We Will Continue To Improve Standards Of Education In Oyo - Makinde

Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, has declared that his government will continue to improve the standards of education in the state.

The governor, who stated this  while hosting  the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kalu Uche, at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that  education is one of the key pillars of his administration.

A statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,  quoted Makinde as saying that the  Start Them Early Project, 'STEP-Oyo', being operated in secondary schools, was introduced  to improve education standards in the state.

He noted that Methodist High School is one of the schools that have been selected for the project.

He said: "I want to thank and appreciate you for your kind words in terms of what you have seen that we are doing in the state. We also appreciate you for coming for this visit. 

"This is a government that does not have any godfather apart from God the Father. 

"So, it is a lot easier to lay out our programmes and follow them through because we are only accountable to the people."

According to Makinde, education is one of the pillars of the present  administration in Oyo State, adding that whatever the government needs to do to improve the standards of education, will be done. "Methodist High School is one of the schools that we selected for the 'Start Them Early Project' STEP-Oyo Project.

"I have been there myself. I saw what they are doing and I want it to grow."

Speaking earlier, the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Kalu Uche, commended the  governor Makinde-led administration in the state for utilizing the little resources to develop the state.

He said: "We have gone to some places and saw what you have been doing. Concerning LAUTECH, immediately you came in, you paid all the staff working there and I see this as a commendable achievement.

"And you are also utilising the little resources which the state has to develop it. You pay your workers salaries, pensions and others. So, we are proud of you."

Nigeria Needs N207bn For Digital Census – NPC

Management of the National Population Commission (NPC) has said Nigeria requires N207billion to conduct a successful digital population census next year if approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In an interview, the chairman of Census Committee and federal commissioner representing Rivers State in the NPC, Ipalibo Harry, he declared the readiness of the commission to conduct the first-ever digital population census in May next year.

 

Harry said the NPC had carried out census pretest exercises in the Federal capital Territory (FCT) and some states across the country to test run the digital process.

 

However, the committee chairman objected to the N178 billion budget that had been approved by the National Assembly, stating that it was a far cry from what would be needed for the exercise.

He also addressed the notion that while Nigerians might raise hackles on the issue of the proposed budget not being enough, it was important to note that the exercise would need manpower to execute and there was a need to study the census budget of previous years and in other climes.

The National Assembly had approved N178 billion for the proposed census in the 2022 national budget.

Harry said, “The estimated budget approved by the National Assembly is N178 billion and that is a far cry from what it ought to be, but we hope that a supplementary budget will come afterward, but I don’t have the idea of what the cost implications would be, you can take it from me that the total budget won’t be less than N207 billion.”

He continued, “They need to find out the budget allocated for the last census 16 years ago. We also need to compare the cost of a census in neighboring countries. I tell you the outcome will be worth more than the budget.

“It is worthy to note that Nigeria is a highly populous country at a projected 207 million and so the human resources that will be polled towards the success of this exercise would also be huge as this will involve more than 1,000 enumeration areas and this will help in extending our reach so we can know what might affect the next census. As it is now, not less than 1.5 million ad-hoc personnel will be involved in the exercise, part of that will be from the outcome of the second pretest.”.

He hinted that the commission had successfully conducted the enumeration area demarcation exercise which he described as the foundation of any census.

 

The NPC commissioner said, “We have made all necessary preparations for the upcoming census scheduled for May 2022. Fortunately, the enumeration area demarcation has been completed for the next census and this is the foundation of any census, it creates the framework for the survey. The pocket areas affected by insecurity are yet to be tidied up.

“There is a mop-up exercise going on in those directions. In this regard, we have carried out our first pretest. Training for the second pretest came up 25th November, 2021 while the fieldwork is by December. One week after the fieldwork, we will be done with our second pretest then we review the pretest activities with key players,” he said.

He further revealed that the commission was expected to provide a supplementary budget submission and also hoped for maximum support from some of its international development partners.

