Human Angle

Spare Parts Traders Send SOS to Oyo Govt, Nigerians

By Web News 109

By Rasheeda Makinde

Traders of the affected section of the Mayegun Araromi- Gate Spare parts Market in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, which was gutted by fire, have called on the state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and other well meaning Nigerians for aids.

Speaking with Newsmen in Ibadan, the Chairman, Mayegun Spare parts, Mr Demola Amurungun said the fire had razed over 300 million naira worth of property.

Two of the victims, Mr Michael Adejumo and Mr Olabode Tunde who said the cause of the fire was as a result of an electric surge, applauded the state fire service personnel for their prompt response and solicited the support of the State Governor and other wealthy individuals.

The fire which razed down twenty-three shops in the market, was the second outbreak at Araromi- Gate Spare parts in the last three months and fourth within the space of two years.

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Infrastructure

Circular Road: Illegal Occupants Blame Fraudsters, Agents for Misfortune

By Web News 288

By Iyabo Adebisi

Illegal occupants of government land, whose properties were destroyed on the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road corridor have blamed fraudsters and unscrupulous agents for their misfortunes.

Some of the affected occupants, who spoke to journalists after receiving compensation for their properties destroyed, urged the Oyo State Government to deal decisively with those involved in unlawful sales of government land.

One of the victims at Jigan community, Mr Usman Bada, government should step up its efforts in curbing activities of individuals selling government lands.

Also, Mr Saheed Adeleke, at Agbena-Odeyale community and  Mrs Omolara Basiru of Aba Otun community, whose property were destroyed, said that activities of the impostors should be checked to avoid innocent land buyers falling into their hands.

They advised government to partner with heads of indigenous villages to curb the excesses of the fake land owners thanking government for the gesture. 

The Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Akin-Funmilayo Williams disclosed that affected property owners on the first segment of the Circular road project would benefit from the N264 million.

Mr Akin-Funmilayo said that identification and verification exercise for the affected property owners on the corridor of the project had earlier been conducted.

Commenting on the activities of the impostors, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Mr Sunday Odukoya, admonished potential land buyers to always conduct verification at the Deeds Registry in the state Ministry of Land before buying lands.

Mr Odukoya who chaired the compensation committee, advised individuals, groups or associations who want to buy land to check the master plan of lands in the state at the state secretariat before acquisition.

Oyo state government had commenced payment of N264 million as compensation for individuals whose properties were destroyed on the first segment of the circular road.

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News

Oyo Govt. Suspends Baale Ilua 

By Web News 333

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State Government has suspended Chief Kilani Ajani as the Baale of Ilua in Saki West Local Government Area of the state.

Chief Ajani’s suspension was premised on his activities, which have allegedly caused unrest and political strife within Ilua and Gbepakan communities.

According to a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola from the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Biodun Aikomo, Chief Ajani was recommended for suspension based on a letter from the Oyo State Solid Minerals Development Agency.

The suspension, which was approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, is to prevent the crisis in the communities from festering and to allow a fair investigation into the allegations against Chief Ajani.

Lifestyle

Oyo Govt, Stakeholders Explore 16 Tourism Sites

By Web News 684

By Olukayode Banjo

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism led a multi-sector team on a 4-day tour to about sixteen Tourism locations in Oyo State.

The team, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Oyedele Oyesola, the Conservator of National Park, Sepeteri, Mr Adeniyi Kareem and other Tourism stakeholders in Oyo State, expressed optimism that the sites could generate huge revenue for the state.

The 4-day Domestic Tourism tagged “Know Your State, Enjoy Your State and Feel Your State”, took tourists to some historical sites at the National Park, Igbeti, Sepeteri and Ibadan.

Speaking on the significance of the site visits, Mr Oyesola said the visits were with a view to enhancing Oyo State’s Tourism products and carefully harnessing their potential.

He added that Oyo State is endowed with unique integrated culture and heritage as inherited from its fore-bearers.

Oyo State’s unique cultural identity is known worldwide as evident in many of the tourist sites visited, he said.

He noted that the hills in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State must be given wide publicity, considering their heights and the amazing views one can experience from that vantage point.

Oyesola added that most of the historical sites have ancient stories that accompany their existence, dating back to the Old Oyo empire.

He said the Tourism sector of the State shares the view of local tour operators that the sites would be awesome for visitors, adding that they could be money-spinning potentials.

