Economy

Oyo Revenue Board Seals 6 Hotels, 4 Banks, Others, Over Tax Default

By Web News 1253

Oyo State government has sealed six hotels, four commercial banks, three filling stations and seven companies for defaulting from paying the state’s land use required charges.

Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, the Chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue, Aremo John Adeleke said the step was necessary to make business owners alive to their responsibilities to enable government provide security, infrastructure and other essentials necessary to make businesses thrive. 

Aremo Adeleke said the state government has given, as palliative, an additional 10% discount to complement the initial 25% discount on all taxes to ensure that the businesses stay afloat in the face of economic realities posed by the COVID-19 scourge.

He added that the government was poised to generate all taxes from business owners without any inimical effect on their ventures to sustain economic growth in the state reiterating that the enforcement would continue till the end of the year.

The chairman, Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, therefore, appealed to them to pay all taxes, levies and bills to government as there would not be economic growth when all taxpayers were not thriving in their businesses.

Iyabo Adebisi

Crime

Gunmen Invade Akure Residential Quarters, Kill Okadaman

By Web News 2268

Gunmen on Thursday stormed Olofinade Residential Quarters on Oda Road and robbed houses in the area.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the incident happened around quarter to eight’o clock in the evening during which an Okada rider was shot dead.

The passenger on the motorcycle who resides in the estate was also dispossessed of some money while another resident was hit by a stray bullet.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, the Chairman, Landlords Association of the area, Chief Ola Amure said a distress call was sent to the police and a patrol team of the Nigerian Army also came to chase away the robbers.

Efforts to have the police comment on the incident was not successful.

Meanwhile, residents of Akure have appealed for more stringent measures to contain the latest upsurge in criminal activities in the metropolis.

Dupe Isename

Economy

Breaking: Ekiti Workers Make U-Turn on Strike

By Web News 1056

The organised Labour in Ekiti state has suspended its three days warning strike which started today Monday 3rd of August, 2020.

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Ekiti state, Mr. Kolapo Olatunde announced this at a meeting with the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Public Service Matters and government representatives.

Details later.

Bunmi Oluwalana

Religion

Eidul-Kabir: Oyo MMPN Chairman Charges Muslims in on Peaceful Co-existence

By Web News 906

As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eidul-Kabir, the privileged ones have been enjoined to extend their financial gesture to others who are struggling to survive the economic challenges caused by Covid-19 pandemic. 

This is contained in a statement in Ibadan by Chairman, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Ridwan Fasasi.

Alhaji Fasasi said in the spirit of the celebration, Muslims should give preference to the assistance of those who have lost their jobs and those whose their sources of income have also been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic as such would bring smiles to their families.

He emphasized that this is not the time to keep meat at home even after it has been divided into three based on Shariah as a lot of those who usually slaughter animals are now in need due to the situation caused by the virus.

Alhaji Fasasi urged the faithful to celebrate the Eid with moderation and comply with all measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

He noted that Muslims are still free to observe their 2 Rakaat prayer at home with their families if there are no provision for Covid-19 protocols like running water with soap, physical distancing and the use of facemasks at Eid grounds.

Alhaji Fasasi admonished Muslims to imbibe the spirit of obedience, love, kindness and equality that Eidul-Kabir celebration stands for in their day-to-day activities. 

He equally noted that faithfulness and the fear of Allah displayed by Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ismail played prominent roles in the history of the celebration and urged Muslims to emulate the virtues.

The MMPN Chairman enjoined Muslims to ensure peaceful co-existence with adherents of other religions as every man has a link to Prophet Adam and they should see others as their brothers and sisters. 

He emphasized that peaceful co-existence is part of Islamic ethics as Prophet Muhammad as a leader in Medinah did not only live peacefully with others but was just to them irrespective of different tribal and religious affiliations. 

Ridwan Fasasi

Politics

We cannot be induced or swayed from true democratic values – ODHA Members

By Web News 815

The Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, has debunked the rumour making the rounds that members received the sum of ten million naira each to fast-track the impeachment process of the embattled deputy governor, Chief Agboola Ajayi.

The lawmakers in a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olugbenga Omole and made available to newsmen described the allegation as unfounded and an attempt to create enmity between the executive and legislature.

The statement indicates that the lawmakers claimed they cannot be induced as they represent the interests of the people of the state.

The lawmakers expressed their unalloyed support to the developmental strides of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and true democratic values.

They cautioned the embattled deputy governor to avoid implicating the lawmakers in a bid to carry his cross.

The lawmakers urged the people of the state to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful dealings without fear.

