The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of secretaries for the 16 local government councils and 22 local council development areas in the state.
This is coming barely a week after the inauguration of chairmen and vice chairmen of the councils.
The Governor has also directed that the newly appointed secretaries be inaugurated in their respective councils on Monday, January 15, 2024.
While congratulating the new appointees, the Governor urged them to see their appointment as an opportunity to contribute their quotas to grassroots development.
The Biodun Oyebanji administration is committed to all round development of the state in line with its shared prosperity agenda, and sees local government administration as an effective vehicle to drive development across all towns and communities in the state.
Sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s six-week suspension of the four (4) programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA), President Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel, which will be led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
This Special Presidential Panel is tasked with immediately undertaking a comprehensive review and audit of existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes with a view to implementing a total re-engineering of the financial architecture of the programmes with detailed modification to procedures guiding the programmes’ implementation moving forward.
The Special Presidential Panel, which is comprised of ministers representing strategic sectors and will ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort, is made up of the following members:
(1) Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance – Chairman
(2) Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Member
(3) Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Member
(4) Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation – Member
(5) Honourable Minister of Communicatons, Innovation and Digital Economy – Member
(6) Honourable Minister of State for Youth – Member
President Tinubu anticipates that this Special Presidential Panel will validate the confidence reposed in it by winning back all lost public confidence in these vital programmes over the years by ushering in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks that will prove impervious to abuse and incompetence for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households across our nation.
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, called for strengthened cooperation to address the prevailing threat of terrorism, while commending the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, for her dedication to enhancing relations between France and Nigeria.
In a farewell meeting with the French Ambassador, President Tinubu urged Ambassador Blatmann to leverage her new role as Director for Africa in the French Foreign Ministry to advocate the urgent need to ”upgrade technical cooperation” between Nigeria and France to defeat terrorism and violent extremism.
”You have been excellent in promoting bilateral relations between both countries in the areas of economy, trade, education, arts, and culture. Thank you for the hard work you have done in Nigeria and for President Macron to appoint you to a new position as Africa Director, it is a testament that you excelled in your assignment in our country.
”You will always be welcomed in Nigeria. On regional security, we want you to remind Paris at every opportunity that it is necessary to upgrade our technical cooperation in our joint efforts to defeat terrorism and counter violent extremism in the region,” he said.
Reflecting on her tour of duty in Nigeria, Ambassador Blatmann shared notable achievements, highlighting France’s significant investments and remarkable increase in bilateral trade.
According to her, France is among the top foreign investors in Nigeria, with over $10 billion in investment stock, and with bilateral trade increasing by 51 percent in 2021 and 2022.
”We are also one of the biggest development partners with over 3 billion Euros invested over the last decade by AFD and PROPARCO. AFD now operates in 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
”Ever since I arrived here in October 2021, it has been a series of wonderful discoveries and amazing encounters. I will definitely take away with me the energy and creativity of this country that will forever guide me and fuel my afro-optimism,” she said.
Recognizing Nigeria’s pivotal role in regional security and stability, the outgoing ambassador emphasized the close collaboration between France, Nigeria, and other key partners in fostering sustainable international peace, security, and development.
APC said it has accepted, the Supreme Court’s decisions on election petitions challenging the outcome of 2023 governorship elections in eight states of the Federation.
APC, in statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Friday night expressed delight that in Lagos, Ebonyi and Cross River States, the Supreme Court upheld the election of governorship candidates of the APC.
Morka, however, noted that the appeals on Kano, Zamfara, Bauchi, Plateau and Abia State governorship polls were decided in favour of other political parties and their candidates, saying the ruling party has accepted its fate.
He said: “While the Apex Court’s decisions will undoubtedly elicit mixed reactions and reviews, the decisions are final and binding on all parties to the legal contests. The decisions today provide a strong affirmation of the authority, vibrancy and independence of the Judiciary.
“APC has been consistent in its position that the Judiciary must be left alone to perform its important duty of resolving disputes, including electoral disputes, as constitutionally mandated.
“The decisions today must serve as a rebuke to political opposition figures that vilified and denigrated our courts when judgments were handed against them in these same matters.
“Assuming that it has any spec of decency left, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must tender unreserved apology to the courts and our judges for the senseless, irresponsible, reckless and unjustified attacks it mounted against the Judiciary throughout this electoral cycle.
“We congratulate the winners, particularly our Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and Bassey Otu of Cross River State, and wish them the very best as they continue to serve their states and country. We urge everyone to remain calm and continue to maintain the peace,” the statement read.
60km selected roads for rehabilitation/asphalt overlay across the State
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered all contractors handling road projects across the state to immediately return to site to work towards timely completion of the projects.
This is coming in addition to the approval given by the Governor for the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of 60km roads across the State within the next three months.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who had promised that all ongoing infrastructural projects in the State would be completed, directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to mobilise contractors back to site to speed up work on the projects for early completion.
The Governor expressed the determination of his administration to hit the ground running with the implementation of policies and programmes of government as scheduled to budget, assuring on timely payment for jobs done by contractors.