Oyesola said, “we look forward to working with all of the relevant agencies to make this a reality”.

“Oyo state is amply endowed with unique tourism potentials scattered in its nooks and crannies in all 33 local governments which are unquestionable”, he said.

“Tourism is money-spinning, if we go by retrospect you will be able to learn from past experiences considering the Irefin palace we visited today, nobody knows when the Oba that reign in Irefin was reigning in Ibadan and we are told that it has 200 rooms it’s shown there is a cohabiting nature for 200 women to live within same roof successfully, it’s something that requires in-depth learning to see our forebears that they have native intelligent.”

Speaking, the Conservator of National Park, Adeniyi Karim called for a partnership on eco-tourism and its facilities with relevant authorities.

He said the Park has facilities that have blended the past with nature, with about 6 ranges containing historical/archaeological sites.

Some sites visited were Ali-Iwo palace, National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan; Irefin Palace which belongs to one of the Royal families of Ibadan land; Bowers Tower.

Others visited were African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Centre, Adeyipo Village, Ibadan; Old Oyo-Ile in Igbeti; Mejiro cave; Kosomonu hill; Ibu-iya lake; Agbele hill; Iya-Mapo hill; and the Agbaku cave.

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Agriculture

AFDB Agro-Processing Project Delights Oyo Govt

By Web News 619

Governor Seyi Makinde has said that Oyo State Government is delighted with the prospects and potential of the African Development Bank, AFDB special agro-processing zone project sited in the state.

The governor, who made this statement while receiving a team of the AfDB at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, noted that the state was already moving in the direction of agro-processing in line with its agenda to expand the state’s economy through agribusiness.

Governor Makinde said the state was already witnessing a boom in the cassava value chain and that the prospect of the special agro-processing zone project was exciting.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to welcome one of our own, Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, back to Oyo State.

“The special agro-processing zone is very exciting to us here, and I am happy to let you know that we are already moving as a state as well.

“A few weeks back, we commissioned the second largest sorbitol plant in the world, owned by Psaltery International. That is one step further down in the cassava value chain, from cassava to fructose and then to Sorbitol.

“If you go to the neighbourhood of the plant in Ado-Awaye now, it is cassava all the way. In fact, once you get to Iseyin and move further, you will just see trucks carrying cassava all over the place and a few of the things they have asked us for, we are pushing.

“So, we are excited about the prospect of this project.”

Earlier, the team led by the Special Adviser on Industrialization to the AfDB president, Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, stated that the process towards the building of the special agro-processing zone had been long, with Oyo State being one of the eight zones.

He expressed joy at being able to bring the project, which he said would be commissioned on October 24 and October 25, to fruition.

Professor Oyelaran equally commended the Oyo State Government for the support it gave the AfDB on the project, describing the governor as “an indefatigable champion of the project.”

He noted that apart from possessing the requirements to get into the programme, the state also had the best environmental laws and was one of only two states to have signed off with the Federal Government on the subsidiary loan agreement.

He said: “We have done quite a lot and it has been a long process. Oyo State has been one of the eight zones. By the way, we are in eighteen countries now, and I can tell you that the money budgeted for each of the zones is more than that of any other country. “And we have eight of such in Nigeria. So, it is for me a privilege to ensure that we bring it to fruition.

“I came here for us to make sure that the launching, which we have fixed for October 24th and 25th. Thank you so much for the support you have given us, as you have been an indefatigable champion of this project. As a matter of fact, when we first started, people were surprised we started from Oyo State.

“We have a criterion, which has about eight requirements. 

Iyabo Adebisi

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Economy

Oyo Launches Tax Book, Revives Moribund Assets

By Web News 445

The Oyo State Government has made public its readiness to launch a book to guide investors on the State tax laws, business registration and approval as well as legal matters in order to simplify the process of establishing businesses in the State.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, made this known in a statement.

This is as the government pledged its continuous support towards fixing and maintaining infrastructures that target the economic expansion drive of the State, as the present administration resuscitated moribund industries that add value to businesses and the people from such assets and properties.

The State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye stated this while featuring on a live television interview programme of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in Ibadan as part of activities to commemorate the third year anniversary of the present administration on Tuesday afternoon.

Barrister Olaleye explained that the present government of Governor Seyi Makinde has touched virtually all the moribund properties abandoned by the last administration, to create employment and improve commercial activities, which he noted will further make the State the envy of others in the nation.

