Minister of State for Youth Development, Hon Olawande Advocates for Inmate Empowerment.

Minister of State for Youth Development, Hon Olawande Advocates for Inmate Empowerment.

Minister of State for Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande had an engagement visit to the Medium Correctional Centre, Kuje, to engage with inmates. The visit, according to the Minister, was instigated by the realisation that almost 90% of inmates are youth, a situation that makes the youth ministry a very important partner in order to enable better livelihood for inmates at various correctional centers across the country. 

The Minister assured the inmates of the intention of the Ministries of Youth Development and Interior to collaborate in the delivery of training for inmates, in both vocational and digital skills, as a means of assisting them to settle back into the society. He also noted that a wide range of sensitization programs will be initiated to give the public a better narrative and view of inmates and ex-convicts in the country.

Seizing the opportunity to also present the initiatives and programs of the Ministry, the Minister encouraged the inmates to seize the opportunities to better their lives and become productive citizens. Thereafter, he undertook a tour of the facilities at the Correctional Centre and purchased some items from the inmates who are engaged in shoe making, especially. 

The Minister was accompanied on the visit by the SSA to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola; SSA to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Ms. Abiola Arogundade and the SA to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring & Delivery), Ms Titilope Gbadamosi.

Market Women in Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA Seek Divine Intervention amidst rising Insecurity.

Market Women in Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA Seek Divine Intervention amidst rising Insecurity.

The Association of Market Women in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State has turned to divine intervention in response to the escalating insecurity in the state, particularly the surge in kidnapping incidents.

Organized by the association's leadership, a prayer session was conducted at the Irepodun/Ifelodun Council Secretariat in Igede Ekiti.

Prayers were fervently offered for the protection of leaders at both state and federal levels, the safe rescue of kidnapped victims, and an end to the activities of kidnappers and murderers in the state and the nation as a whole.

In separate interviews, Chief (Mrs) Aduke Seriki, Chairman of the Association of Market Women in Irepodun/Ifelodun, and Chief (Mrs) Adunola Aladetoyinbo, the Secretary, called on the administration of Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to intensify efforts in ensuring the adequate security of lives and properties.

They emphasized the need for security agencies in the state to be more vigilant in their responsibility of protecting the residents of Ekiti, thereby fostering a peaceful environment.

Chief Mrs Seriki and Aladetoyinbo commended Governor Oyebanji's commitment to the overall welfare of the state, citing prompt payment of salaries and ongoing developmental projects.

Prayers were offered for Governor Oyebanji to sustain the prompt payment of salaries, pensions, gratuity and to embark on more infrastructural development projects. The leadership also prayed for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all governors in the country to make decisions that would bring progress to Nigeria.

Commending the Iyalojas, Iyalajes, and Iyalodes for supporting the current administration, they appealed for its continuity. The leaders urged citizens to fulfill their tax obligations to enable the government to meet public needs and government objectives.

At the prayer session, the Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Hon Gbenga Oluwatuyi, expressed gratitude for the women's support and cooperation with the administration. He assured them of continuous assistance and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to ensure citizens' safety.

While promising a conducive market environment, Hon Oluwatuyi urged the women to pay their trading permits and market tolls to facilitate the government's objectives for them. The Chairman was accompanied by Vice Chairman, Engr Remi Alade, Secretary ,Dr. Sule Fatai Olatunji, Head of Local Government Administration Mrs. Kofoworola Rotimi, Director of Administration ,Prince Oladimeji Adegoke, Director of Finance Mrs. Christianah Ogundele, Director of Information and Civic Orientation Chief (Mrs) Bimbo Yusuf, and Chief Rate Officer, Mr. Samuel Ogunleye, among others.

Barr Shola Gabriel Sends Heartfelt Condolences and Sympathy to Governor Oyebanji Amidst Ekiti Tragedy.

Barr Shola Gabriel Sends Heartfelt Condolences and Sympathy to Governor Oyebanji Amidst Ekiti Tragedy.

