muslim names but are proud and unrepentant Christians. These were Mr Luqman Bisi Ilaka and Prof Daud Sangodoyin

The Governor’s ultimate demonstration of wanting to hearken to our protestations resulted in the eventual appointment of Alhaja Fausat Sanni as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion; In addition, when the first Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, who happened to be a Christian died, a Muslim, Dr Abdulateef Idowu Oyeleke was appointed to replace him. Alhaji Siju Lawal also came on board as Commissioner for Establishments and Training. Muslims perceived this as perhaps a starting point for righting the wrongs.

Recently, in June 2021, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde announced the dissolution of the Oyo State Executive Council. Just this week, we heard of the appointment of Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi as Chief of Staff to His Excellency, The Governor. Our thinking was that, since a Christian had occupied the position of Secretary to the State Government, the only other BIG Executive Council position, Chief of Staff, should have been given to a Muslim.

This would have gone a long way in assuaging the feelings of Muslims in the State.

We hereby admonish H.E. Engr Seyi Makinde, to spare us a listening ear. Your Excellency, you don’t lose anything by promoting religious equity in all that you do sir. Rather, you win more hearts.

In the demographics of Oyo State, Muslims are unarguably in the overwhelming majority. What we have always clamoured for, despite our numerical superiority, is an equal number of Christians to that of Muslims in all appointments. We also clamour that in other policy decisions of government, the two major religions should be given equal considerations.

It is distasteful and demeaning to our sensibilities for somebody to be talking of meritocracy as the yardstick for appointment into offices. We do not know of any professional calling where we don’t have higher-flying Muslims.

It is pertinent to state that, when we talk of the appointment of Muslims into political offices, our focus is only on members of the Governor’s political party, PDP. It is equally a truism that there is a preponderance of Muslim professionals within the PDP. We, therefore, urge the Governor to collaborate with all Muslim principal stakeholders within the party. This would enable him to pick genuine Muslims for his new Cabinet and he should then be assured of the support of the Muslims in the state, in as much as he ensures religious justice in all spheres of governance.

May Almighty Allah continue to grant us peace and peaceful co-existence in Oyo State, Aamin.

(SGD)
Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni
Chairman

(SGD)
Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade
Secretary-General

It has just been gathered that a mobile Police Officer has been gunned down by Armed Robbers terrorising Orile, Mile 2.

According to an eye witness who narrated how the mobile Officer was killed said, “as he would always do, on that unfurtunate night he got an sos from a woman whose husband and others were being robbed at gunpoint at a GTB bank ATM near my Plaza.

“He called the First bank and GTB mopols security but none of them responded.

“He quickly ran with his pistol to help the people being robbed. He shot at the robbers and bullet didn’t enter, they shot at him and the bullet didn’t enter too.

“Unknown to him, the criminals gang had their colleagues stationed around. Two of the criminals grabbed him from behind; hit him with 4*4 wood at the back of his head; he fell down and they messed him up more with more and then riddled him with bullet and went back and continued the robbery operation. More than 10 people at the GTB bank Coker / Oduade branch were robbed as other groups blocked the express road while robbing cars that were passing.

“These criminals operated unchallenged for hours despite sos to police station Orile and police officers we saw Police men collecting money from motorists at Coker bus stop nearby.

“Mopol Buba was rejected at a nearby hospital and later died at about 2am Thursday morning leaving his wife and children fatherless.

‘I am pained because Buba was not just my CSO, he was a Gallant officer who would go to any length outside his comfort for the safety of others.

“Buba had been a torn in the flesh of these criminals for years now. Few weeks ago, he rescued someone while being robbed by the same criminals which left one of the criminals critically shot by mopol Buba. The criminals regrouped and rescued their fellow criminal who was shot but we heard he later died.

“Rumor has it that killing of Mopol Buba yesterday was a planned revenge from the hoodlums.

“Please this is an SOS call for the RRS to come to our help. This is enough evidence as they requested before. Please help escalate this appeal. Lives are being lost and terrorized daily by the criminals along Orile, Odunade, Suru-Alaba to Mile 2 axis”.

The House of Representatives has approved the $6.183 billion External Borrowing request by President Muhammadu Buhari to finance the deficit in the 2021 budget.

The borrowing was already captured in the N13.6 trillion budget as a financing window.

At its plenary in Abuja on Thursday, the House considered and approved the report of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, which gave the nod to the presidential request.

The borrowing will be implemented through the issuance of Eurobond in the International
Capital Market.