“The state government has done an evaluation of these abandoned moribund properties and have started resuscitating them, just like the quarry farm at Ijaye, the government has revived it and is producing bitumen likewise the Ilaju garri processing factory refurbished by the State government,” he said

He noted that commercial activities in the State are very vital and key to the growth and development of the economy, adding that prompt payment of workers’ salaries as and when due has also helped the economy, as everyone feels the impact of the government one way or the other.

When asked questions about the condition of markets generally within the Ibadan metropolis, Barrister Olaleye said, recently, the government has constituted a market leaders council which has twelve (12) clusters that settle crises within themselves and also meet with the State representatives at all times.

He mentioned that the market leaders have been supportive and cooperative with the administration, assuring them of more positive changes as requested by the market’s leadership.

Speaking specifically on Bola Ige International Market, Gbagi, Ibadan, Olaleye hinted that lots of abnormalities happened during the last administration whereby toilets and waiting rooms were converted to shops and stores, stressing that out of twenty-eight (28) toilets in the market, only eight (8) were functioning.

He assured that all the toilets would be recovered for people to use and the parking slots and access roads will be rightfully taken over for their original usage, saying that the government was getting ready to organize an impactful trade fair that will showcase talents and new ideas, where other States and foreign embassies will participate very soon.

In the same vein, as part of a routine exercise, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives’ market inspection team was at the Bola Ige International Market, Gbagi Ibadan for inspection.

The team, led by the Director Trade in the Ministry, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha went around the market to check all the social amenities and the level of security put in place by the government.

He expressed his displeasure about the way some traders converted some of the toilets and waiting rooms in the facility to shops and stores and the untidy situation of the environment, after which he advised the market leaders to set up environmental sanitation committee to make the environment tidier to attracts more patronage.

The Chairman, Bola Ige International Market Gbagi Ibadan, Alhaji Ganiyu Adetayo assured the government of more support and pleaded that the contractor handling Ibadan/Ife expressway should speed up the work as all the access road that leads to the main markets have been blocked due to road reconstruction projects.

The team also visited Gbagi Police Station, Egbeda, to commend their support in terms of security and cordial relationship between the market people and the security personnel.

The Divisional Police Officer, SP Daniel Oboyi assured the team of continuous support for the people’s safety, adding that business and economic growth could only be assured where there is peace and unity.

PR/Nashrideen Sherifdeen

Health

Oyo gets 8 Ambulances from NACA

By Web News 550

Efforts by the Government of Oyo State Government in controlling the spread of HIV in the state has been recognised as the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) donated eight ambulances to the state.

Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Gambo Aliyu Gumel, who was represented by Mr. Alex Ogundipe, handed over the keys of the ambulances to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun.

He noted that the donations were in recognition of the Makinde administration’s efforts in the health sector.

According to NACA, the donation came after the state has been assessed and found worthy in the area of effective utilisation of public equipment under Governor Makinde’s watch.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the SSG as appreciating NACA for the donation, stating that Governor Makinde administration’s focus to revolutionise the sector has begun to yield positive results.

She assured that the ambulances and other attached medical equipment will be deployed to the targeted facilities accordingly, adding that the state government would appreciate any assistance aimed at augmenting its efforts in improving the health sector.

She said: “Today, I am here representing the governor and I must sincerely say thank you for these eight ambulances and for all the equipment in the hospitals.

“As I do say, health is one of our cardinal points in this administration. “So, any help we can get for any of our health facilities or that will augment any of our health programmes will be very much appreciated.

“When we came on board as an administration, we found out that the ambulances we had were in very bad condition. So, in the last two and a half years, we have bought ambulances and about fifteen ambulances have been donated to us, which have been all deployed.

“So, I give you the assurance of His Excellency and the administration that these eight ambulances will also be deployed accordingly.”

Speaking earlier, Ogundipe pointed out that the donation of the ambulances was made following Governor Makinde’s request at a meeting in Geneva, where he dialogued with the Global Fund.

He added that as a result of the confidence reposed in the state and an assessment conducted on the proper utilisation of public equipment in the state so far, NACA agreed to increase the figure of the donated ambulances.

