Governor Biodun Oyebanji's First Year: Achievements in Governance, Security, and Development Lay Strong Foundation for Ekiti State Progress.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji's First Year: Achievements in Governance, Security, and Development Lay Strong Foundation for Ekiti State Progress.

By: Comr. Olamide Akinwumi J. 

Governor Biodun Oyebanji's first year in office has been marked by significant accomplishments, with a strong emphasis on governance, security, and development. Here is a comprehensive review of the achievements in these vital areas:

Governance:

Promoting Workforce Well-being:

One of the standout achievements is the timely payment of salaries to state and local government workers, amounting to N29,278,008,353 between October 2022 and July 2023. This has significantly contributed to the welfare of civil servants.

Supporting Home Ownership:

The administration disbursed housing loans totaling N267.07 million to 1,901 beneficiaries across multiple Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This initiative empowers public servants to acquire comfortable homes.

Strengthening the Civil Service:

The Ministry of Agriculture saw the appointment of 42 produce inspectors to bolster the agricultural sector and maintain the quality of agricultural produce. Additionally, 102 junior officers were appointed across various MDAs, enhancing the workforce.

Normalized Appointments:

The normalization of temporary appointments for 64 junior officers has streamlined transitions within the civil service, making it more efficient and organized.

Pensioners' Welfare:

A priority has been ensuring the welfare of pensioners. The government disbursed N10,210,792,973.88 as pensions to state and local government pensioners between October 2022 and July 2023.

Staff Development:

Recognizing the importance of workforce development, 1,700 staff in the Primary Health Care sector received promotions, boosting their morale and career prospects. Car loans, amounting to N228.3 million, were granted to 682 public servants between October 2022 and July 2023.

Gratuity Benefits:

Beneficiaries of the state and local governments enjoyed the disbursement of N435,000,000.00 as gratuity, further enhancing their well-being.

Enhancing Accessibility:

The administration initiated a free mass transit scheme for public servants and public secondary school students, improving accessibility and mobility.

Modernizing the Civil Service:

Efficiency in the civil service was boosted with the procurement of 30 units of Toyota Yaris cars for 28 permanent secretaries and 2 auditors-general in the Ekiti State Civil Service.

Planning & Development:

Efficient Data Management:

The Data Centre at the Bureau of Statistics received upgrades, ensuring more efficient data management and analysis.

Capacity Building:

The government invested in personnel development, offering training and development programs for 627 local government service personnel, enhancing their skills and knowledge.

Global Representation:

The administration sponsored representatives of organized labor to attend the 2023 session of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Switzerland, bolstering international labor relations.

Financial Training:

A vital part of capacity building included training local government chairmen and other top government officials at the local government level in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Inclusivity:

The government prioritized training and establishment for 30 individuals with disabilities (PWDs), promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities.

Government Café:

A new engagement and interaction space, the Government Café, was established, enhancing communication.

Security:

Vehicle and Equipment Repairs:

Operational pick-up vehicles and fire-fighting engines in Omuo and Ikole Ekiti received essential repairs, improving the efficiency of these services.

Renovation of the Fire Service HQ:

The government approved the renovation of the Ekiti State Fire Service Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, ensuring it meets modern standards.

Investing in Security:

To bolster security, the administration purchased armored personnel carriers (APC), patrol trucks, and security equipment, including bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, tactical boots, and Motorola radios.

Emergency Command Centre:

The completion of the Emergency Command Centre (ECC) provided a central point for incident reporting and rapid responses.

Increased Security Votes:

Chairmen of local government councils saw an increment in their security votes to enhance local security efforts.

Safest State in Nigeria:

In a notable achievement, the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) ranked Ekiti State as the safest state in Nigeria in 2022.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji's administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to governance, security, and the overall development of Ekiti State. These achievements in the first year provide a solid foundation for the administration's continued dedication to serving the people of Ekiti State.

Comr. Olamide Akinwumi James is a Public Relations Specialist, Content Creator, and Journalist, born and raised in Ise-Ekiti, Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He can be reached through: Akinwumiolamide09@gmail.com, 09068215955.

IGP to meet US security Chiefs over modern policing concept.