In response to the recent tragic events in Ekiti State, Barrister Shola Gabriel Esq., a concerned son of the soil, has sent a heartfelt condolences message to His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, expressing profound condolences and sympathy. The message addresses the alarming murder of two monarchs and the distressing kidnapping of school children in Emure Ekiti.

Barr Shola Gabriel, the Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET)

Commending Governor Oyebanji's unwavering leadership and courage in spearheading efforts to apprehend the perpetrators, Barrister Shola Gabriel acknowledges the Governor's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Ekiti's populace.

In a letter signed by his Publicity Secretary, Dapo Omowaye and made available to journalists, Barrister Shola Gabriel, the Director, Legal Services/Company Secretary of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), includes heartfelt prayers for the families of the departed monarchs and the safe return of the kidnapped school children. Gabriel invokes God's strength and solace for the affected families during this difficult time.

In his message, Barrister Shola underlines the severity of the acts of violence, expressing confidence that, through collective efforts, Ekiti will surmount these challenges and emerge stronger.

Acknowledging Governor Oyebanji's leadership, Barrister Gabriel extends prayers for continued guidance and wisdom from God as the Governor navigates through these challenges.

He further appreciates the Governor's dedication to delivering the dividends of democracy, especially in ensuring the security of lives and properties. The message expresses undiluted solidarity with Governor Oyebanji, the people of Ekiti, and all those affected by these unfortunate events.

Insecurity: Increase security personnel in Ekiti State, Ekiti Obas tell FG.

Insecurity: Increase security personnel in Ekiti State, Ekiti Obas tell FG.

..…As traditional rulers commend Oyebanji for quality leadership.

…..Obas map out plans to flush out criminals from Ekiti forests.

Traditional rulers in Ekiti State under the aegis of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, have called on the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to Ekiti in order to beef up security in the state.

The traditional rulers who stated that the state is under-policed also demanded that the State Government should empower them with adequate resources to police and secure their respective domains to compliment the efforts of the security agencies.

They also all traditional rulers to take necessary measures to ensure all forets currently occupied by bandits and kidnappers are flushed out immediately and that no bushes and forests should be occupied by anybody.

These were part of the decisions reached by the monarchs in a meeting with Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji at the State Traditional Council Chamber, Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

The meeting which was at the instance of the Governor to review security situation in the state and get the input of the obas, was attended by heads of security agencies and the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the State.

Governor Oyebanji in his remarks at the opening session of the meeting which was held behind closed doors, conveyed the condolence message of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the traditional rulers, who lost two of their colleagues –The Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin in Monday attack by some gunmen.

The Governor told the monarchs that investigations into the killings of their colleagues had begun, urged them to cooperate with the security agencies in the course of the investigations. He also told them to come up with an implementable road map for securing their localities, in line with government’s plan to get the local institution play some roles in safety and security of the environment.

“I know that this is a very sad moment for all of us, on behalf of the government of Ekiti state and the President of the Federation, I extend my condolences to all traditional rulers, Mr President asked me to personally expressed his condolences to all of us and he has given me his message for our royal fathers, he said, I should tell you that we are in this together. He said I should make a commitment that those behind this will be fished out as soon as possible. And he said I should also tell you that the children that were abducted, by the special grace of God will be back home unhurt.”

The Governor also stressed the need for collaboration among members of the various communities with the security agencies in the state to achieve the well desired security of lives and properties in the state. He also commended the unity among royal fathers even before the creation of the state which he said had helped in bringing peace to Ekiti.

He stated that the meeting with the traditional rulers was a way out of the present web of insecurity in the state as he believed the deployment of both formal and native security apparatus would bring out the desired result.

 “We have our own structures too, we should be in collaboration with our hunters, vigilante groups, with the local government, once I have those resolution and roadmap from our royal fathers, we will then agree with the local government chairmen on how to go about it.

