Tag: Abiodun

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NEWS & LIFE

Palliative: Ogun civil servants to get N10,000

Gov Dapo Abiodun

The Ogun Government has approved an extension of six months for the N10,000 transport allowance granted to the state’s civil servants, the state governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, said on Wednesday.

Speaking during a meeting in Abeokuta with the state’s Permanent Secretaries, Abiodun said the extension would allow the state workers to continue to cope with the effects of the subsidy removal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the allowance was to help cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The allowance, which was part of various interventions adopted by the state government at the wake of the deregulation policy in July, was to have ended in September.

The governor described the allowance as part of the temporary immediate-term interventions.

”It was to allow the government to come up with appropriate medium and long-term intervention plans for all categories of people in the state.

“Apart from the N10,000, which also covers pensioners, the state government also approved hazard allowance for health and medical personnel.

“Also, there has been an immediate release of letters of promotion in respect of 2021 and 2022, payment of March and April 2023 leave bonuses for public servants and immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners,” he said.

Gov. Abiodun said the palliatives being distributed across the state have elicited applause across the country and beyond.

”It was only in a few instances that we have had fifth columnists mischievously criticising the government’s efforts.”

He then spoke of plans by his administration to leave behind legacy projects at the end of his tenure.

“A special committee on the rehabilitation of public schools will soon be set up, and the committee will be funded through a trust fund,” Gov. Abiodun said.

He added that efforts were in top gear to improve mobility in the state by identifying and rehabilitating critical roads across the state

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FEATURED STORIES POLITICS

Abiodun floors Adebutu at Tribunal

Ogun State Governor, Dapo bAbiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday. floored the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ladi Adebutu at the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Abeokuta

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza held that Abiodun was duly elected at the March 18 election.

It pronounced the verdict in a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr Ladi Adebutu, seeking the nullification of Gov. Abiodun.

Delivering the judgment over a period of 11 hours, the tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.

The judges held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of non-compliance with electoral guidelines, over-voting, disenfranchisement of voters and corrupt practices during the poll beyond reasonable doubt.

Reading the judgment, Kunaza held that the petitioner failed to prove the facts of their case.

“On the whole, the petitioners have not successfully proved the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act (2022) and have not discharged the burden of proof,’’ he said.

On disenfranchisement of voters, the tribunal held that there was no direct evidence to prove the allegation.

On the call for the disqualification of Abiodun on allegation of criminal records, the court declared that there was no evidence that a court in the United States of America convicted Abiodun.

“I uphold the election of Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of Ogun State in the March 18 election,’’Kunaza declared.

INEC had earlier declared Abiodun as the winner of the election having polled 276,298 votes to beat Adebutu who scored 262,382 votes.

 

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EDUCATION

Ogun govt. declares collection of any fee or levy in schools illegal

Ogun State Governor, Dapo bAbiodun

The government in Ogun says it remains illegal for school heads in both public primary and secondary schools across the state to collect any form of fee, levy or payment.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Arigbabu spoke during the 2023/2024 Academic Session Pre-Resumption Meeting with education stakeholders in the state,

Arigbabu said it should be remembered that the state government’s free education policy was still in place.

“The cost of materials, maintenance and provision of facilities in schools had been taken care of by the government.

“So, people should be reminded that the present administration at inception cancelled all forms of payment to encourage children to have access to quality education, without paying any amount,” he said.

The Special Adviser advised Principals and Headteachers to encourage and promote merit in their various schools.

He added that anyone desiring to make a donation to schools or use school facilities for any event, should follow government’s stipulated guidelines.

”This is in order not to disrupt the academic activities in schools.”

Arigbabu added that government was working on modalities towards enhancing the security architecture in schools.

He urged school administrators to ensure religious tolerance and avoid anything capable of putting the name of the state in disrepute.

 

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NEWS & LIFE

Coach Henry Abiodun resigns from FCAAN

The Director of Coaching Education of the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN), Henry Abiodun, has resigned his appointment.

This is contained in his letter of resignation, dated Dec. 10. and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure.

Abiodun said he resigned because he felt like moving on and trying other things and that there was no problem between him and FCAAN.

According to the letter, the resignation takes effect from two weeks from the date on the letter.

“This letter is to inform you of my desire to resign from my position as the Director of Coaching Education of the Football Coaches Association of Africa Nations, effective two weeks from today.

“I appreciate greatly the opportunity that was given to me by FCAAN and the progress we have made in football education in Nigeria, but now, I feel it is the right time to move on to other things.

“I will be glad to work with the FCAAN management to help achieve a smooth transition. Thank you once again,” Abiodun stated in the letter.

The former Sunshine Stars official, while confirming the letter said he had earlier sent a message FCAAN leaders that he was proud of the achievements of the brand and had exceeded his expectations which made him happy.