The recommendations of the committee, presented to the House by its Chairman, Rep. Ahmed Safana Dayyabu, read, “That the House consider and (i) approve the request of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the issuance of $3,000,000,000 (Three Billion USD) but no more than $6,183,081,643.40 billion (Six Billion, One Hundred and Eighty-Three Billion, and Eighty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Three USD and Forty Cents) Eurobond in the International Capital Market for the implementation of the new External Borrowing to part-finance the deficit authorized in
the 2021 Appropriation Act;
(ii) also approve that the amount authorized above may be raised from multiple sources such as the International Capital Market and any other Multilateral or Bilateral sources as may
be available;
“(iii) direct the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Director-General of the
Debt Management Office and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to submit to the
National Assembly within 10 (Ten) working days (excluding the day of the close of Trading) a
letter containing the United States Dollar amount so raised and received as a result of the
above approval together with the applicable Exchange Rate.”

The House, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, also passed the 2021 Supplementary Budget for Third Reading.

Lawmakers passed N982.729bn as the supplementary budget, up from N894.842bn earlier submitted by the Executive.

The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase, later presided over the Committee on Supplies and the Committee of the Whole after the House suspended its rule in the absence of Gbajabiamila, having excused himself to attend to other official matters.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed a veteran accountant, Sir David Olabanji Sunmoni, as the new Pro-chancellor and chairman of the reconstituted Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Sunmoni’s selection came about seven weeks after the Governor – the Visitor to the school – dissolved the Prof. Nurudeen Ninalowo-led Governing Council on the recommendation of the Visitation Panel that probed the crises and controversies surrounding the selection of substantive Vice Chancellor (VC) for the school.

The appointment of new Council members followed the recommendation of the Prof. Bamitale Omole-led panel, which also counselled the Governor to order fresh selection process for the substantive VC.

Sanwo-Olu, however, returned 12 other officials, who served in the previous Council led by Ninalowo.

Inaugurating the 13-member Council at the State House in Alausa, on Thursday, the Governor pointed out that there were wide consultations with the stakeholders before the members were selected, saying one of the urgent responsibilities before the new Council was to immediately activate the process for the appointment of a new VC.

Sanwo-Olu admonished the Council members to strictly adhere to due process, extant laws of the school and to be fair to all contenders.

He said: “Inauguration of new Governing Council for the Lagos State University (LASU) signals a new chapter of progress and resolution of issues surrounding the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the university. As the supreme governing authority of the university, I charge you to give top priority to implementation of quality policies and programmes that will accelerate the pace of development and growth of the university.

“One of the key responsibilities of the Council which requires your urgent attention is the activation of the process for the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for the university. In performing this responsibility, I urge you to be guided by the lessons from past events and ensure strict adherence to relevant laws, guidelines and procedures.”

The Governor urged the Council members to work tirelessly to sustain and improve existing peace and industrial harmony in the university, saying the progress of the school was the only way to justify the confidence reposed in them.

He charged them to come up with innovations, programmes and policies that would move the university forward and maintain its academic excellence, while assuring the Council members of the State Government’s continuous support.

Sanwo-Olu noted that special consideration was given to the appointees’ pedigrees, competencies, work experience and their contributions to the development of the State and the country.

He said: “As members of the new LASU Governing Council, I charge you to bring about your wealth of experience and accomplishments in your various chosen professions to impact positively on the management, policy formulations and smooth running of the university. I urge you to consider your appointment and this inauguration as a call to duty and service to your fatherland.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the Council members’ appointments were made in pursuant of the powers conferred on the Governor by the enabling laws of the school.

He said the ceremony became imperative in order not to create vacuum in the governance of the school.

Sunmoni, an indigene of Ikorodu, described his appointment as a “unique opportunity” to serve the people.

He promised to work with members of the Council and university administration to make the school a citadel all stakeholders would be proud of.

“We will do our best and work assiduously to take the school to the next level. The school under my leadership would be a pride of all. We will never disappoint the confidence repose in us by Mr. Governor,” Sunmoni pledged.

At the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, Chancellor of the school, Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN,

Acting VC, Prof. Adedamola Oke, and Acting Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Fanu.

Other members of Council are Mrs Tolagbe Taiwo, Mrs Moronke Williams, Mr Tolani Sule, Dr. Hakeem Adetugbobo, Mr Anuoluwapo Oladele Eso, Mr Adebayo Akinsanya, Mrs. Foluke Kafayat AbdulRazaq, Prof. Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, Mrs Adenike Yomi-Faseun, Mr Adekunle Soname, Mr Karl Toriola, and Dr Ifeanyi Odii.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of N200million for a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, who was charged with alleged diversion of about N5.2billion public funds.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu admitted Ojerinde to bail in a ruling he delivered after listening to arguments from lawyers to the defence and prosecution.

Justice Egwuatu noted that bail is at the discretion of the court, adding that there is no evidence before him why the defendant should not be admitted to bail.

He ordered the defendant to produce two sureties in like sum, whom must be residents of Abuja and show evidence of tax payment.

One of the sureties, the Judge held, must be a Professor of a university while the other must own landed property with title documents in Abuja, which must be verified by the court along with operatives of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

He said, in addition, the Professor, must provide documented evidence of professorship, letter of appointment and staff identity card.