The projects to receive urgent attention, as directed by Mr. Governor, include, but not limited to, the following:
Completion of Owo township dualization
Completion of Oba Osupa – Oluwatuyi – Ijoka (Akure) dualization
Completion of Oda dual carriage (Akure)
Completion of Akure flyover (Onyearugbulem-Shagari-Irese)
Construction of 15.89km selected roads in Ondo township
Construction of Arigidi – Ogbagi Akoko road
Construction of internal roads in Olusegun Agagu University of Technology, Okitipupa
Construction of Emure-Ile – Eporo road
Rehabilitation/Asphalt overlay of 18.65 selected roads in Akure
Construction of selected roads in Akungba Akoko
Construction of selected roads in Igbobini, Ilaje
Reconstruction of Oritaobele junction – Okeodu, with spur to Ipinsa road/Maronu street
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of Alagbaka GRA roads
Rehabilitation of Bolorunduro – Fagbo Road, etc.
Relaying the directive of Mr. Governor to the contractors handling projects in the State during a meeting in Akure on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Allen Idowu, Said the Governor has expressed readiness to ensure that the needed resources are made available on time to encourage them.
The Permanent Secretary said the contractors have expressed their willingness to speed up their projects to meet up with the deadline set by the Governor, adding that the officials of the ministry have also been mobilized to play their parts.
Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State. January 13, 2024
Workers in Ondo State have been reassured of the commitment of the present administration to sustain and improve programmes that promote their welfare.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the flag off of the distribution of 1.2 billion naira gratuity to 2014 retirees, urged more support for his administration.
Government House Correspondent, Wahab Bankole completes the story
The present administration in Ondo State under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been assured of adequate and unflinching support of the people of Owo and Ijebu Owo.
The Olowo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye and the Onijebu of Ijebu Owo, Oba Kofoworola Olatunbosun Oladoyinbo prayed for the success of the Aiyedatiwa administration with a call on him to sustain the legacy of his late boss.
Government House Correspondent, Wahab Bankole reports that governor Aiyedatiwa visited the royal fathers to condole with them and the people following the passing of former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The late governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was a man whose name has been written in gold not only in the state and the Southwest, but at the national and international scene.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa while receiving in audience a delegation of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC at the Government House in Akure, said the legacies of the late governor would be sustained.
Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu lived a purposeful life and will be duly celebrated.
Government House Correspondent, Wahab Bankole completes the story.
President Bola Tinubu has implored governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to design and implement policies that prioritize all Nigerians and to always consider the national interest above political affiliations.
The President, who received members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) at the State House in Abuja, on Friday, said development policies would only find full relevance in people’s lives when there is inclusivity, ownership, and sustainability.
President Tinubu told the governors that one of the biggest challenges the nation faces was divisiveness, but that the governing party must work towards healing and unifying the country by ensuring a collective national vision, and channelling energy and resources into nation-building.
“You can convert people. You can appeal to people to come to your side,’’ he stated.
The President said Nigeria is too blessed with human, natural, and material resources to be struggling with a dearth of quality infrastructure, quality education, and world-class health facilities.
He said the entire financial system of the country would be re-engineered for inclusivity, effectiveness, and efficiency.
“We have no reason to be poor. Looking back on where we are coming from, where we have been, why we are facing infrastructural decay, a lack of quality and comprehensive education, as well as a lack of health facilities. We are not a cursed country, but blessed,’’ the President said.
President Tinubu asked the governors to come up with a framework that will make the implementation of the school-feeding programme more comprehensive and successful across all states of the federation, taking into consideration the peculiarities of each locality, but working towards having all children in school.
“We have children of school age who are out of school. The way to promote education is to get all governors, including the opposition governors, involved in the school-feeding programme. Please, take it seriously.
“We should not measure the children as statistics. We should measure their return to classrooms as our achievement. We should see economic growth in terms of value and empowerment. We should set up a committee to look into the methods. I am ready to invest in school feeding,” the President said.
The President said the school-feeding programme would encourage more investments in agriculture, particularly in livestock farming and dairy, adding that the former Kano State Governor and APC Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, had already worked on a proposal that would be shared for input and implementation. President Tinubu equally congratulated the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for restoring irrigation systems that provide water for year-long cultivation of crops.
On security, the President said the deployment of forest guards was being considered, with better training, modern technological gadgets and weapons to strengthen security, and that the solid mineral and marine economic sectors will also be secured by special police.
“We have a big marine economy, and I do not see why we should not have the marine police. We will have the same in solid minerals to keep the scavengers away. I am ready to invest in security. We will buy our own minerals and keep them in reserves, especially gold, which will be effective in our foreign exchange reserve,’’ the President told the governors.
The Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, thanked the President for involving governors in the design and implementation of polices, as well as for intervening with financial support in the states.
“We will continue to support you as your able ambassadors, willing ambassadors, and capable ambassadors,’’ Governor Uzodinma said.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of business mogul, Dr Tunji Olowolafe as the Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
This is in exercise of his power as Governor of the state and Visitor to the University.
Dr. Olowolafe, who hails from Are-Ekiti is a medical doctor -turned businessman with decades of professional experience and an excellent reputation.
He is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Deux Project Limited, a civil engineering, construction, consultancy, and maintenance company, which he co-founded in 1988. He had previously served as a member of Ekiti State Covid- 19 Resource Mobilization Committee.
Dr. Olowolafe, a graduate of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, had a brief stint in medical practice before launching his career as a business owner. He’s also the Founder of Generic Product Limited, which he launched in 1996, and the Chairman and Managing Director of Deux Investment Limited.
The appointment is with immediate effect.
Signed: Yinka Oyebode Special Adviser, Media to the Governor, Ekiti State. 12-01- 2024
