Oduduwa News

Oyo State Government has directed that the last batch of staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, sacked by the last administration, be reinstated and their salaries for five months paid.

The 41 staff were among those affected by the unwholesome sack order issued by the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

In a statement issued after the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, said the resolution of the Oyo State Government was in tandem with the resolve of the governor to cater for all, no matter their status in the society.

Olatubosun hinted that the reinstatement is to take effect from May, 2020, when their colleagues in LAUTECH who were also affected, resumed office.
Olatunbosun called on them to show more dedication to their jobs, stressing that the present administration would leave no stone unturned in it’s pursuit of promoting the welfare of all workers on the State’s payroll.

“It is with joy that I announce the resolution of the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at the Exco Chamber, Governor’s Office, that the 41 LAUTECH Staff that were affected by the sack order, issued by the last administration, be reinstated and their five months’ salaries be paid.

“The resolution is in accordance with the programme and policy of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who has promised to do everything possible to promote the welfare of public and civil servants, as well as development of their working environment to attain optimum output.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the affected individuals and those not affected to see the magnanimity of the governor as a booster to put more efforts into their work and help reposition the notable institution for the better.”

The Commissioner appreciated the reinstated workers for their patience and resilience during the period of hardship, assuring them that the present administration would not vilify workers, but promote their interests.

OduduwaNews has just gathered that Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria have been ordered to suspend the September 1 tariff increase for two weeks.

In a directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the DISCOs are to with immediate effect suspend the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2020 signed by Prof James Momoh, the NERC’s Chairman.

The suspension followed a joint communiqué issued by the Federal Government and the Labour Unions.

The Federal Government agreed the recent review in electricity tariffs would be suspended by the commission for a period of 14 days to further consultations and finalisation of negotiations between the parties.

The order by NERC said that from Sept 28 to Oct 11 the DisCos must revert all charges to the tariff existing as of Aug 31.

The Emergency Operations Centre, EOC, of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force, has released a list of locations where residents of the state can undertake COVID-19 tests across the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, stated that the list of centres was ratified on Monday at the state’s COVID-19 Task Force meeting presided by Governor Makinde.

The statement added that the Task Force called on residents of the state to avail themselves the opportunities of its decentralised testing system, to get themselves tested for the virus.

The Task Force maintained that contrary to misinformation that the virus has been defeated, it is still very much active, warning that adequate and observance of all the safety protocols remained the effective ways of combating the virus.

According to the statement, the available testing centres in the state include: State Hospital, Oyo; General Hospital, Saki; General Hospital, Iseyin; General Hospital, Igboora; General Hospital, Apata, Ibadan; Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan; Health is Wealth, Secretariat Road, Ibadan; and LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

It added that testing is also available in approved private laboratories across the state.The statement further indicated that residents can call the following numbers for enquiries: 08095394000, 08078288999, 08078288800, 08095863000 or dial 72319*6# and follow the promptings.

The chairman of the Water Corporation of Oyo State, Dr. Adebayo Adepoju, has declared that there is no record of illegal sale of assets belonging to the corporation, contrary to claims by an opposition politician in the state.

Adepoju, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, on Tuesday, said that the corporation has only embarked on an inventory-taking and auditing so as to ascertain and account for all the assets of the corporation.

The statement added that contrary to claims by an opposition political party that the corporation is engaging in illegal sale of water pipes, the corporation had only brought out the pipes in the scheme, which had laid fallow in the swamps, for proper counting, audit and accountability.

The statement further indicated that the claims credited to a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), were false and unfounded.

He assured members of the public that the corporation remained committed to providing potable water to residents, noting that no amount of lies or character assassination would deter the corporation from achieving the mandate of potable water for all.

The statement said: “The attention of the management and staff of the Water Corporation of Oyo State has been drawn to an online publication made by a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) on the alleged illegal sale of water pipes by the management of the Water Corporation.

“While the corporation refutes the claim in its entirety, it has become extremely important to make this press release to keep the public well-informed.