 “I covet your support and advice that will help security agencies. Another thing I want to tell our royal fathers is that in an attempt to fish out perpetrators of this sacrilege in this state, a lot of arrests will be made, I will not want our royal fathers to get involved in begging, because, most of the time, when you pick people up, and you want to profile them, they will run to Kabiyesis and they will be pleading on their behalf that he knows nothing about it. I can assure you that if anybody is picked up, he will be profiled, if vindicated, he will be released after investigation. The Governor stated.

Briefing newsmen on the communique reached at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting, the Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro commiserated with the bereaved families and communities of the late Oba Samuel Olusola Olatunji, the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti and Oba David Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti and the abducted school children and teachers in Emure-Ekiti same day Monday January 29, 2024.

The traditional rulers also commended Governor Oyebanji for providing quality leadership at this critical time and urged him to remain focused . They also called on patriotic Ekiti indigenes all over the world to generously support their communities to provide local security arrangements to protect lives and property in all communities.

Other decisions reached by the monarchs include the need for native security systems to work together to end all manners of criminality in the state.

The traditional rulers observed one minute silence in respect of the two traditional rulers that were killed before the commencement of the meeting.

Their recommendations are to be conveyed to the Governor for implementation.

Governor Oyebanji Engages Traditional Rulers for Enhanced State Security Measures.

Governor Oyebanji Engages Traditional Rulers for Enhanced State Security Measures.

By Olamide Akinwumi.

In a proactive move to address the escalating security concerns in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji conducted a significant meeting with all traditional rulers on Wednesday, January 31. The session, held at the council chamber in Fajuyi area, Ado Ekiti, sought to evaluate the current security landscape and incorporate the valuable input of traditional leaders in the government's efforts to combat criminal elements.

The gathering saw the participation of heads of security agencies in Ekiti State alongside several high-ranking government officials. Discussions primarily revolved around collaborative strategies aimed at clamping down on criminal activities within the state. Governor Oyebanji underscored the significance of leveraging the insights and support of traditional rulers in the collective fight against insecurity.

Upon the meeting's conclusion, a communique was issued, emphasizing the commitment of traditional rulers to bolster the security initiatives of the Ekiti State Government. The document also conveyed gratitude to Governor Oyebanji for his prompt response to the prevailing security challenges.

This engagement reflects the Ekiti State Government's commitment to a proactive and inclusive approach in addressing security concerns. The collaboration with security agencies and the dedication of traditional rulers underscore a collective determination to safeguard the well-being and security of the people in Ekiti State.

I'm Determined to Flush Criminal Syndicates Out of Ekiti, Says Oyebanji in State broadcast.

I'm Determined to Flush Criminal Syndicates Out of Ekiti, Says Oyebanji in State broadcast. 

.....EKSG to fortify conventional, local security networks with high grade equipment.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his readiness to rally all security apparatus available to fight and flush out criminal elements who might want to make Ekiti a killing field and a safe haven for blood -sucking criminals.

The State government, according to Oyebanji will also reinvigorate the local security outfits to work in synergy with conventional security networks to break the ranks of those perpetrating heinous crimes in the facets of kidnapping, banditry and killings in the state.

Governor Oyebanji gave these assurances while addressing Ekiti people in a statewide broadcast aired on Tuesday night, in response to Monday’s gruesome murder of two monarchs by armed men along Oke Ako-Irele road and abduction of some primary school pupils in Emure Ekiti. 

During the attack, the two royal fathers, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olatunde Olusola, were brutally murdered by the marauders; while the Alara of Ara (Ikole),Oba Sunday Adebayo O

Fatoba, escaped the murderous attack narrowly.  

Oyebanji said most saddening to him was the fact that he was just emerging from a security council meeting, where strategic and far reaching measures were taken on how to make Ekiti retain its status as the most peaceful and investment- friendly state in the country.

The Governor appealed to the residents not to despair by the horrible trend of events, saying all hands are on the plough to track down the perpetrators of the horrendous acts.

Oyebanji said: "The death of these vibrant, energetic and progressive monarchs is very sad and distressing for me, personally. Before their demise, I enjoyed a very cordial relationship with them in their pursuit of accelerated development for their communities. I have enormous respect for them for their service and commitment to the prosperity of Ekiti at large. May their souls rest in peace.