“Thanks for all the support and cooperation that helped make my job effective during my three-year tenure as the FCAAN Director of Coaching Education. Keep up the good work,” he said.
Meanwhile, FCAAN Founder and President, Dr Terry Eguaoje, who accepted the resignation letter in his message to Abiodun, thanked him for giving three years of his service to the association.

“Please join me to thank Coach Henry Abiodun for his leadership and service to FCAAN over the years.

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“Under his leadership, we made lots of progress, we still have room to grow. And we must continue to grow to help Nigerian coaches get the education that they needed. This applies to all coaches in Africa,” he said.

Eguaoje said Abiodun would be helping the association as they look for a replacement.

NAN reports that Abiodun’s last assignment as FCAAN director was the training of more than 100 grassroots coaches on Dec. 4 in Akure.

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NEWS & LIFE

Ogun won’t slash salaries, reverse minimum wage — Abiodun

Ogun won’t slash salaries, reverse minimum wage — Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Thursday assured that he would neither slash workers’ salaries nor reverse the recently signed minimum wage in the state inspite of the harsh economic realities in the country.

Abiodun gave the assurance in Abeokuta during the breaking of the fast (Iftar) with the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta.

The governor stated that his administration would continue to be creative in its bid to make the state economically viable and financially strong to be able to perform its responsibilities to the citizens.

“ I was watching on television where I saw one of my brother governors say that his state might have to reverse on the minimum wage.

“We are very creative on the issue of financing and I want to assure you that Ogun will not reverse on minimum wage,” he said.

The governor also assured that the local government polls scheduled to hold on July 24 across the state would be free and fair to all.

“The election will not be skewed in favour of the rullng APC.

“We will not share political positions among men and women who are party faithfuls during the elections, but promote equal participation.

Plateau teachers decry non-implementation of new minimum wage

“We must be consistent and show that we have learnt from other people’s lessons and that are a product of democracy.

“We have done primaries when somebody else did not want primaries and subjected ourselves to the party process and we evolved through that process which was later confirmed by the general elections despite all odds.

“Let us make sure that whatever process we adopt is democratic. We must be seen as true progressive democrats.
“When it comes to a process like this, what we need to do is to encourage our members to come forward and participate.

“We will vote for them, but we are not going to share it and say because they are our members, they should take it on platter of gold.

“No, that will be undemocratic. We are not going to do that because it will be unfair,” he said.
Speaking on security, Abiodun disclosed that his administration would soon re-launch the OPMESA, which according to him, has recently been resuscitated after years of neglect by the immediate past administration.

He added that any act of insecurity would be viewed as a sabotage against its government’s plans to grow the economy of the state.
“We are taking the issue of security very seriously and be assured that we are doing everything humanly possible on this because Ogun is the industrial hub of Nigeria.

“Any act of insecurity is a sabotage against our plans to make our state very viable economically and we are going to fight it with everything at our disposal.
“OPMESA has gone for so many years because the previous administration did not take it very seriously, so, the federal government withdrew it.

“But I went after that initiative and I got the Chief of Army Staff to finally approve it because like I said to him, I don’t know of other states, but my state, I cannot afford insecurity,” he said.

While restating his administration’s commitment to make the state safe for the residents, Abiodun urged he people of the state to be prayerful and be observant of their environment, saying that “security agents are as good as the intelligence they gathered”.

Earlier in his remarks, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Ogun, Mr Yemi Sanusi, commended Abiodun for embarking on massive road rehabilitation and re-construction across the state.
He also lauded him for attracting more members into the party, particularly, bigwigs from other political parties.

Two former deputy governors of the state, Mr Segun Adesegun and Sen. Adegbenga Kaka, who also attended the event, commended the governor for his effort at making the state more attractive for investors.

Adewunmi Onanuga, a lawmaker, representing Remo Constituency at the House of Representatives, commended the governor for his developmental agenda in the state.

She, however, called on the governor to give women more opportunities to represent their people at the grassroots.

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NEWS & LIFE

Abiodun receives report on farmers, herders clashes

Abiodun receives report on farmers, herders clashes
Dapo Abiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Friday received the report of the Peace Committee set up by the government to look into the recent Farmers/Herders crisis in the Yewa axis of the state.

Abiodun had inaugurated a peace committee in the wake of the crisis, to establish its immediate and remote causes, quantify the loses on both sides and recommend ways to pre-empt and forestall a recurrence.

Hon. Kehinde Oladele, Chairman of the Committee, while presenting the report to the governor in Abeokuta, noted that the crisis caused hardship for the inhabitants of the affected areas as their sources of livelihood were destroyed.

Oladele explained that in carrying out the assignment, the committee adopted a participatory approach in which traditional rulers, community leaders, victims and their relatives, as well as other relevant stakeholders were all involved.

