Oyebanji Engages Education Secretaries in Groundbreaking Interface.

Oyebanji Engages Education Secretaries in Groundbreaking Interface.

By Olamide Akinwumi J. 

In a historic move, Governor Biodun Oyebanji convened a meeting on Monday, 22nd January 2024, with Education Secretaries from various local government areas in his office. This unprecedented interface marked the first of its kind by any Governor of the state, aiming to address lingering issues in the educational sector and provide valuable insights and solutions.

The gathering was a significant step towards fostering collaboration and enhancing the future of education management in Ekiti State. Governor Oyebanji, recognizing the importance of direct engagement, created a platform for Education Secretaries to share perspectives and discuss strategies for improving the educational landscape across the state.

Education Secretaries left the meeting with a sense of fulfillment and optimism, having seized the rare opportunity to sit with Mr. Governor and actively contribute to shaping the trajectory of education in Ekiti State. The innovative approach demonstrated Governor Oyebanji's commitment to inclusivity and collective decision-making in the pursuit of educational excellence.

Stop paying ex-governors scandalous pensions – Falana.

Stop paying ex-governors scandalous pensions – Falana.

Human Rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers state governments to stop paying what he described as scandalous pensions to ex-governors while workers are owed arrears of meagre pensions.

He made the call on Sunday in a statement made available to our correspondent.

According to him, not less than 20 ex-governors are in the Senate, receiving jumbo salaries and allowances.

“Lagos was the first state to implement a pension law for its former governors. The Lagos State Pension for Ex-Governors was enacted in 2007.

“Since then, the majority of states adopted the Lagos model. But the pension laws for Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states are the most scandalous.”

Giving details of the Lagos pension law for Lagos ex-governors, Falana noted that, according to the law, an ex-Lagos governor is being given 100 percent of the annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor, and is provided “one residential house in Lagos and another in the FCT, Abuja.”

He also gets “three cars, two backup cars and one pilot car every three years.”

An ex-Lagos governor also gets furniture allowance of “300 percent of annual basic salary every two years,” and gets “10 percent of annual basic salary,” for house maintenance.

He is also provided with “domestic staff, such as cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.”

There is also “free medical treatment for ex-governors and members of their families (not just spouses).”

For security, he also gets “two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security)”.

An ex-Lagos governor also gets “10 percent of annual basic salary,” for car maintenance; “20 percent of annual basic salary” for entertainment.

He is also provided with drivers.

For ex-Rivers governor, Falana noted that they get “100 percent of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.”

They get “one residential house anywhere of his choice in Nigeria,” and are provided with “three cars every four years,” with “30 percent of annual basic salary,” for car maintenance.

An ex-Rivers governor also gets “300 percent of annual basic salary every four years,” for furniture; and “10 percent of annual basic salary,” for house maintenance.

He is also provided with “domestic staff, such as cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be non-pensionable.”

In addition, there is “free medical treatment for ex-governors and members of their families (not just spouses and no cap).”

An ex-Rivers governor also gets “two SSS operatives, four policemen (two each for house and personal security).”

He also gets “10 percent of his annual basic salary,” for entertainment; “20 percent of his annual basic salary,” for utility and he is also provided with drivers.

Falana also highlighted the pension package for ex-governors of Akwa-Ibom State.

He stated: “Annual Basic Salary: 100 percent of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

“Accommodation: One house not below five-bed maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom.

“Transport: One car and one utility car every four years. Furniture: 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years. Domestic staff: Amount not above N5m to employ cooks, chauffeurs and security.

“Medical: Free treatment and spouse not exceeding N100m per year (this provision will soon be reverted to “free” without limit following outcry).

“Security: “Adequate” (not specified). Personal Assistant: One. Car maintenance: 300 percent of annual basic salary. Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.

“Utility: 100 percent of annual basic salary. Drivers: Amount not above N5m. Severance gratuity: 300 percent annual basic salary.”

Falana noted that the National Industrial Court had declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.

According to him, the court made the declaration in the judgment in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project against the Attorney-General of the Federation.

He said the pronouncement was also made in a suit marked NICN/JOS/26/2016 filed by Alhaji Garba Umar against the Taraba State Government.

“In 2022, the Lagos State Government announced a 50 percent reduction in the pension. Senators Daniel and Dankwambo have directed the governments of Ogun and Gombe to stop paying them the pension since they are receiving salaries and allowances in the National Assembly.

“The governments of Kwara, Imo and Zamfara States have abolished the payment of the pension. We call on other state governments to abolish the pension as soon as possible. Nigeria can no longer afford to pay scandalous pension to ex-governors while workers are owed arrears of meagre pension. Therefore, the pension laws applicable to other public officers should also apply to all ex-governors.”

Africa’s rise crucial in dynamic global order — India’s Foreign Minister.

Africa’s rise crucial in dynamic global order — India’s Foreign Minister.

In the changing global order, the rise of Africa is very crucial, says India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishanker.

Jaishanker, who is currently on a visit to Nigeria, made this known on Sunday evening in Lagos.

He spoke at a lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs titled, “Resetting the Global Agenda: The Role of India and the Global South.”