“Second, we have development partners that are always coming into partnership with us. The chief technical adviser is coming from the United State of America to see the progress report and advise us as we go forward. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is also on standby to see to what extent they can come in to give their support. Usually, not less than 30 per cent of our support is from our partners. Even though we don’t have much funds, we are positive that a lot of partners will support us,’’ Harry said.

Source: Leadership

We‘ll Continue To Support Security Agencies To Deliver On Mandates - Makinde

Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, said on Friday that his administration will continue to support security agencies operating in the state to deliver on their mandates.

Makinde, who 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, said that security is key to the successful implementation of government policies.

The governor praised the  team, led by its  Chairman, Sheikh Mohammed Waziri, for helping to tackle insecurity in all the nooks and crannies of the country.

He said: "We welcome you to Ibadan and I am glad that the conference went very well. You were able to interact and identify some of the security challenges within the geopolitical zone. 

“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.

“Also, I am glad that you mentioned cooperation between yourselves, the government and among the other security agencies. Yes, it is normal to have inter-agency rivalry but what has worked for us is how we worked together as a team here. 

"Even the state-owned security network, Amotekun, was pulled in and they work together. "So, we want to focus a bit more on cooperation between other agencies operating within the geo-political zone. 

“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.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank you very much because we know that while we are sleeping and enjoying ourselves, you are on the edge and all over the place trying to ensure we sleep with our two eyes closed. 

"Thank you for all the hard work you are putting in to ensure that we can sleep. We are indeed very grateful. The least we can do is to give you support and we will continue to support you."

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

He said: "I will say that the country is passing through a unique and difficult period. We are faced with an economic issue and the issue of unifying this country. We have never been divided like this before. We are getting to a situation where the people of Osun would say they are not part of Oyo State but we used to be one state. 

‘’So, we all now have a very serious role to play to ensure that we unify our people and contribute our quota to the unity of the country. It is a huge task before us at this period. I will ask that you also look at that issue.”

In his remarks,  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:  “Yesterday (Thursday) and today, we have discussed the issue of security challenges extensively in the zone in the area of crime and criminalities. 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 spaces.

“Concerning the issue of cultism at the local level, we are looking at how we can reach out to stakeholders at the state and local levels to see how we can manage the perception of individuals. We want to also see how we can prosecute those that are recalcitrant in terms of addressing some of these issues.

“It is our hope that the governor will give us all the support that is necessary to fulfil our mandate.”

Court Finally Declared Bandits Terrorists

The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday proscribed bandit groups as terrorists.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo in his ruling,  specifically held that activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups, constitute acts of terrorism.

 

The ruling followed an ex parte motion the Federal Government filed through the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The FG had in an affidavit it filed in support of the motion, told the court that intelligence reports affirmed that the bandit groups masterminded several killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings and related acts of criminality in the north-east, north-central and other parts of the country.

Federal government also alleged that the groups were equally responsible for the growing cases of banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral states in Nigeria.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Abubakar, told the court that perturbed by the actions of the bandits, President Muhammadu Buhari, gave approval for their proscription as a terrorist group.

Justice Taiwo accordingly granted the motions as prayed by declaring the activities of the “Yan Bindiga group, the Yan Ta’adda group and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the north-west and the north-central as acts of terrorism and illegality.

The court outlawed the activities of the groups and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria.

It further made an order restraining “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group under any other name or platform however called or described”.

Justice Taiwo further ordered the FG to publish the proscription order in the official gazette as well as in two national dailies.

Senator Balogun Charges IGP Over Murder Of Eruwa-Born Adegoke

Senator Kola Balogun has written a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, calling for a thorough investigation into the brutal murder of the Oyo State-born Timothy Adegoke Oludare.

The late Oludare was reportedly murdered in the night of 5 November, 2021 in his room at the Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile Ife, Osun State where he had lodged to sit for his Executive MBA examination at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.