He assured that if the recommendations of the committee were implemented, there would be an end to such crisis in the state.

Abiodun, who commended members of the committee, noted that the crisis dented the peaceful nature of the state, and urged both indigenes and settlers in the state to continue to live in peace and harmony as they had done for ages.

“We realised that this axis has a communication problem, which prevented our people from communicating with us, especially in times of crisis.

“We are solving this problem because telecommunication companies have started erecting their masts and very soon communication will improve in these areas,” he added.

He restated the commitment of his administration to ensure peace in all parts of the state.

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NEWS & LIFE

Abiodun inaugurates Amotekun in Ogun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Thursday inaugurated the state security outfit, the Amotekun Corps.

Speaking during the inauguration in Abeokuta the governor noted that the operatives of the Amotekun security outfit had been carefully chosen and trained to secure lives and property.

He added that the state government had provided the outfit with vehicles, motorcycles, communication gadgets, technical back-ups and the political will for an effective take-off and efficient operation.

He hinted that the provision of equipment and recruitment of personnel would be a continuous exercise, saying that the government expected a superlative performance from the operatives.

Abiodun urged them to diligently add value to strengthen the security of lives and property in the state, advising that they must carry out their duties within the ambit of the provisions of the law establishing them.

“Your role is primarily to prevent crime. You are to do this through systematic intelligence gathering and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, especially the security network agencies of other states,” he said.

He called on the people to support and cooperate with the Amotekun operatives, to strengthen the state’s security machinery.

He also called on other security agencies to cooperate and collaborate with the Amotekun to form a synergy of purpose towards ensuring stronger security of lives and property in the state.

“Let me at this juncture reiterate and say unequivocally that no part of Ogun will be a safe haven for criminals and criminality in whatever form or guise.

“Permit me to recall that at the South-West Security Summit that was held on June 25, 2019 at Ibadan, the governments of the six South-West states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti agreed to establish a security outfit to be named “Amotekun”.

“The establishment of the security outfit is part of a holistic approach determined to tackle insecurity in the region.

“Governors and leaders of the South-West came together and decided on the need to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in different states, especially with a truly indigenous security agency that understands the terrain.

“We came up with the establishment of this security outfit code-named ‘Amotekun’ , ” he said.

In his remark, Prof. Wole Soyinka, commended the governor on the inauguration, saying that the outfit was set up to complement the work of existing security agencies.

Soyinka appealed to the Amotekun operatives to be professional in their duties, adding that they must not tamper with the fundamental human rights of the citizens.

“Ensure you work professionally, if you abuse your uniform, you will be dealt with, ” he said.

Also speaking, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, noted that the major assignment of any government was to provide adequate security.

Gbadebo praised the governor and said that the security outfit should collaborate effectively with other security agencies.

The Ogun Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, noted that the police would work closely with the Amotekun outfit in the area of sharing information and joint operations to send criminals out of the state.

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NEWS & LIFE

Abiodun bans fuel tankers, articulated vehicles from plying Ogun flyovers

Abiodun bans fuel tankers, articulated vehicles from plying Ogun flyovers
Abiodun bans fuel tankers, articulated vehicles from plying Ogun flyovers

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Tuesday banned fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles from plying flyover bridges in the state.

Abiodun announced this decision during his assessment visit to the scene of tanker explosion, which occurred on Monday in Abeokuta, claiming three lives with many others injured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five vehicles and two motorcycles were burnt in the incident that happened around IBB Boulevards in Abeokuta on Tuesday morning.

The governor also vowed that stiffer punishment would be meted out to any tanker driver found culpable.

According to him, the ban is meant to safeguard lives and property of the citizens in view of recent explosions in different parts of the state.

The governor, however, confirmed death of three persons in the Tuesday’s tanker explosion, while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He said the injured, who were badly burnt, had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, and the state Hospital, Ijaye, both in Abeokuta.

“We have gone a step further by inviting burn specialists from Lagos to attend to those that have 80 to 90 per cent burnt which requires special attention.

“The specialists have since arrived Abeokuta. They will make a determination whether we are to transfer those with burns to burn centre in Lagos.

“I will discuss with the state Ministry of Transportation, we will begin the enforcement of ensuring that tankers plying our roads are well checked to see if they are road worthy or not.

“We will put measures in place to reduce this kind of occurrence, part of that is to include that taker drivers should not operate on our overhead bridges anymore.

“If their ability to control their vehicles a times now become a hazard to other road users, we think it is important to declare that tankers are not allowed on our overhead bridges anymore.

“We will put in place a very tick fine for any tanker driver found on any of these bridges.

“This, among other measures will be rolled out in the next one day or two days,” the declared.