"Similarly, just same yesterday, we received another disturbing news that some pupils of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti and their teachers who were being conveyed home after school, were waylaid and kidnapped between Emure-Ekiti and Eporo. Security agents are currently working hard to rescue them unhurt.

“As your Governor, this new turn of event in our dear State is a very devastating and sad one for me; this is because security has always held a significant priority in our administration and this can be seen in our State being consistently adjudged one of the most peaceful with low crime rate in the entire Federation.

"I have therefore challenged the security agencies with a firm instruction to fish our the soulless murderers who committed this heinous sacrilege on the soil of Ekiti.

"As a follow up to this, Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on a long call with me yesterday, to commiserate with the State and to give a firm assurance that everything will be done to ensure such a dastardly act never repeats itself. He is mobilizing security resources to help in bringing the killers to book and in rescuing the abducted children and their teachers.  

"I am very thankful to the President for his solidarity and support at this time. I have also visited the concerned communities and the Chairman of Traditional Council to commiserate and also re-assure them of Government’s strong resolve to confront this ugly trend.

"Ekiti Kete, while these occurrences can be distressing, we should not despair or waver in our steel resolve to work together to fight all violent crimes. As the evil men are unrelenting, we too have to collectively confront their evil enterprise with all the resources in our behest. 

"We must all collaborate to share intelligence and organize community based security arrangement to complement the State’s security apparatus. As part of effort to ensure this does not happen again, we will strengthen our supports for the security agencies by further enhancing their capacity through the provision of high grade equipment. 

"We will also strengthen our community based security organizations and other relevant individuals to fashion out a sustainable and workable system to confront this evil monster once and for all. Be assured of your security, even, as we all should be vigilant and security conscious", the Governor added.

Minimum Wage: Tinubu tasks committee on prompt completion, submission of report.

Minimum Wage: Tinubu tasks committee on prompt completion, submission of report.

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, January 30, inaugurated the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, tasking the 37-man team to promptly conclude its assignment and bring in its report and recommendations.

President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also directed the Bukar Goni Aji-led Committee to ensure their decisions are firmly rooted in social justice and equity.

To guarantee sustainability in all tiers of government, the President said the committee must pay attention to the ability of all parties to pay the new wage, just as he asked the committee members to ensure timely completion of their assignment.

According to the President, the timely conclusion and submission of the report and recommendations of the committee is very important to the take-off of the processes of a new national minimum wage regime.

He, however, informed the committee that he had already instructed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to ensure that the required funding for the assignment is also made available promptly for the team.

“The committee is anticipated to conclude its deliberations promptly and submit its report and recommendations. This timely submission is crucial to initiate the necessary processes for implementing a new National Minimum Wage.

“The Hon. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy has been instructed to allocate the essential funds and logistics to the Committee, facilitating the timely completion of its assigned task,” he said.

He further stressed that the “government’s decision, following the consideration of your final recommendation, will be presented as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly.

“This bill, enriched by the contributions of state governments and private sector employers, will undergo thorough legislative scrutiny before being passed into law,” he added.

On the need to firm up the basis of their activities in social justice and equity, the President said: “Our objective should be to surpass the basic Social Protection Floor for all Nigerian workers, considering the sustainable payment capacity of each tier of government and other employers or businesses.

“I express this viewpoint because the minimum wage represents the least amount of compensation an employee should receive for their labour, and as such, it should be rooted in social justice and equity. I hope that the results of your deliberations will be consensual and acceptable to all parties involved,” the President told members of the committee.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s promise to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers and, by extension, the entire nation, saying, “The labour force stands as the cornerstone of the progress of every nation, and ours has been the enduring engine of our pursuit of development.”

Underscoring the significance of the assignment as reflected in the composition of the tripartite committee, the President urged all members to take their new task with all seriousness, even as he directed the committee to employ the principles of full consultation with social partners in all of its deliberations.