 “On behalf of my Director-General, who has only one appeal that is, in line with the office of His Excellency; these should be deployed for purpose, kept for purpose, maintained and insured, because there will be periodic monitoring and he will like to let you know that it is possible that additional equipment could come based on the maintenance and utilisation of these equipment.

“So, I have the pleasure to hand over the particulars, the keys and documents, transferring the ownership of these eight ambulances and equipment, as well as the medical equipment that have been delivered earlier to these ten facilities,” Ogundipe said.

Adewunmi Faniran

News

Sealing Of IBEDC Offices: Oyo Govt, Company Resolve Differences …Agree To Make Meters Available To Residents

By Web News 532

The Oyo State Government and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), on Thursday, resolved the differences that led the state to seal some business offices of the DISCO.
The two parties, after a meeting at the Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan declared their readiness to work together to find an amicable resolution of all issues surrounding the recent sealing of the IBEDC offices in Ibadan by the state government.
The parties, in a statement jointly released shortly after a meeting, vowed to continue to work together in the interest of the residents of the state.
They assured members of the public of the restoration of electricity as soon as possible, adding that the two parties would continue amicable resolution of the issue and work together to make electricity meters available to all residents of the state.
The statement jointly signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Barr. Temilolu Seun Ashamu and the Chief Operating Officer of the IBEDC, Engr. John Ayodele, read in part: “This is to notify the general public that the Oyo State Government and the IBEDC have resolved and agreed to work together in the interest of the public.
“The general public is hereby assured of the restoration of electricity supply as soon as possible, while the two parties shall continue amicable resolution of the issue in the interest of the public, including working together to make electricity meters available to residents of the state.”

Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Oyo Government Reiterates Its Commitment To Security

By Web News 613

Oyo State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde says his administration will continue to support security agencies operating in the state to deliver on their mandates.
He stated this at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, while receiving State Directors of the Department of State Services in the South West States, who were in the state to hold the South West Zonal Conference of Directors of State Services.
While emphasising that security is key to the successful implementation of government policies,governor Makinde praised the  team, led by its  Chairman, Sheikh Mohammed Waziri, for helping to tackle insecurity in all the nooks and crannies of the country.

“I am also happy that from your interaction, you have been able to come up with the fact that drug abuse and children in primary school becoming cultists is common. Yes, we can go after them just like you have suggested. We can win the war with brute force but can we win peace with the same force? For us, we think striking at the heart of what is causing all of these is Germaine. And if you trace it, it is economical. So, it is difficult to bring people to live peacefully together.
“When you have a situation where the resources are limited and we are all scrambling for it and we are not baking enough cake to go round, then there will always be serious issues where people will look for where they can gain a little bit of an advantage over the other people. So, I will ask that in your recommendations and course of action, let us also look at how we can win the peace. 
“And on this issue, I give you the assurance that when we have the South West Governors meeting, I will bring it up so that we can have a common regional approach to dealing with the challenges.

“For us as an administration, we know that the essence of power and all of these things that we are surrounded with is to ensure that people are able to live their dreams and go about their daily businesses in a safe and secure atmosphere.

The governor also charged the DSS to ensure it emphasizes issues that would unite Nigeria, adding that the country has never been this divided.

In a remark, Chairman of the South West Zonal Conference of State Directors of State Service, Sheik Mohammed Waziri, said  that the DSS understands the importance of security in a polity, adding that without security there would not be development.

He said:  “ We are concerned just like Your Excellency is also concerned about the increasing threat to local and national security in terms of kidnappings, cultism and famers/herders clashes. 
“We are also concerned that this is also a period that all hands must be on deck to ensure that we resolve some of those issues and, as an intelligence-based organisation, it is our responsibility to identify the threats, share the concerns, and identify the criminals and miscreants within both governed and ungoverned space.

Iyabo Adebisi

Health

Oyo Approves N399m for Water Treatment

By Web News 712

             
Oyo State government has approved the procurement of N399 million water treatment chemicals for the state water corporation to ensure safe and quality drinking water for the people.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun stated while briefing newsmen after the weekly state executive council meeting.
Dr. Olatunbosun said the 1,194 tonnes of Aluminium sulfate approved for the procurement at the rate of #335,000 per tonne  totalling #339,990,000 would be distributed to all the water corporation branches in the state.