According to Jaishanker, the global agenda, in many ways today, is about restoring Africa and the world at large to its natural state because the world was diverse and still is.

He noted that the global south was a mindset with some principles for non-interference, non-alignment and non-judgment as well as about solidarity and sharing.

“So, how does the global south today deal with the global north? I think in many ways, by being empathetic, understanding, and being respectful while recognising that every country has its sovereignty.

“Every country has its culture and traditions and solutions must be found in a way in which they are not imposed, but are organically grown by the society to actually cultivate.”

Jaishanker highlighted three global challenges that had to be overcome to get along with the global agenda. These, he said, include the quest to make the world a better place, globalisation and narrative setting.

The minister noted that globalisation had been a game changer and was a combination of economics, a shared common dependence, and a degree of mobility that had never been experienced.

He, however, said while globalisation has had many positive results in Africa and the rest of the world, it also has led to deep economic concentrations, adding that much of the world today depends on production.

“COVID-19 brought home to every one of us that we are often dependent on suppliers and producers for the most basic things of our life.

“The third challenge, narrative setting, is actually a very powerful force in international relations.

“We also have the challenges of the polarisation of the world. Conflicts such as the one in Ukraine have polarised the east and the west. How do we talk about a global agenda when there is polarisation?”

Speaking on how his country’s relations with Nigeria could yield more positive outcomes, he said that although India has had its ups and downs, He, however, noted that what had changed in the last 10 years was the innocence, leadership, and understanding of technology, adding that a different kind of energy had been awoken.

“It’s very hard to say the exact combinations or factors that accelerate national growth and progress.

“One of the big changes that happened in my country is very basic changes such as connecting houses to pipe water. Basic things are as important as the biggest things and one can be used to deploy the other.”

Jaishanker also said neo-colonialism was pervasive and visible in so many ways, noting that the world was still far away from being a just, and equitable planet.

“Now we are struggling for economic strength. How do we actually get something that is more mutually respectful and not just as a diplomatic gesture?

“The world will not be truly diverse, or have a true sense of ownership if 54 countries of the world are left out of the manner in which things are being discussed.

“India’s growth and prosperity is not complete until we see that Africa has gotten what is rightfully theirs,” he said.

Director-General, NIIA, Prof Eghosa Osaghae, said India was a great partner with Nigeria, adding that both nations have had larger global frameworks and networks, beginning with the non-aligned movement.

On his part, India has been at the forefront of solidarity with Nigeria considering that they opened diplomatic ties with Nigeria two years before her independence.

“India is a country that we share so much in common with and we are delighted to be hosting the minister, and what greater time than now, seeing that the world is at several reflection points.

“There have been conversations ongoing about the need to recalibrate the global order, the search for global justice, the search for global equity, all of those issues that have been thrown up by the experiences that we’ve had since the days of COVID.

“Also, the demands for the democratisation of the multilateral institutions, especially the demand for permanent seats for the global south in the UN Security Council.

“So we wanted to see how India, as a great power in the world, collaborates with other great powers in the world, like Nigeria on these kinds of issues,” Osaghae said.

(NAN)

Zelensky to reward foreign fighters with Ukrainian citizenship.

Zelensky to reward foreign fighters with Ukrainian citizenship.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday announced draft legislation that could pave the way for foreigners fighting against Russia in his country to receive Ukrainian citizenship.

Thousands of foreigners rushed at the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to help fend off Moscow’s forces trying to wrest control of the country and topple Ukraine’s leadership.

“Foreign volunteers who took up arms to defend Ukraine, all those who fight for Ukraine’s freedom as if it were their homeland. And Ukraine will become such for them,” Zelensky said in a post on social media.

He was announcing new proposed legislation that would formally allow Ukrainians to gain dual citizenship, with the exception of Russia.

Zelensky also said he had signed a decree titled “On the Territories of the Russian Federation Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians,” without providing details.

He said the aim of the document was to push forward “the restoration of truth about the historical past for the sake of Ukraine’s future.”

Apart from taking in a wide array of Western supplied weapons, Kyiv has also seen thousands of citizens from a slew of countries fighting alongside its forces on the front.

Among them, units comprised of Belarusians and Russians have also joined the fight. Both states are considered to be “aggressor countries” by Kyiv, since Russian forces also attacked Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

President Vladimir Putin had on January 1, 2023, said Moscow would intensify strikes on military targets in Ukraine after an unprecedented attack on the Russian city of Belgorod.

The attack killed 24 people and left over 100 wounded in Belgorod on Saturday. It came after Moscow launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities.

“We’re going to intensify the strikes, no crime against civilians will rest unpunished, that’s for certain,” Putin said Monday during a visit to a military hospital.

He said Russia would press on with hitting what he called “military installations.”

AFP

Olatunbosun Speaks, Lists All Roads Projects, and Developments.

Olatunbosun Speaks, Lists All Roads Projects, and Developments.

Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Rt Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun has described the massive ongoing road projects in the State as a meticulous strategy to ease road congestion, raise productivity especially in the agricultural sector and lowers production costs thus boosting the economy.

Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun who made this assertion in Ado Ekiti, said that the State Government would therefore leave no stone unturned towards ensuring the successful completion of the projects.

Olatunbosun added that the road projects would tactically boost commerce and security as well as to attract investments, development and generally make life easier for the people.

He stressed that “the economic benefits are many, the good it serves for security is clear, and the human convenience is incalculable. The focus is to develop good road networks so that people, goods, and services could move quickly and efficiently in and around the State.

The Commissioner said that the recent meeting that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had with contractors handling the projects was to ensure compliance with standards and deadlines, stressing the administration zero tolerance for shoddy jobs and tardiness.

The Commissioner added that “it is important because we want to be sure of the quality of the services we are providing for the people. So, we are going to hold the contractors strictly accountable for that and in certifying their jobs, we will not accept anything short of the standards that we have set in our documents, so we must emphasize that and we insist on that.”

Urging the contractors to abide by Governor Oyebanji’s advice, Olatunbosun stressed the importance of taking advantage of the dry season to fast track work on their respective projects, adding that the lack of rain in the season provides ample opportunity for contractors to speed up construction work.

Assuring that the State Government would ensure proper and continuous monitoring of the projects to guarantee timely and good quality delivery, Olatunbosun said that Governor Oyebanji would also continue to visit the project sites from time to time, adding that the Governor would, in fact, soon embark on another round of project inspection in order to ascertain the level of compliance.

He similarly emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and stressed the need for all stakeholders, particularly, community leaders to take ownership of the various projects in their areas, in order to ensure timely and quality delivery.

The Government spokesman listed ongoing road projects in the State to include, Atlas- Ajebandele- Deeper Life- Alasia- Omisanjana Road; Ado- Iworoko- Ifaki Road; Ikere – Igbara Odo Road; Ijigbo- Ajilosun Flyover Bridge; Ado- Ekiti City Ring Road (Phase 1); Ikere-Ilawe Road; and Agric Olope- Moferere- Odo Ado Road.

Others are Ikole-Ara- Isinbode Road; Ado- Ilawe Road; Ikere- Ise- Emure Road; Ilawe- Erijiyan Road; Igede- Ilawe Road; GRA 3rd Extension Road; Dualisation of GRA 3rd Extension Road; Igbara Odo- Ikogosi Road; Hospital Management Board Road; and Itapa- Ijelu Road and additional works on River Ele Bridge.

Governor Oyebanji's Respect for Tradition: Pays Courtesy Visit to Olojudo of Ido Ekiti.

Governor Oyebanji's Respect for Tradition: Pays Courtesy Visit to Olojudo of Ido Ekiti.

By Olamide Akinwumi J. 

In a commendable demonstration of profound respect for the traditional institution, Governor Biodun Oyebanji visited the palace of the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Oba Ilori Faboro on Sunday afternoon, January 21, 2024.

The BAO administration consistently highlights the importance of traditional rulers, acknowledging their pivotal role in Ekiti State's cultural and developmental fabric. This emphasis on upholding the dignity and relevance of the traditional institution has cultivated a deep bond of love, admiration, and cooperation between the government and the royal fathers.

Governor Oyebanji's visit serves as a testament to his commitment to maintaining harmonious relationships with traditional rulers, contributing significantly to the prevailing atmosphere of peace, progress, and development within the state. The BAO administration's approach underscores the belief that respecting and collaborating with the traditional institution is integral to achieving the collective goals of Ekiti State.

Gov Oyebanji's Unifying Sunday: Attends Service at CAC Rejoice Arena, Extends Condolences to Chief Kolawole's Family.

Gov Oyebanji's Unifying Sunday: Attends Service at CAC Rejoice Arena, Extends Condolences to Chief Kolawole's Family.              By Olamide Akinwumi J.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji took a noteworthy step towards fostering unity and inclusivity as he actively participated in a Sunday service at CAC Rejoice Arena, along Afao Road, Ado Ekiti, on the 21st of January 2024. Departing from his usual attendance at the Government House Chapel, the Governor demonstrated his commitment to connecting with various congregations across the state.

During the service, Governor Oyebanji addressed the congregation, expressing solidarity with the churchgoers and seeking their prayers. The church reciprocated with heartfelt prayers for the Governor, marking a significant initiative in Mr. Governor’s plan to attend Sunday services across diverse churches in Ekiti State. This approach underscores his belief in the unifying power of collective worship.

In another engagement on the same day, Governor Oyebanji paid a condolence visit to the residence of Chief Lawrence Kolawole in Otun. Chief Kolawole, a frontline APC leader and member of the APC Elders forum, recently lost his wife. The Governor conveyed sympathies on behalf of the Government and the people of Ekiti State, extending prayers for strength and fortitude to Chief Kolawole and his family during this challenging period.

Governor Oyebanji's actions stand as a testament to his dedication to fostering unity, transcending political affiliations and religious denominations. As he extends condolences and actively participates in diverse community events, the Governor remains steadfast in his commitment to a leadership style that embraces and supports the diverse facets of the Ekiti State populace.