Olumide Abudu

Politics

Aare Latosa LCDA Chairman Suspends Bodija Market Executives

By Web News 1432

The Executive Members of the famous Bodija Market have been suspended until further notice over allegations of extortion leveled against them.

Caretaker Chairman, Are Latosa Local Government Development Area, Ibadan North, Samonda, Prince Adewale Oshoniyi disclosed this while speaking with government house correspondents at Agodi, Ibadan.

Prince Oshoniyi explained that the action became necessary as a result of a preliminary investigation which indicted some executive members of the market union association in partnership with some unscrupulous elements are collecting illegal daily levies from Bodija traders in the name of the government.

The chairman explained that the miscreants extorting the traders have been arrested by men of the Nigeria Police, Bodija Police Division.

Prince Oshoniyi admonished traders at the Bodija Market to desist from roadside trading reiterating that whoever was caught in the act would be seriously dealt with.

Iyabo Adebisi

Education

Eight Arrested over Illegal Business in Public School Premises

By Web News 799

Oyo State Government has arrested eight persons illegally operating a block making industry on the premises of Community Basic School, at Ologuneru Area, Ibadan.

The arrest was sequel to enforcement and monitoring exercise conducted by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Oyo SUBEB, aimed at protecting public school facilities and infrastructure during this COVID-19 stay-at-home period for pupils.

Some of the blocks at the illegal factory

Speaking during the monitoring, Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran expressed displeasure at the level of impunity the team met at the school, which he noted would not go unpunished.

The chairman noted that the invasion has constituted great security risk to the school, adding that classrooms, toilets and borehole erected in the school have been destroyed by the owners of the block making industry.

According to Dr Adeniran, the eight illegal business operators arrested would be taken to court and would be prosecuted according to the extant law to serve as deterrent to others.

The Oyo SUBEB boss revealed that they started using the land since the novel coronavirus started ravaging the state.

He therefore called on individuals to desist from disrespecting government or forcefully gaining entrance into public schools for business purposes stressing that anyone caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.

The monitoring exercise is expected to continue into other parts of the state in the coming weeks, until resumption of schools.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Covid-19: OSHA Suspends Plenary for 16 Days

By Web News 630

The Osun State House of Assembly, OSHA, has suspended all plenary and parliamentary activities for sixteen days.

This is to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease in the state.

At a press briefing held at the assembly complex, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Moshood Akande noted that with confirmed cases of 36 and one death by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, it is expedient for the assembly to suspend all gathering to prevent the possible spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

He urged residents of the state to observe all precautions of regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, observing social distance and avoidance of large gatherings.

Mr. Akande also advised the State Government under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to strengthen its resolve in combating the menace and activate necessary emergency public health protocols.

Funmi Adekoya

Education

Teachers’ Idleness Would Not Be Tolerated – Oyo SUBEB Chair

By Web News 1079

Oyo State Government has urged Heads of Public schools across the state to commence academic activities immediately, saying idleness of teachers or pupils will not be tolerated.

Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran made the call while monitoring resumption of schools in Ibadan.

Dr. Adeniran, who monitored the resumption alongside other members of the board expressed satisfaction with the situation they met at some schools visited.

The chairman however called on other schools, who are yet to commence academic activities, to do so with the pupils immediately.

“We are going around to ensure quality in our education sector and ensure that infrastructural facilities are provided. This has afforded us the opportunity to identify schools in need of renovation and facilities.”

“We want school work to start immediately. We have gone to some schools and we noticed that a good number of them have already commenced”, he said.

Dr. Adeniran maintained that early commencement of academic activities would enable schools in the State to cover the syllabus.

Schools visited included, Community Basic School, Alabidun, IDC Primary School, Olubadan, Ebenezer Community Primary School, Akingbile.

Other schools visited were, Islamic Mission School, Moniya, Methodist Primary School, Olorisaoko, Salvation Army Primary School, Ajibade and St. James Anglican Primary School, Alabata.

Adedayo Adelowo/Rotimi Famakin

Security

Anti-open grazing bill will foster peace, security- OYSHA

By Web News 736

Oyo State House of Assembly has reiterated its commitment to the promotion of peaceful co-existence among Fulani herders and farming communities in Oyo state just as it promised to regularize open grazing and hearing activities in the state.

This was in reaction to the position of the Chairman, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria Alhaji Sule Bayari who said the anti-open grazing and rearing bill of Oyo state is a ploy to punish poor herders.

While speaking on behalf of the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Chairman House committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Peter Ojedokun said the proposed bill is aimed at ensuring rearing of cattle and other related activities are done in the best possible ways especially in line with internationally acceptable practices.

According to Hon. Ojedokun, using cattle to destroy farmlands, degrade the environment as well as other related issues have continued to cause crisis and friction among the herders and their host communities.

