NAIJA TODAY NEWS ..... Relaying the latest

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has issued a stop work order in respect of the construction of the Ibadan circular road project awarded in May 2017. The Governor, who paid a visit to the site of the Circular Road, off the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, said that the road is meant to connect the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to the Ibadan/Ife expressway, adding that work should stop with immediate effect. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Governor Makinde as deploring the discouraging pace of work at the site, during an inspection tour to the site at the Ibadan-Lagos expressway axis. The Governor emphasised the significance of the Circular Road, declaring that the road was of utmost importance to the economy of Oyo state. He also stated that his administration remained determined to build infrastructures that will help to expand the economy of the State. He said: "Basically, what we saw was not encouragi...

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, declared that Hajj pilgrims from the state would enjoy better services in the coming year, as his government is set to give the Oyo Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) the needed backing to deliver on its mandate.  The Governor, who gave the indication while receiving a report of the 2019 Hajj from the Board, said that a new dawn has truly come to Oyo state going by the transparency demonstrated by the Board which refunded the sum of N24,628,900 to Hajj pilgrims before they embarked on the journey to Saudi Arabia. The Governor noted that the Board’s action reflected what his administration has been doing in terms of transparency and accountability. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Governor stated these at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, during the presentation of the 2019 Hajj Exercise by the Oyo St...

The Oyo state house of Assembly has appealed to the Oyo state Government to address the problem of lack of portable water supply in the state by ensuring the completion of all abandoned water work projects across the state. The house made the appeal during Wednesday's plenary while deliberating on a motion on the need to complete ongoing water work project in the state brought by Hon Kazeem Isiaka (Oyo East/ Oyo West). The plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said the  project which is a jointly funded by  the world bank, the federal government of Nigeria and the Oyo state government had been abandoned since 2014 and the house resolved to invite the State commissioner for water resources, Permanent Secretary and other stakeholders to brief the lawmakers on the state of projects across the state. According to the motion, the project awarded seven years ago had to be abandoned because of the failure of the then state government to pay its ow...

STAKEHOLDERS and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oyo State chapter, on Tuesday reviewed the governance style of the State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, and commended him for implementing populist policies and programmes that have changed the face of governance in the state. This was contained in a communique issued at the end of an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting of the party held at Emmanuel Alayande Teachers’ house Samonda, Ibadan. The leaders were led to the meeting by the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Michael Koleoso, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, the acting state party chairman, Reverend Adeniran, former deputy speaker, Rt Honourable Musah Abdulwasi, many state, local and ward executive members as well as prominent party stalwarts drawn from the five major blocs of the party. The blocs are: Unity Forum, Labour Party, Accord, Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), and old promoters of old ADC. The communique reads that...

The Oyo State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed nominations for the positions of Chairman, full time and part time members of the State’s Local government commission. The confirmed nominees which include Dr. Remi Ayodele as the chairman of the commission; Oyesina Oyedeji and Oke Taiwo as full-time members while John Abisoye Adisa-Oke and Nike Arewa are being considered as part time members of the commission, while screened during the house’s Tuesday’s sitting. The list was earlier announced last week Tuesday 22nd October, 2019 by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin reading a letter from the governor announcing the composition of the five-man committee. In his contribution, the lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Adeola noted that the success of the State administration rely on the effectiveness and delivery of the local governments. He charged them to discharge their responsibilities with all commitment, experience ...

The Oyo state house of assembly has call on the executive arm of government under, Engr Seyi Makinde and  to revive Agriculture through the resuscitation of Oyo State Agricultural Development(OYSADEP), and improve state Internally Generated Revenue IGR.  In a motion presented by the lawmaker represent Iseyin/Itesiwaju state constituency, Hon B O Adeola Titled "Need To Revive Agriculture Of The State Through Resuscitation Of Oyo State Agricultural Development", The house noted that "the Creation of OYSADEP was aimed at peoviding effective agricultural extension services and complementary infrastructural facilities such as dams, well and rural roads in other to improve the income and standards of living of People in Oyo state. The house  explained further that "successive administrations pay less attention to adequate budgetary provisions to agriculture. In approved budget of 2016, government allocated N2.5billion to agriculture representing ...