“A few months ago, a committee was set up to audit all the assets and take an inventory of the corporation. Its responsibility, among others, was to ascertain and account for all inventory and assets of the corporation for accountability.

“The said pipes had been lying in the swamp for years, so they had to be brought out for proper counting, audit and accountability. As a result of bringing out these pipes, there was an alarm that the pipes were being taken out for illegal sale.

“The management had earlier followed up on all information received and moved to properly secure the assets. Some of the measures put in place include the replacement of the security outfit watching the scheme, the installation of solar powered security surveillance cameras that can be viewed both on site and remotely and completion of the perimeter fencing of the scheme.”

The corporation’s boss further explained that the alarm raised about illegal sale of pipes and the picture being circulated on the internet as portraying illegal sale were baseless, as the truck in the circulated picture was, indeed, that of those enlisted by the corporation to take the pipes from the swamps to another location for proper counting.

“Late last month, the chairman alerted the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Operation Burst to the alarm raised by some persons that some pipes were being taken out of the scheme illegally.

“The response from the JTF, which included the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA), was swift and they found out that the truck in the viral picture, which was seen by the men of the Operation Burst and OYRTMA, was, indeed, authorised by the corporation to lift the pipes out of the swamp to another location.

“The truck got stuck in the mud at the location, which necessitated OYRTMA taking their heavy-duty towing vehicle to bring out the truck. This was the picture taken and being passed around as showing some people trying to illegally sell state’s assets. The alarm would have been deemed unnecessary but for the fact that the operators of the vehicle were sighted at the swamp on a weekend, which might have necessitated the wrong signals to members of the public.”

The corporation took exception to the claim in the fake story by the acclaimed AD chieftain that illegal sale resumed under the administration of the current chairman, Dr. Adepoju, saying that claim was ill-motivated and conceived to “assassinate his character and drag his integrity in the mud just to score a political point.”

“We would like to state here that we appreciate the vigilance of the public. The corporation is determined to provide pipe borne water to all the citizens of the state and would leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal.

“The government of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde prides itself on transparency and accountability.

“The government and the Water Corporation remain committed to reviving the water supply sector in the state, as the old pipes are being replaced at a dizzying pace across the state,” the statement added.

The Lagos Central Business District has declared its readiness to prosecute anybody that violates traffic and environmental laws in the State by using mobile Courts to expedite justice immediately any offender is arrested.

The Special Adviser, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of Market Associations in Lagos, led by Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo and members of Community Development Associations, CDAs, within the Lagos Island Business District at the Agency’s office over the weekend.

Oyerinde, while appealing to the stakeholders to caution members of their communities against violating traffic and environmental rules, stated that the introduction of Mobile Courts underscores the fact that CBD must create a conducive environment for business to thrive within all areas designated as business districts within the State.

He reiterated the determination of the present administration to restore the original master plan of the Lagos Island Business Districts and its adjoining axis by checking the activities of street traders and developers, who have converted all available spaces like walkways, streets and roads to shops.

Speaking on the need to open up the roads and streets blocked by traders especially Breadfruit, Mcween and Gbajumo Streets, the Special Adviser said the State Government is determined to restore safety and environmental sanity to all nooks and crannies of the Lagos Island Business District, saying that illegal activities of shops and plaza owners, who violate the physical planning laws, will be checked.

Warning miscreant who attack government officials on lawful duties, Oyerinde said no amount of resistance and intimidation by hoodlums parading as “Omo Adugbo” can make the State Government go back on its resolve to clean up the entire Lagos Island Business District.

The Special Adviser called on traders, especially those selling on the streets and walkways, to remove their extensions and makeshift shops from the roads immediately.

He also cautioned street urchins and area boys parading as developers to desist from supporting the illegality of converting streets and roads to trading places forthwith or face the full wrath of the law, stressing that no pleading on behalf of anybody convicted by the court will be entertained by his Office.

Speaking at the meeting, the Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, pledged the cooperation of members of the market associations in realising the goals and objectives of the Agency.

She, however, requested for joint inspection of areas and shops that are notorious for violating the physical planning laws of the State in a bid to correct the anomalies.