Oyo State government has approved the completion of the dualization project of Bashorun-Idi-Ape-Akobo to Odogbo Barracks road at the cost of 3.2 billion naira.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun stated this while briefing newsmen after the weekly executive council meeting.
Dr Olatunbosun said the project would be executed through the Alternative Project Funding Approach under 8 months adding that 231 million naira has been endorsed as compensation fees for owners of properties affected by the road project.
Also, the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Professor Dahud Sangodoyin, said an upward review of maternity leave for pregnant women and nursing mother in the service of the Oyo state government from four months to six months has approved in line with WHO recommendation on exclusive breastfeeding.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun has called on the people of the state to see attitude change as the only solution to the war against Covid-19.
Dr Olatubosun said this through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Bunmi Babalola at a One-Day training for reporters on Covid-19 reportage in Ibadan.
The commissioner said all efforts to sensitize the general public by the state government had been explored, while testing has been taken to the local level to ascertain the level of spread of the disease in the state.
He hinted that the global and local economy as well as human survival would only be achieved if people keep to what he called the new normal through social distancing, use of nose covers and regular hand washing.
He said it was important for media professionals to adjust from the way and manner they carry out their responsibilities in line with the current situation and follow necessary protocols that will protect us in our day to day activities.
Dr Olatubosun appealed to the people of the state to keep faith with the present administration on efforts at stopping the spread of the disease and work towards restoring normalcy to the economic, social and daily activities of the people.
Oyo State Government has adopted the report of the committee set up to review projects and contracts signed between 2017 and 2019 by the last administration in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun stated this after the state’s weekly executive council meeting.
Dr Olatubosun explained that the report would help the about-to-be-inaugurated state anti-corruption agency bring to book individuals involved in acts inimical to economic growth of the state.
The Commissioner also said the council approved the procurement of new truck-mounted rigs with Compressor to further promote the administration’s drive towards the provision of portable water to the people at the sum of about 107 million naira.
Oyo State government has commenced community mass testing for Covid-19.
The community testing began in the three local government areas of Lagelu, Oluyole and Ibadan South East.
Commissioner for Information, Oyo State (in blue, @ the foreground) Dr Wasiu Olatubosun at St Stephen’s Anglican Primary School, Alegongo, Akobo Ojurin one of the venues of the Mass testing
Speaking at the flag-off, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun who noted that the state had tested over 3000 persons, said the mass testing would assist government on the exact data to work with to determine other ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
Some of the health workers taking samples at St Stepen Anglican Primary School, Alegongo, Akobo Ojurin Venue of the Mass testing
Dr Olatunbosun however said government would take over responsibilities of people who might end up with positive results.
State Coordinator of Emergency Operation Center in the state, Dr Olabode Oladipo said the community testing became imperative in view of increasing cases of Coronavirus in the state.
Caretaker Chairman, Lagelu Local Government, Mr Gbadamosi Kazeem urged residents of the council to take advantage of the testing to know their status early.
Some of the participants commended the Oyo State government for the initiative.
The mass testing which targets 10000 people is to guide government on other areas to look into in its bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Participants at a stakeholders meeting on the Freedom of Information, FOI Act have advocated adequate sensitization campaign on the application of the act to enable members of the public make their political officeholders accountable.
The programme
organized by the Oyo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency, NOA,
which had in attendance stakeholders from ministries, department and agencies
was organized to evaluate the successes of the act and its impact on national
development.
While some of
the stakeholders blamed the inadequacies in the implementation of FOI act on
lack of awareness, ignorance, faulty judicial processes and long bureaucracy involved
in accessing government information, others believed Nigerians needed more
reorientation on their nonchalant attitude to laws and government
policies.
They also suggested that a desk office is created in all MDAs that will take care of the requests from members of the public on government information for easy access.
A cross-section of stakeholders at the sensitisation programme
In an address,
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun who reiterated the
determination of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led-administration to be more
accountable, said the state government would soon embark on Stakeholders Town-Hall
meetings geared towards disseminating government programmes as well as
receiving people’s opinion and needs in their communities.
Dr
Olatunbosun noted that no meaningful development can take place in any society
if leaders are not accountable to their followers.
While
highlighting some clauses in the FOI act passed into law in 2011, a resource
person, Miss Tirenioluwa Ibitoye said though every Nigerian has the right to Freedom
of Information, there are certain exemptions to the act especially on
information that may jeopardize the operations of security agencies or
injurious to the development of the country.
Earlier in a
welcome address, the state director NOA, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu said the agency
will continue to sensitize the public on key provisions of the FOI act and how
it can be used to promote good governance.
The agency also used the opportunity of the stakeholders meeting to sensitize participants on preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus.