Also,Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources,Mr Seun Ashamu  said the council has approved the implementation of a mini-grid scheme for four rural communities and local governments to provide adequate power supply for local government areas which have not been connected to the national grid at the cost of #575 million

According to the commissioner, the four local governments and communities to benefit from the first rollout were Ajia Community in Ona-Ara Local Government; Otefo community in Atiba Local Government; Shamu Community in Iwajowa Local Government and Orinsunmibare in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.

 Mr Ashamu added that each of the mini-grid would be centred around a health care or school to serve other public facilities residents in the communities.

He however noted that the procured 60 bicycles tagged “Keke Seyi” to convey civil servants and visitors within the state Secretariat to ministries, departments, and agencies have been stationed at the Oyo state government secretariat and would be commissioned soonest.

Iyabo Adebisi

Health

UNFPA Donates PPE to Oyo Govt.

By Web News 1395

The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has donated personal protective equipment to the Oyo State primary healthcare board in the care of survivors of female genital mutilation.
The PPE include arm length gloves, surgical mask, surgical aprons and goggles.


Presenting the PPE to the board Executive Secretary at the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Director for Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Professor Oladosu Ojengbede noted that the equipment would encourage health workers to provide comprehensive services to prevent and manage complications and resettle women living with female genital mutilation.


Professor Ojengbede also stated that the centre had trained over three hundred health workers at primary healthcare levels to lead to elimination of female genital mutilation.
Professor Ojengbede added that the organisation had also donated PPE’s such as handwashing equipment, masks, sanitizers and educating the people on protection against covid 19.
Receiving the PPE, Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muyideen Olatunji while appreciating the kind gesture of UNFPA maintained that the items would be distributed among the healthcare facilities across the state.
Dr. Olatunji solicited for more support from UNFPA and called on philanthropic individuals and organisations to partner the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board for service to humanity.

Olumide Ogunbiyi

Health

Governor Makinde to kick-off Free Medical Mission

By Web News 836

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state will on Monday, March 16th, 2020, kick off the free medical mission in Oyo North Senatorial District.

The medical mission will include free surgical operations and other medical examinations.

A statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello says the free health mission was introduced to improve the quality of healthcare among the residents of Oyo State.

Local Government Areas that will benefit from the first phase of the free medical mission include Irepo, Olorunsogo, Orelope, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo and Iwajowa.

Others are Kajola, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire.

Iyabo Adebisi

Economy

Poverty Alleviation: Oyo Govt, World Bank Release 76 Million Naira

By Web News 701

Oyo State Government has disbursed a sum of about Seventy-Six Million naira to eighteen communities and two vulnerable groups under its World Bank-Assisted programme.

The money disbursed through the Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency, OYCSDA, would be spent on education, water, transportation, socio-economic, environment and health sectors in each community. 

The Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency, OYCSDA, Dr Idowu Oyeleke said this during a day training for Community Project Management Committee, CPMC, and presentation of cheques to various communities in Ibadan. 

Presenting cheques to the beneficiaries, Dr Oyeleke pointed out that the community and Social Development Project was one of the areas of collaboration between the state government and World Bank to reduce poverty through community participation in service delivery.

He also pledged the commitment of Engineer Seyi Makinde’s administration towards the implementation of life-impacting programmes in line with the cardinal objectives of good governance.

Dr Oyeleke said that all the micro-projects were expected to be completed within two months, amidst adequate monitoring and maintenance by the stakeholders.

In their responses, the benefiting communities were full of appreciation to the present administration in the state for bringing development to their doorsteps through the agency. 

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Oyo Govt/LG Chairmen Tussle: Court Adjourns till April 1

By Web News 911

The Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan has adjourned till April 1 to hear an appeal filed by the Oyo State Government against the May 6 judgment of the State High Court restraining the state government from sacking the elected local government chairmen.

At the mention of the case today, counsel to the embattled chairmen, Chief Niyi Akintola who already filed an application seeking a court order to stop the state government from appointing a caretaker committee withdrew the application to allow hearing of the main appeal to commence.

The court also allowed a motion filed by the respondents seeking an extension of time to respond to the appeal.

Counsel to the state government, Chief Kunle Kalejaye agreed with counsel to the respondents to fix a date for the hearing.

The panel, headed Justice Jimi Bada adjourned the case till April 1 for the parties to present and adopt their addresses. 

Sunday Ogunyemi

Education

Oyo Govt. set to Reintroduce Open-Day in Public Primary Schools

By Web News 754

Oyo State Government has announced plans to reintroduce Open-day system in public primary schools across the State.

Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran said this during his State-wide interactive session with Head-teachers, recently.

Dr. Adeniran opined that Open-day, when introduced will give parents the opportunity to visit their children in schools, where they would get first-hand insights into their children’s performance and speak to their teachers on how to further improve those children.

He said Oyo State Government will also employ more strategies as part of measures to complement its absolute commitment to improving the basic education sector.

Dr. Adeniran said the reintroduced system would be an improved adaptation of the moribund open-day, noting that the system would make parents more responsible towards their children in public schools.

“We will reintroduce Open-day system back to our public schools because we realized that this would complement Governor Seyi Makinde’s free education policy. Parents need to be responsible for their children’s progress in schools”, he said.

He added emphatically that, “One of the things Oyo State Government has done, is to improve the standard of the education system”

While Dr. Adeniran stressed that being a teacher requires patience and great discipline, he urged teachers to ensure their pupils compete favorably with their contemporaries in reading and writing skills.

He said the state government is open to suggestions and ideas that would further build the capacity of the teaching workforce in Oyo State.

Dr. Adeniran noted that the present government is doing so much to improve pupils’ reading culture, by providing running grants to schools, building facilities among others.

The Chairman added that the state government is presently seeking more ways of improving the lots of teachers, especially those in the rural areas, while he stressed that education remains the greatest asset the state government can bequeath its citizens.

Hon. Wasiu Olatunbosun, PhD.,

Hon. Commissioner,

Min. of Information, Culture & Tourism, Oyo State Government

Politics

Out-of-Court Settlement: Oyo Government, ALGON not Close to Resolution

By Web News 722

Oyo State Government has declared that members of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, are deliberately frustrating the planned out-of-court settlement of the crisis rocking local governments in the state.

A statement by Special Counsel to the State Governor, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), says the sacked chairmen came to the negotiation table with absolute terms.

The statement notes that the out of court settlement is in the interest of the entire state and expresses government commitment to observing the rule of law.

According to the statement, the state government did not in any way frustrate the negotiation.

The statement therefore maintains it will be in the interest of all parties to reconvene under a very amiable atmosphere and come to an agreement on how to move forward.

Iyabo Adebisi

Education

Oyo Releases Running Grants to Schools

By Web News 851

The government of Oyo State has approved the release of the sum of 526 million naira as running costs for its 2,500 primary schools and about 640 secondary schools.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa confirms that the sum of 400 million naira has been advanced to the secondary schools, while the primary schools got the sum of 126 million naira.

The amount is to cover the running grants of the schools for the first term of the 2019/2020 academic session.

According to the state statement, principals of secondary schools as well as heads of primary schools across the state have been mandated to open accounts to receive the running grants.

There are 640 secondary schools spread across the state, which have already started benefitting from the 1,000 naira per child per term budget for the schools.

The statement also indicates that the 126 million naira approved for the primary schools has been released to the heads of the various schools. 

The statement notes that Ministry of Education is managing the disbursements to secondary schools, while the State Universal Basic Education Commission, SUBEB, is handling the disbursement to primary schools.

The statement urges all stakeholders in the school system to judiciously apply the funds as the government will demand accountability on every kobo released to the schools.

Iyabo Adebisi

Environment

Oyo Government Sensitizes Oke-Ogun Residents on Climate Change

By Web News 1752

In a bid to prevent flooding, Oyo State government has taken a sensitization campaign to the Oke-Ogun area of the state as part of its efforts in stemming the effects of global warming in the area.

About 75% of charcoal production in Oyo State is from Oke-Ogun area which were for export or domestic use but with direct effect on the climate, as trees were felled to produce charcoal.

The state government over the weekend, organized the awareness campaign program to call the attention of residents of the area to the effects of deforestation due to felling of woods for industrial purpose, saying the government was poised to do all it could, to reduce risks caused by these commercial activities.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan who disclosed this at the One Day Sensitization Program held at Saki, Saki West Local Government, said the present administration has been factoring disaster risk reduction into her developmental strides, so as to curb loss of lives and properties to natural disaster.

The deputy governor who was represented by the Secretary, Oyo State Emergency Agency (OYSEMA), Alhaji Luqmon Aransi urged the people of Oke-Ogun to imbibe the culture of safety and work together alongside the state government to avert disasters.

Iyabo Adebisi