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NEWS & LIFE

Abiodun presents N339bn 2021 budget proposal to Ogun Assembly

Abiodun presents N339bn 2021 budget proposal to Ogun Assembly
Abiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Wednesday, presented a budget proposal of N339 billion for the 2021 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, with N177 billion earmarked for capital expenditure.

The budget, christened “Budget of Recovery and Sustainability,” also has N162 billion proposed for recurrent expenditure.

The governor said that an estimated N119 billion was projected as internally-generated revenue for the state, with statutory allocation expected to be N59 billion.

He stated that capital receipt, which included internal and external loans as well as grants and aids, stood at N142 billion.

The governor stated that personnel cost remained the largest single item of expenditure, adding as at Oct. 31, it accounted for 35.5 percent of the total government spending and was projected at 21 percent for the 2021 total expenditure.

He said that owing to the inflationary trend, the total overhead costs of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and government-owned enterprises would be N50 billion in 2021, representing an increase of N11 billion over the N39 billion in 2020.

The governor explained that the state government had made provision for the sum of N28.4 billion for debt servicing in 2021, representing an increase of N13 billion over the N15.7 billion in 2020.
According to the governor, infrastructure will gulp N61 billion, while social welfare and wellbeing, comprising health, housing, environment, physical planning and women affairs stands at N93 billion.

While education will receive N58 billion, youth empowerment will take N6billion, agriculture N15 billion and enablers, comprising statewide services, general public service, public debt charges, stabilisation fund, judiciary, legislature and pensions and gratuities N106 billion.

Abiodun said that towards achieving good practice in public financial management, the state government had adopted, for the second year running, a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2021-2023.

He added that government had also introduced a Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS), which he described as a major shift in budget preparation process from focus on the expenditure to greater emphasis on revenue-driven model.

Abiodun said that government’s fiscal policy, between 2021 and 2023, be geared towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of spending and achieving better balance between capital and recurrent expenditure.

“This will include greater control of the wage bill, directing capital expenditure on critical infrastructure and boosting revenue receipts by identifying and plugging revenue leakages.

“Another consideration is the gradual fiscal consolidation in order to achieve a level of public spending consistent with macro-economic stability and sustainable debt,” he said.

The governor added that the investment focus of his administration was to create an enabling environment for business, reduce the identified infrastructure gap and provide fiscal stimulus to lift demands.

He said that in the 2021 budget proposal, priorities were accorded completion of existing projects, those with revenue potential and those consistent with the priorities articulated in the state Economic Development Strategy.

In his speech, the Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo, said that the Assembly had been able to consider and pass into laws 33 bills, covering education, judiciary, local government and infrastructure, among others, while 23 motions were passed into resolutions.

Oluomo explained that the assembly had also mediated in issues that might have caused disharmony among the people and breach of peace in the state.

While assuring the governor and the people of the state that the bill would be given accelerated passage, he expressed optimism that it would further deliver on the goal of the Abiodun-led administration.

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NEWS & LIFE

Abiodun sends names of commissioner-nominees to Ogun Assembly

Ogun won’t slash salaries, reverse minimum wage — Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Thursday sent names of two commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

The Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo, read Abiodun’s letter containing the names during plenary in Abeokuta.

Oluomo said that the governor wrote to the House to seek the confirmation of the nominees.

The letter read: “In furtherance of our mission to build our future together, please find attached the names of nominees for the post of commissioners for your consideration.

“Please accept the assurance of my highest regards.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nominees are Waheed Odusile, a former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, currently Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education.

The speaker directed the two nominees to appear before the House on Monday by noon, for screening.

He said they must submit 30 copies of their curriculum vitae and credentials by Friday.

Also during plenary, the assembly confirmed the governor’s nominees for post of chairmen and members of statutory commissions and boards in the state.

Mr Yusuf Sherif, the Majority Leader, read the report of the selection committee on the screening of the nominees.

He said that they were found suitable and eligible for the assignments.

Sherif moved the motion for the adoption of the report, seconded by the Minority Leader, Ganiyu Oyedeji.

He listed the names of the statutory boards as Ogun Civil Service Commission, Ogun Local Government Service Commission and House of Assembly Service Commission.

Others are, State Universal Basic Education Board and Ogun State Civil Service Commission.

In his remark, the speaker charged the nominees to put their wealth of experience to work.

He urged them to make themselves instruments of cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Also at plenary, the speaker appealed to Gov. Abiodun to, as a matter of urgency, organise a security summit involving Nigeria Customs Service, traditional rulers and people at the border areas in the state.

Oluomo said some people alleged continuous harassment by Customs personnel, which made it imperative for the summit.

Earlier, while speaking under ‘personal explanation’, the lawmaker representing Ado Odo Ota 11, Musefiu Lamidi, had complained about the overzealousness of the customs officers.

Lamidi said that the activities of some customs officers needed to be checked.