                      Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Scores of loyalists and supporters of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital where they solicited the support of the people of the state and the South West region for Tinubu to emerge the next president of the country. The people made up of politicians and non-politicians from the 18 local government areas of the state were under the umbrella of Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Network Vision which was also inaugurated in the state yesterday. The group declared that Tinubu is the best person to lead the country, describing him as a political strategist and grassroots mobiliser. At the meeting were the former Ondo state commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sola Amodeni, former lawmaker, Samuel Ade Pelemo, BAT vision State Coordinator, Akinlolu ...

The governor Seyi Makinde led-government of Oyo State has approved the release of the sum of N526 million 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, which was made public on Monday in Ibadan, confirmed that the sum of N400 million has been advanced to the secondary schools, while the primary schools got the sum of N126 million. 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 government, 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 N1,000 per child per term budget for the schools. “With the number of students in the secondary schools put at 400,000 and at N...

Some governors of the 36 states are meeting in Abuja to discuss matters bordering on bailout refund repayment and healthcare. According to the agenda of the meeting, which is being held at Transcorp Hilton hotel, the governors will discuss the time-frame for the refund of N614 billion ”bailout funds” issued by the federal government to state governments. The development is following the notice given to the states by the federal government to recover the loan facility. The governors will also deliberate on ‘primary healthcare under one roof (PHCOUR)’ initiative and other health-related matters. Also, issues on deductions for budget support as well as a proposal for the recovery of funds due to state governments such as withholding tax issues, ground rent are expected to be addressed at the meeting. Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, will give the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) a briefing on the national executive council ad hoc committee on excess crude account and...

Fulani herdsmen in Oyo state under the aegis of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association has urged the Governor of the state, Engineer Seyi Makinde to consider the plight of the herdsmen over the Anti Open grazing law. The herdsmen made this plea through their Secretary-General, Garba Umar, while featuring on a political programme BOTTOM LINE on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan. Garba said there was no sincerity of purpose in the move made by the House insisting that the speedy passage given the bill by the House elicits some suspicion. “If you look at the period within which the bill was considered by House, one can conclude that it is targeted at the Fulani Community. Herding is an inherited business for any Fulani man so, for the House to say it is not targeted at the Fulanis is unacceptable. Yoruba people are not into the business but for us, it is a lifestyle” he said.   He lamented that the bill passed by the Assembly focuses on penalty for Herdsmen but is totally silen...

By Apagunpote Olayimika Distinguished readers, as many events either tragic or comic that happened in the country over the past two weeks; state of the virtues also had her fair shares. Apart from the confirmation of commissioner/special adviser nominees of 11months old administration of the sitting governor of the state, a list driven by political compensation and misplacement of offices, destruction of properties worth millions by flood and sudden creation of artificial dams on popular Ejigbo road whose construction has been completed on papers, they were other worse incidents in the state. Few months ago when his excellency, Mr Gboyega Oyetola graced the state house of Assembly to defend the 2020 budget, he declared state of emergency on education and health inspite of billions previous administration where he served as the chief of staffs allocated to these two ministries. Truly, the deplorable state of facilities in campuses and hospitals calls for sober reflection ...

...Oyo State is open for business and transparency is our watchword …says we’ll decisively implement four-point service agenda Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, said on Thursday that he would run the affairs of the State like an open book throughout his tenure. Governor Makinde, who stated this while receiving a delegation from the Commercial Service of the United States of America’s Consular-General’s office, in Lagos, said that his administration would remain accountable to the people throughout his tenure. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the US delegation was led by the Commercial Attache to the U.S Consular, Mrs. Christine Kelley.  According to the statement, Governor Makinde also expressed the readiness of his administration to decisively execute the four-point Service Agenda of his government, which he said, rests on the four pillars of education, security, health and economic expansion th...

The Oyo House of Assembly has passed the anti-open grazing bill into law, says it will foster peace and promote Agricultural business in the State. The bill which was passed at its Thursday plenary is to avoid continuous damages and end lost of lives and unquantifiable investment to constant clashes between herders and crop farmers. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin appealed to residents of the state to ignore falsehoods and misconceptions of the prohibition of Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock bill that are capable of triggering hostility between the herders and local farmers' communities. According to him, public hearing was held in which critical reviews and opinions of all concerned stakeholders, individuals, groups and experts were accommodated and considered before been passed into law. “We assured the people that all suggestions and memoranda of understanding submitted by various groups, agencies and representatives of different comm...