He maintained that the public hearing was to enable different farmer groups, communities, ministries, Fulani herders submit their positions and memorandum of understanding on the bill so as to ensure everyone is carried along.

Hon. Ojedokun added that the bill was necessary to end hostilities between the farming communities across Oyo state and Fulani herders and rearers as well as regularize the activities of herders. 

He appealed to everyone to embrace peace and put into practice the ranching system already been used and done in developed countries as against taking of cows and sheep about on the streets and in the bush.

Hon. Ojedokun explained that the bill will among other things spell out the process of owing ranches individually or collectively, highlight punishment for the violation of various laws while also addressing issues capable of causing crisis.

He warned various communities and Fulani groups against making inciting and inflammatory remarks on the bill adding it is purely meant to sanitize and regularize the activities of herders and also make the business attractive for local and foreign investors.

Rilwan Fasasi

Environment

Flood Havoc: Ekiti Government Condoles With Residents

By Web News 679

The Chairman, Ekiti State Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Pastor Kayode Babade has sympathized with people of Ekiti state particularly Ikere whose property worth millions of Naira were affected by the recent flooding.

Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, Pastor Babade expressed deep pain over the level of damage done by the natural disaster.

He commended the swift intervention of Governor Kayode Fayemi and other stakeholders towards consoling victims and making necessary arrangements to forestall future occurrence.

Pastor Babade however pleaded with people of the state to always respect environmental laws saying human factors contributed to increasing rate of natural disasters.

He also urged people of Ekiti State to desist from erecting structures on waterways and dumping of refuse in drainages to avert disaster.

Many people were rendered homeless while property worth millions of naira were lost to flooding in Ado and Ikere between Wednesday and Friday last week as a result of heavy rain.

Kayode Babatuyi

SWAN President, Honour Sirawo during a visit to the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare
Sport

SWAN Visits Minister, Promises Support

By Web News 1026

President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawo has paid a visit to the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare at his office, Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

Sirawoo who was among the first callers to Mr. Dare, a day, after he assumed duty as minister, immediately had a closed-door meeting with the veteran journalist. 

Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, President of SWAN, Honour Sirawo and members of the SWAN Council

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Sirawoo stated that ways to develop sports took center stage at the meeting.

He added that SWAN would support the new minister to succeed and record laudable achievements. 

Chairman, SWAN, Oyo State, Olaolu Fawole and some members of the Full Council were part of the delegation that paid the Minister a visit. 

Olaolu Fawole

Health

Ekiti Govt. Flags Off Additional Immunization for Children

By Web News 868

Ekiti State Government has flagged off additional Immunization routine to prevent outbreak of meningitis and other killer diseases among children in the state.

At the ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi said that the vaccine was introduced to strengthen the health system and reduce morbidity, Mortality as well as others communicable diseases that could spread to the state.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Tade Aluko, the Deputy Governor explained that in 2017 about fifteen thousand cases of meningitis were reported in the Northern part of the country, hence parents need to join hands with government in Ekiti to prevent diseases and untimely death among children.

Otunba Egbeyemi noted that the vaccine would help to boost children immunity against outbreak of diseases.

The Chairman, Governing Board, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Monisola Oloro said it was a good step to vaccinate children against life threatening childhood diseases through Immunization, with an appeal to nursing mothers to take advantage of the vaccine.

Mrs. Oloro explained that children from age zero to eleven months would be captured in the Immunization Programme.

Representatives of World Health organization WHO, Dr Olufunmilola Kolude and UNICEF, Mr. Adeyinka Adeogun advised parents to ensure that their children completed all routine Immunization.

Programmes in order to achieve zero percent killer diseases in Ekiti and promote healthy environment.

Oriola

Education

Teachers Recruitment: Ekiti Commences Collection of Application Forms

By Web News 885

Collection of application forms online for the recruitment of teachers into the public primary schools in Ekiti state has commenced today.

In view of this, many cyber cafe centres within Ado Ekiti metropolis played host to applicants.

Two of the Applicants, Tope Ajayi and Bimbo Olagunju appealed to the state government to base the exercise on merit without political consideration.

They however complained that it was difficult to access the website meant for the application today being the first day of the exercise.

Also, the Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board, Professor Francisca Aladejana said that only holders of National Certificate of Education, NCE and University Degrees in Education are qualified to apply on the website” www.ekitistate.gov.ng/job.

According to Professor Aladejana, the applicants are to fill and submit the forms online between today and next week Friday.

Applicants are to print the acknowledgment slips on the last page of their forms as the slips will serve as entry permit during the qualifying examination which will be announced later.

Amos Ogunrinde