As contained in a release by his media aide, Dapo Falade, Senator Balogun, in the letter dated 21 November, 2021, called on IGP Baba to institute a thorough and deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder with a view to unveiling the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Balogun, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, recalled that the slained Timothy Adegoke Oludare, until his death, worked in Abuja from where he had travelled to Ile-Ife on 5 November, 2021, in pursuance of his Executive MBA programme at the OAU, Ile-Ife.

The vice chairman, Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development further said the deceased was married with three children and sadly survived by both parents. 

Senator Balogun said: "He lodged at the Hilton Hotel and Resorts owned by Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, the founder of Oduduwa University, Ile Ife. We are reliably informed that he had always lodged in the same hotel each time he travelled to Ile Ife for his MBA programme.

"In the first instance, I wish to register my profound initial relief occasioned by the swift and professional manner with which the men of Osun State Police Command swung into action as soon as the report of the gruesome murder got to them.

"I also wish to place on record my satisfaction with which the suspects were apprehended following their preliminary investigations. This is the only way to ensure justice is done on all criminal matters 

"Without the efforts of the police, the manner of his death would have been difficult to unearth. This is quite commendable. 

"At the same time, I wish to implore the Inspector General of Police that the instant case should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet as usual following the temporary subside of the public overage on the matter.

"This is more particularly when the fingered principal suspect is a VIP in the city of Ile-Ife and in Nigeria armed with all the wherewithal to murder the case and denty us the much desired justice.

"The late Timothy Adegoke Olutare was the only breadwinner of the family, an enterprising young man with a brilliant future who was cut down in the prime of his youth. 

"The family of the deceased, the people of Eruwa and Oyo State in general demand for justice which can only be achieved through professional investigations into the incidence, diligent and God-fearing prosecution by the men of the Nigeria Police Force.

"I personally believe in your competence, expertise and ability to achieve this through your good offices. As your good self-know, this requires close monitoring and supervision of the men of the force to who in the case is assigned from time to time to the conclusion of the investigations

"On behalf of myself, the family of the deceased, the people of Eruwa, the people and government of Oyo State and all users of hotels in Nigeria, I, once again, implore you to please ensure that the public is apprised with regular updates on the matter till the final conclusion of the case in the appropriate court of law," the letter reads.

NWC Retreat: We'll Show Nigerians That PDP Is Different - Makinde

Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, declared on Wednesday that with a new leadership  that will soon take over the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was hopeful that the party will begin to take actions that will show Nigerians that it is different and ready to work for Nigerians' best interest.

Makinde, who maintained that elective office holders on the platform of the PDP must show that the party is ready to engender good governance at all levels, added that there is a connection between the performance of elective office holders and the high level of voter apathy in the country.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde, who chaired one of the sessions at the retreat for newly-elected PDP Officers, held in Abuja, urged the party to end voter apathy by mobilising women and youths, who represent critical segments of the voting population.

According to the governor, the PDP must address the issue of voter apathy ahead of the 2023 general election, as the results of the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections showed that less than 30 million voters participated in each of the elections, whereas, the number of registered voters was just below 85 million.

He stated, however, that in order to address the issue of youth and women participation in politics, the party must deal with the issue of elective office holders breaching the trust and confidence of voters.

He said: "I would like you to bear in mind, each time the speakers mention youth, that Nigeria has a population of about 78 million persons who fall between the ages of 16 and 40 and when they say women, we should be thinking in terms of about 100 million persons.

"So, in total, we are discussing a population of about 120  to 140million.

"I have decided to lead with this information because as politicians, we are interested in numbers. The 2015 presidential election was won and lost with a voting population of less than 30 million. In 2019, the figures were similar - less than 30 million people voted. In both cases, the total number of registered voters was just below 85 million.

"From these numbers, we can clearly see that we have an election participation problem. "First, those eligible to register are not registering to vote. "Second, over 60 per cent of those who register, shun the elections.