Oyo State Government has begun processes towards enumeration of Original Land Owners of the New Ibadan Inland dry port land acquisition at Akinyele Local Government in Ibadan. The Commissioner for Lands,Housing and Urban Development,Barrister Abiodun Abdu-Raheem gave the hint at a meeting with royal father’s from Akinyele Local Government which was held at the Conference center of the Local Government secretariat on Thursday. Barrister Abdu-Raheem who appealed to the Royal Father’s to talk to land owners not to scuttle the process of enumeration, stressed that the present administration would adequately compensate those whose lands were affected. “The present government, led by Engr. Seyi Makinde is ready to enumerate original Land owners at  Akinyele Local Government whose Land would be used for new Inland dry port as well as the rail line for development of the area. “Once the government acquire the land, adequate compensation would be made to the original la...

By Khalid Wale The people of Iseyin,Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State have lamented over the lawless,irrational and non-challant attitude of Fulani Herdsmen towards the movement and grazing of their herd of cattles on busy motorable roads in the town and the state at large. While registering his frustration, a resident of the town and commercial motorist, Jeleel Ademola frowned at movement of herd of cattles that were allegedly directed by the fulani herdsmen on Peller's road in Iseyin on Tuesday, October 22 which caused a serious traffic gridlock for almost two hours. Ademola lamented that the fulani herdsmen's disposition and style towards the grazing of their herd of cattles are lawless, irrational and bad, adding that they had no unified and comported method to graze their cattles. He said that the scenario of cattles that delayed people from moving on major road was bad, emphasising that motorists,motorcylists and pedestrians who intended to move at...

THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday directed the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to effect payment of the new national minimum wage of N30, 000 on or before 31st December 2019. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja. Senator Ngige further stated that FEC has approved that the payment should take effect from 18th April 2019. Also, briefing, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said FEC approved N1.7 billion for procurement and installation of communication equipment for airport towers in Zaria and Katsina. He explained that the equipment is to ensure safety and efficiency at the airports, adding that the completion period for the contract is eight months.

…threatens to deal with saboteurs of his education policies …says Schools Governing Councils not disbanded Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, announced that he has given approval for the recruitment of teachers into the State’s teaching service, noting that his government is re-engineering the education for “long-lasting positive results.” In a statement made available for Naija TODAY News, signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Governor stated this while speaking at the commissioning of a N50 million multipurpose hall donated to the Ilora Baptist Grammar School, Ilora, by an old student, Mr. Remi Oyekola. The statement also quoted the Governor as indicating that the state government has not scrapped the School Governing Boards(SGBs) which manages the secondary schools. Makinde also stated that he has approved running grants to schools adding that the funds must be lodged in the existing SG...

To reduce corruption to the barest minimum in Nigeria, The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has called for the inclusion of an anti-corruption course in schools’ curricula to reduce the menace of corruption in the country. Special Adviser (Media) to President of the Senate, Mr. Ola Awoniyi, quoted Lawan in a statement as making the call while declaring open the third Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges. According to the statement, the workshop was organized in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) held in Abuja on Tuesday. The Senate President advocated for a review of the basic school curricula to include the teaching of anti-corruption tenets. “I believe that we should look at our civic education. We shouldn’t wait until people commit corruption before we start chasing them. “We should start educating our children in schools, basic education secondary level, and even tertiar...

The Oyo State Government has vowed to ensure the prosecution and jailing of the arsonists, who burnt down a block of three classrooms at the Canon Okusehinde Memorial Primary School, School I, Aremo. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday. The Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, made the vow when he visited the school on Tuesday to assess the level of destruction. Condemning the arsonists, Adeniran stated that the government would investigate the incident and fish out all those involved, adding that anyone found culpable would face the wrath of the law. He stated, “The Oyo State Government will ensure that this particular incident of arson is investigated and the offenders punished in accordance with the law. “The present administration will not condone any form of vandalism or sabotage, especially of our public schools. “We will use the perpetrators as an example to others that arson is a very serious offence, esp...

The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has said that all the five members of the Local Government Service Commission nominated by the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde will be screened by the House next week Tuesday. Hon. Ogundoyin disclosed this during today's plenary shortly after reading a letter from the governor requesting for the approval of names of members of the state Local Government Service Commission. In the letter forwarded by the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and read by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, requesting the approval of Dr. Remi Ayodele as the Chairman of the commission and Alhaji Oyesina Oyedeji and Mr. John Adisa Oke as full time members. Also included in the letter are Alhaji Oke Taiwo and Mrs. Nike Arewa as part time members of the commission. Meanwhile, the Speaker has directed all the nominees to submit photocopies of their credentials to the House on or before Friday, 25th October, 2019 ahead of the scree...