IGP to meet US security Chiefs over modern policing concept.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, is billed to lead a delegation of Senior Officers of the Nigeria Police Force to the prestigious International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference 2023 in San Diego, Carlifornia, United States of America. 

The Conference, themed ‘The Real Advantage’, is geared towards providing an invaluable platform for police leaders and professionals around the world to engage with contemporary law enforcement issues of global significance.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Conference, scheduled to take place from 14th to 17th October 2023, at the San Diego Convention Centre, will host International Police Chiefs and Senior Officers, as well as experts and practitioners in various fields of law enforcement. 

It will encompass a broad spectrum of discussions and workshops on critical subjects, including transnational fraud, officer safety and wellness, use of force, innovative investigative techniques related to firearms, community and public safety, cybercrime, and other pressing matters.

Adejobi said: “IGP, who would lead Senior Police Officers to attend the General Assembly of the Association on Monday 16th October, 2023, recognizes the importance of attending this Conference and actively participating in these crucial discussions as the event aligns with his commitment to achieving professional competence, rule of law compliance, and people-friendly policing services, all in accordance with international standards. 

“The knowledge and insights gained from this Conference will be instrumental in advancing the IGP’s mission to maintain law and order and ensure the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.

“In addition, the IGPs attendance is premised on the consideration the Nigeria Police Force enjoys for having a very large number of members in the IACP, who have been so instrumental to the growth and relevance of the professional body in Nigeria and Africa at large.

“Equally, the Inspector-General of Police would leverage on the 130th IACP Annual Conference 2023 to tap into the valuable opportunity for collaboration, learning and partnering with equipment and service providers to strengthen the assets of the Nigeria Police Force for better efficiency and effectiveness. 

“The Inspector-General of Police, Ag.  IGP Kayode Adeolu would also meet with Mr. Todd Brown, the Assistant Secretary of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States on Sunday 15th October, 2023, at Down Town, San Diego, Califonia, USA, to further discuss the implementation of anti-crime strategies emplaced by the NPF.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

PDP calls on INEC to honour pledge on BVAS, IReV in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa polls.

PDP calls on INEC to honour pledge on BVAS, IReV in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa polls.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to walk the talk on the conduct of governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states slated for  November 11.

The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had at the weekend assured that the Commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for the conduct of the election.

The Commission’s chairman also said results will be uploaded and transmitted by electronic means from the polling units to INEC’s central server in real time.

Reacting to Prof Yakubu’s statements, the PDP charged INEC to make good its promise as the party will not accept anything less.

At a media conference in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said the use of the stated technology devices for elections was a mandatory statutory requirement of the law.

Ologunagba said: “The PDP holds INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directly responsible and accountable to his pronouncements and that INEC is bound by law to electronically transmit results directly from the polling units using these technologies.

“The PDP is fully prepared for these elections and in line with the commitment of INEC, will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except as this manner pronounced by the INEC Chairman in line with requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.

“The PDP has commenced training of our polling agents at all levels to ensure total compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Regulations especially as confirmed by the INEC Chairman  

“INEC chairman must note that the integrity of an election process is directly linked to the confidence of the electorate”.

The party expressed confidence in its candidates to win the governorship elections in the three states.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

Lagos seals hospital for transfusing patients with unscreened blood.

Lagos seals hospital for transfusing patients with unscreened blood.

The Lagos government has sealed a private hospital at Ago-Okota in Oshodi-Isolo local government area of the state for collecting and transfusing unscreened and unlabelled blood to unsuspecting patients.

Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), said this in a statement signed by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director, Public Affairs, state Ministry of Health, on Sunday in Lagos.

Osikomaiya said the LSBTS in collaboration with the state Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) sealed the facility following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

“Following the tip off, and after thorough investigations, the enforcement teams of LSBTS and HEFAMAA, during their joint monitoring exercise in the area, visited the facility and confirmed to be true, the unwholesome, unprofessional and unethical medical practices and conduct of the hospital management,” Osikomaiya said.

She added that the facility was shut for contravening the blood transfusion service law and for unethical and unprofessional medical practice, as well as putting the lives of unsuspecting citizens at risk.

“The law states that no person within Lagos State shall transfuse blood into a patient unless such blood has been screened, tested, labelled by the state blood transfusion committee, and found to be negative for all transmissible diseases including HIV I and II, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and any other disease as may be deemed necessary by LSBTS,” she said.