Accordingly, he directed that state Governors, Ministers, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who are members, must personally attend the committee meetings and if they are unavoidably absent, their deputies, commissioners, and Permanent Secretaries should represent them.

“Recognizing the significance of this initiative and to ensure a substantial engagement, I hereby direct that Ministers and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should personally attend the meeting. In their unavoidable absence, their Permanent Secretaries should represent them.

“Similarly, Governors are expected to attend in person or be represented by their deputies or commissioners where necessary. I urge you to consider the issue of a National Minimum Wage and all related matters with thoroughness and concern, keeping in mind not only the welfare of our workforce but also the impact on the country’s economy,” Tinubu stated.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, said the states will ensure to be faithful to the report of the committee by finding alternative ways of funding to meet up.

“This shows the willingness of this government to the welfare of the citizens of Nigeria.

“We don’t want to preempt the outcome of this meeting, but you need to understand that the sub-nationals also have challenges and that the federal government, in its own wisdom, has brought the sub-nationals into perspective and this discussion will be done together with the sub-national, so I’m not sure we’re going to foresee any challenge.

“We are looking for alternative ways of funding and we’re assured that with the backward integration in the economy, a lot of us will be able to stand tall to this challenge”, Bago said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, urged the committee to give its best, noting that the task before it carries the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerian workers.

He said the inauguration of the committee to come up with a new national minimum wage is in fulfilment of the promise of the Tinubu administration to embark on a comprehensive review of the minimum wage for the average Nigerian worker.

On his part, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, assured the President that the committee would do justice to the task assigned to it.

“We shall, by God’s grace, carry out extensive consultations with key stakeholders to arrive at a new minimum wage that is fair, practical and implementable,” Aji, a former Head of Service of the Federation, noted.

The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, said the upcoming minimum wage, from the current process, will stand out, saying the harsh conditions that Nigerians have had to endure will guide them to negotiate the best deal for the workers.

“We’ve had a lot of minimum wage negotiations over the years, but this one will stand out, it will stand out because we have never seen a time like this in Nigeria. So this is a period where people are passing through pains, in fact, the purchasing power of an average Nigerian worker, and indeed the entire Nigerian masses, has been eroded. So we are going to put on our thinking cap we are going to press to get the best for the working people of Nigeria”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Life Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Humphrey Ngonadi, who is also a member of the committee, has tasked the federal government to find a way to tame the escalating prices of commodities in the market, if the plan upwards review of Nigerian workers would be of any effect.

Ngonadi also suggested that to tame market prices of commodities, the government must first find a way to manage the volatile situation in the foreign exchange market by shoring up the value of the Naira against major foreign currencies, then prices of commodities will be manageable.

“I thank God for this initiative that the government is taking at this particular place, but I’m still being worried. We may remember some time long ago there was a Udoji Award and that was the first time the salaries of workers were increased and immediately after the increment the commodity in the market ran up to meet.

“So while we are talking about minimum wage, I think the government, on its own side, has to think on how to bring down the prices of commodities in the market.

“If a worker is paid N1 million as the minimum wage and a bag of rice is N900,000, the N1 million still has no meaning. So what I think is while we are thinking of minimum wage, to hike the salary of the worker, the government, on its own side, has to think of how that money will have value.

“Having value is if a bag of rice that was N8000 yesterday is now N50,000 and you increase the salary of the workers and the price or price will be N200,000, the salary increase has no value. So I think the government is now going in the right direction, also, while we increase the salary of the workers, let the government work on the prices of commodities to come down.

“If the dollar will step down now, the prices of commodities will step down. My mind is going that way”, he advised.

The 37-man tripartite committee has six Governors, some cabinet Ministers, representatives of the organized labour, and the private sector among its members.

The Governors include Mohammed Bago of Niger State, representing the North Central; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, representing the North East; Dikko Radda of Katsina State, representing the North West; Charles Soludo of Anambra State, representing the South East; Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, representing the South-West, and Otu Bassey of Cross River State, representing the South-South.

The Ministers are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Esan, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.