"So, looking towards 2023, one of the key issues that we need to address is voter apathy and we cannot effectively address youth participation in Nigerian politics and mobilising youth and women in Nigerian politics while ignoring the reason behind this apathy.

"If we are being honest, we will agree that the failure of the political class to make itself relevant to the voting population is chiefly responsible for voter apathy. We over-promise and under deliver and the citizens pay the price.

"We have a growing population of poor Nigerians and the growing feeling among the youths is that their only hope for economic stability is to leave the country. Why then should they be interested in voting?

"If politicians at all levels make an impact in people’s lives, then they will be more interested in who occupies these positions and who wins the elections.

"So, the solution really begins with us - those of us in this room who are occupying elective positions. What are we doing with the trust we have been given?

"I am hopeful that with this new dispensation, new party leadership, we will begin to take actions that will show Nigerians that the PDP, is different. We need the people to come out and vote, because as has been shown, elections are harder to rig when the people are interested and invested in the process."

The governor added: "Let me leave you with this statistic. In September 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission said that they had over 3 million new voter-registrations. Bringing the number of registered voters for the 2023 elections to just about 90 million. If women and youths alone are about 120 million, it tells us that we still have a lot of mobilising to do.

"I hope we see this as a wake-up call and begin now to do our part to end voter apathy."

Our Next Target Is To Attract Global Visibility- Lead City University VC

Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo, has said that the immediate vision of the University is to attract global visibility and grands. Having surpassed the Institution's core mission which is to be a centre of excellence, unique urban-based university that specialises in Social Sciences, Management Law, Information and Communication Technology and Applied Sciences.

Saying noting that part of Lead City University mission is also to contribute to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria. By providing qualitative access to knowledge, training and innovative teaching technologies that guaranteed a balanced education.

Adeyemo disclosed this while featuring on a “Breakfast Meeting”, organised by the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), held on Thursday, in Ibadan.

"By next year, to the glory of God, we are looking into global visibility. I want to make sure that Lead City University attract global visibility and grands. So that we'll be one of the best universities in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,"he said.

Speaking further during the program, Professor Adeyemo also revealed that what has really helped the University in the past years, among other things, are, staff welfare package and zero tolerance for misconduct by staff and students of the Institution.

He said, "the university has created its own salary scales for both teaching and non-teaching staff which is far higher than the salary scales in use in most Nigerian public universities."

That in Lead City University, both teaching and non-teaching staff were elevated to higher positions, in order to encourage and generally motivate them.

In Lead City University, Professor Adeyemo said, both teaching and non-teaching staff were elevated to higher positions, in order to encourage and generally motivate them.

“In the academic staff cadre, a total of 105 staff members received a promotion to higher positions. These include two full professors, seven associate professors, nine senior lecturers, 47 Lecturers I and 32 Lecturers II.

“Five Graduate Assistants were also elevated to Assistant Lecturer positions, while three Librarians I got promoted to Senior Librarians.

“In the non-teaching cadre, many deserving members of staff got elevation to higher positions. It is worthy of mention that every member of staff in the university, without exception in both teaching and non-teaching cadres, received a fat salary increment.”

On the issue of discipline, Prof. Adeyemo revealed that the management of Lead City University has zero tolerance for any form of misconduct by staff and students of the institution.

“Measures put in place at Lead City University are enough foolproof against academic cheat among the students, particularly at the post-graduate level.

“Lead City University pays zero tolerance to issues of misconduct and other behaviours of negative nature to official matters among its staff.

In this circumstance, following laid down procedures, as provided in the University’s Human Resources Management Policy and Conditions of Service for staff, during the year under consideration, some erring members of staff were given various degrees of sanctions, depending on the gravity of their offences.

“For instance, some have been relieved of their positions for offences ranging from absconding from duty, not complying with terms and conditions of employment, betraying the trust placed on them by the university and engaging in acts detrimental to the interest of the university, while some were placed on suspension for a specific period of time and some given letters of warning."