Osikomaiya said the details of the blood donors and transfusion recipients had been retrieved from the management of the hospital.

She noted that patients who were transfused with the unscreened units of blood at the facility were being traced as part of protocol to ascertain their clinical health status and ensure their safety.

Osikomaiya stressed that the management of the hospital and workers found culpable in the unwholesome act would be prosecuted in accordance with appropriate laws.

She the agency had rejigged its strategies in sanitising the state against unethical blood transfusion practices and continued to wage war against unwholesome practice of transfusing unscreened blood in the state.

Osikomaiya appealed to citizens to support the war against unwholesome blood transfusion service by reporting infractions and unwholesome practices when they see any.

She also implored health workers and stakeholders involved in the blood transfusion chain, including blood banks, blood donation centres, and logistics firms to adhere strictly to WHO regulations and the state Blood Transfusion laws on blood donation, collection and transfusion.

“This war against unwholesome blood transfusion practices involves and affects every citizen, and as a result, the LBTS will step up the tempo through continuous monitoring of all facilities concerned with blood transfusion,” she said.

Osikomaiya said this would ensure a safe and wholesome blood transfusion chain and guarantee the safety of all citizens residing in the state.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

Vehicles for members not private property, says Reps spokesman.

Vehicles for members not private property, says Reps spokesman.

The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, has said the new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) to be distributed to members would not be personal property of the lawmakers.

Rotimi stated this following reports indicating that the lawmakers were supposedly being gifted vehicles worth allegedly over N100 million each.

He said for the duration of the 10th assembly, the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly.

Rotimi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday evening, however did not say anything about the cost of the vehicles.

He said the vehicles are work tools, and not status symbols

The statement reads: “Honourable Members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled. The anticipated allocation of vehicles will contribute to improved representation, constituency outreach and oversight functions.

“The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic across multiple traditional and online media, concerning the allocation of vehicles to honourable members, and because this issue has understandably generated significant public interest, we believe Nigerians deserve feedback from their elected representatives.

“While many versions of this story carry varying exaggerations, we can confirm that the National Assembly bureaucracy is in the phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members over the coming weeks and months.

“This development is in accordance with extant procurement laws and has been the practice in previous assemblies. It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their offices.

“It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of honourable members are utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees. They are not personal vehicles gifted to honourable members.

“For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.

“The public is invited to note that as part of the 10th Assembly’s objective to ensure our integrity and independence, honourable members of the Green Chamber have resolved to maintain a respectable distance from the Executive arm of government, especially in issues relating to logistical aspects of oversight functions, including reaching difficult terrains in the country.

“No matter how remote the location is, as long as there are Nigerian citizens living there, they deserve highly mobile representatives who can see first-hand what they are going through, and ensure government interventions, programmes, and policies are carried out effectively. This can only be possible with functional and reliable off-road vehicles.

“Also, the House would like to inform the public that we remain committed to reducing the cost of governance in line with present realities. Those willing to research further would find a significant body of work with evidence that the percentage of the component of the Legislature’s budget as part of our national budget has been on a downward trend over the past decade, despite inflation and the expanding role and relevance of honourable members in the lives of citizens. It currently stands at 0.5% of the Federal budget.

“Accordingly, as all stakeholders continue to advance the conversation about reducing the cost of governance, we encourage looking in the right direction, and not cause disaffection for honourable members who want to discharge their duties effectively and above board, without being susceptible to inducement when the enablement to function is impaired.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba Extends Heartfelt Congratulations to Governor Biodun Oyebanji Abayomi on His One-Year Anniversary in Office.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba Extends Heartfelt Congratulations to Governor Biodun Oyebanji Abayomi on His One-Year Anniversary in Office.

 In a touching display of admiration and unwavering support, Honorable Wale Alade-Oba, a respected businessman and a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA), has conveyed his sincere congratulations to Governor Biodun Oyebanji Abayomi. This gesture coincides with the celebration of the distinguished Governor's remarkable one-year anniversary in office.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba, also a member of BAO Anchor organization and the chairman of Ekiti in Diaspora for BAO Abuja chapter, recognized the exceptional intellectual prowess of Governor Biodun Oyebanji Abayomi. He praised the Governor's unwavering commitment to the betterment of Ekiti State, citing his dedication to good governance, infrastructural development, and the well-being of Ekiti's residents.

In this heartfelt message of congratulations, Hon. Alade-Oba underscores the significance of Governor Abayomi's first year in office, emphasizing the substantial progress made and the unwavering dedication displayed. Governor Abayomi's vision for Ekiti State, encompassing critical infrastructural development, social welfare programs, and the holistic well-being of the state's citizens, has served as a guiding light for Ekiti's journey toward progress and prosperity.

During his message, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba eloquently underscores the importance of strong leadership and unity within the APC. He takes this opportunity to commend Governor Abayomi for his role in promoting party cohesion and his unwavering commitment to upholding the core values and principles of the APC.

Furthermore, Hon. Alade-Oba extends his appreciation for the Governor's palliative measures, which were implemented to support the state's workforce in response to the fuel subsidy removal. He describes these actions as unprecedented and lauds the Governor for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of the state's employees.

In addition, Alade-Oba underscores Governor Abayomi's symbolic act of handing Ekiti over to God during his inauguration one year ago. This gesture is viewed as instrumental in ushering in a sense of peace and illumination in the state, both in the physical realm and on a spiritual plane.

Looking forward, Alade-Oba expresses his eagerness to collaborate closely with Governor Abayomi to achieve the shared goals and objectives of the APC within Ekiti State. He acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead and underscores the collective effort required to bring about meaningful and lasting positive change for the state.

Wale Alade-Oba's message of congratulations not only pays tribute to Governor Biodun Oyebanji Abayomi's first year in office but also serves as a testament to the unity and shared purpose within the APC. It underscores the party's commitment to effective leadership, development, and dedicated service to the people of Ekiti State.

As Governor Abayomi embarks on his second year in office, the support and encouragement from esteemed party members like Hon. Wale Alade-Oba reaffirm the shared vision of progress, prosperity, and good governance for Ekiti State under the capable leadership of the APC.

Unity and Support Shine as Hon Wale Alade-Oba Extends Birthday Greetings to Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi, APC's Flag Bearer for Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA Chairmanship Election.

Unity and Support Shine as Hon Wale Alade-Oba Extends Birthday Greetings to Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi, APC's Flag Bearer for Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA Chairmanship Election.

 In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and goodwill, Honorable Wale Alade-Oba, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA), has extended his warmest regards to Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi, the chosen flag bearer for the upcoming Chairmanship election in Ekiti state, specifically for the Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA Chairmanship election.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba, also a member of BAO Anchor organization and the chairman of Ekiti in Diaspora for BAO Abuja chapter, emphasized the exceptional intellectual prowess of Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi. He conveyed his heartfelt wishes for a life filled with longevity and prosperity, recognizing the importance of Hon. Oluwatuyi's role as a valuable and youthful leader poised to make a significant impact.

Addressing recent unfounded rumors of internal discord within the party and alleged dissatisfaction with the primary election results, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba categorically refuted these claims and reaffirmed his unwavering support for Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi. Drawing a poignant analogy, he emphasized that the unity within the party is akin to the saying, "A cooking pot for a lizard is a cooking pot for a chameleon," highlighting that the success of one ultimately benefits all.

Furthermore, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba stressed the absence of any contention between himself and Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi, underscoring his unwavering commitment to the party's unity and success. He made it clear, saying, "I have congratulated him and advised him to be magnanimous in victory. I am ready to render any support for my brother and friend of over 40 years."

He attributed his commitment to discipline, harmony, and consensus-building to his upbringing in a nurturing household. "I am always for peace, and I am available to render any support for my brother, Hon. Gbenga Oluwatuyi Chenco, to become the chairman of our local government area, in which, with God, all things will be possible. Victory is ours in Jesus' name," he affirmed.

In addition to extending warm wishes and expressing his steadfast support, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba took the opportunity to address those who engage in the spread of falsehoods and rumors, urging them to desist from such acts and instead pray for the unity of the party leaders in Igede.

As the Ifelodun/Irepodun LGA Chairmanship election approaches, this public display of support and unity within the APC stands as a testament to the party's resilience and unwavering collective determination.