Kano Assembly orders three agencies to refund N260m.

Kano Assembly orders three agencies to refund N260m.

The Kano State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the state Road Traffic Agency, Primary Health Care Agency and Printing Press to refund N260 million misappropriated by the three agencies.

The Assembly issued the order during plenary presided by the Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore, on Tuesday.

The Assembly indicted the three state agencies for misappropriation of allocations and the internally generated revenue.

“The three affected agencies have been directed to refund N260 million they misappropriated,” Falgore said.

In a unanimous adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts, the Assembly cautioned all ministries, agencies, and parastatals to comply with due diligence on public finance or face sanctions.

“The assembly will no longer accept any act of recklessness in spending of allocation and IGR and any MDA found wanting will be made to refund and face the wrath of the law.

Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on Public Account, and member representing Fagge Constituency, Mohammed Tukur, who presented the 2021 audited public account, expressed concern over financial ‘iniquity’ in government agencies.

In the report, Tukur narrated how allocations on COVID-19 and social welfare programmes got zero release of funds while the construction of 100 pit toilets with an estimated budget of N200 million secured 100 percent capitalisation.

The lawmaker also lamented how the previous administration refused to approve the audit of six years of public accounts, leaving behind a backlog of unaudited public expenditures.

Tukur equally raised concern about the misuse of public revenues and allocations by the Kano State Road Traffic Agency, Kano State Primary Health Care Agency and Kano Printing Press, which were indicated in the report.

The Majority Leader, Lawan Husain, moved a motion to compel the Auditor General and Accountant General of the state to ensure proper accountability and transparency of public funds and refund of misappropriated monies by MDAs.

Ekiti Govt Halts Moves By Kingmakers, Youth to Depose Monarch.

Ekiti Govt Halts Moves By Kingmakers, Youth to Depose Monarch.

The Ekiti State Government, on Tuesday, mediated in the crisis brewing in Ayegunle Community in Ijero Local Government Area of the State and halted attempt being made by kingmakers and youth to dethrone Oba Johnson Aderiye.

The intervention was sequel to a petition written by five out of the six kingmakers in the town, requesting the leave of the government for them to dethrone the Alayegunle of Ayegunle Ekiti, Oba Aderiye over alleged sundry offences.

Allegations leveled against the monarch were: Flagrant disobedience to tradition, arbitrary use of power, unlawful suspension and removal of chiefs, corruption , intimidation and unlawful arrest and detention of chiefs and youth of the community.

Addressing the matter, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, urged the embattled monarch to adhere strictly to the Ayegunle Chieftaincy Declaration, which pegged the number of kingmakers to six and refrain from increasing the number to nine as alleged.

Mrs Afuye, in a statement made available in Ado-Ekiti by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, advised Oba Aderiye to pay outstanding stipends to all the kingmakers for expeditious settlement of the imbroglio.

For speedy resolution of the crisis,

the Deputy Governor, ordered the monarch to withdraw all the cases pending in court as part of the trouble-shooting efforts, while also ordering the kingmakers to support the monarch to restore peace in the beleaguered town.

“We will also go to the council and get all the necessary vouchers regarding payment of stipends to Ayegunle chiefs. We will ensure that nobody is shortchanged in this matter . All the chiefs will get their entitlements, there must be cooperation between you”.

Speaking further on the petition, the Odofin of Ayegunle, Chief Ayodele Omoniyi and Sajuku of Ayegunle, Chief Olatunbosun Arowolo, said the embattled monarch has been ruling the town tyrannically, by allegedly increasing the number of kingmakers from six to nine without consultation.

The Chiefs accused the monarch of arbitrarily suspending and removing some chiefs without committing any offence, while also arresting youth and clamping them into detention without reasonable reason.

“The most pathetic of his action was the way he refused to release the N2m we made during the 2016 edition of Ayegunle Day to carry out development project. This was the beginning of restiveness in the town.

“In fact, we are tired of all these misdemeanours and that was why we demanded for his deposition, not because of hatred, no going back on his removal. He is not passionate about Ayegunle’s development”, they alleged.

In his defence, Oba Aderiye, who denied all the accusations, said the crisis began when some youth loyal to the estranged kingmakers attacked his palace and children over chieftaincy issue.

The monarch said all the people he installed as chiefs in the town received the blessings of the chiefs, including the kingmakers, contrary to the claims that he did the ascension arbitrarily.

On the arrest of the chiefs and youth by police, the traditional ruler claimed that those nabbed were held in connection with alleged attack on the palace and for causing unrest in the town, denying ever instigating the security agencies to clamp anyone in detention.

“Let the government go and check the financial records of our town, all the monies we made during our days were well appropriated. Even the monthly stipends for my chiefs were distributed to all the beneficiaries. My books are open, I have nothing to hide”, the monarch said .

Appealing to the feuding factions to shelve their swords, the paramount ruler of the kingdom and Ajero of Ijero -Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, appealed to all sides to forgive each other and work for the progress of the town.

Other monarchs; the Oluroye of Iroko- Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ekundayo and Onikun of Temidire- Ekiti, Oba Moses Fabusuyi, pleaded with the warring factions to place the development of the town over and above other interests.

Oyebanji seeks US partnership on economic growth, cocoa development.

Oyebanji seeks US partnership on economic growth, cocoa development.

….As American, Ekiti top officials meet in Ado-Ekiti.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has solicited the support and partnership with the United States of America in developing the critical economic sectors of the state to achieve his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

Specifically, Ekiti State, according to Governor Oyebanji is desirous of the American government’s support for its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on cocoa development as well as a collaboration between the state’s knowledge Zone and US technology hub, the Silicon Valley.

Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed these in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday during a meeting with a team from American Embassy led by the Charge d’Affaires, David Green, said the state would explore the American expertise, resources, and investment as a progressive partner in the areas of economy, security, climate change, innovations, among others.

The Ekiti State Governor, at the meeting which was attended by the Consul General of the American Embassy, William Stevens; Chairman of CAVISTA Holdings, who is also the Chairman of Corporate Council on Africa, Mr John Olajide; and some top embassy officials, thanked the American Government for the support the state has received in its agriculture development drive, especially the Ikun Diary Farm.

He explained that the collaboration is expected to strengthen the state’s economy, create jobs, and enhance the quality of life of her citizens.

Stressing that productivity remains the watchword in his administration’s economic drive, Governor Oyebanji said any state that desires growth must be productive.  “If a state must prosper, that state must work on productivity and for productivity to happen there must be collaboration with the private sector.”, he added.

He highlighted areas of collaborations with the United States to  include support in the Agriculture sector, Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Youth and women empowerment, art and culture, climate change, health care, renewable energy, and investment promotion, among others.

The Governor expressed confidence that the collaborations would also unlock opportunities for advancement within the state, said his government is committed to driving economic prosperity and improving the standard of living of the citizens.

The Governor assured that his government would continue to provide enabling environment for private sectors with the aim of turning the state into production hub, thereby growing the economy of the state

 “The State thank you for your support and investment Ikun Dairy Farm. Ikun is a game changer, they have done so well, but they can do better, so we will be looking for support at feed formulation and artificial examination because that will solve the foreign exchange problem." The Governor said.

Earlier in his remark, the Charge d’Affaires, David Green, expressed the readiness of the United States Government to work with Ekiti State government to achieve its economic growth, adding that the Embassy would identify potential areas of development where the US could lend a hand in enhancing the state’s economic performance.

The Ambassador assured the Governor that the United States government is keen on ways to foster fruitful collaboration with the state government especially in the fields of Agriculture, health, knowledge economy, among others.

He promised to further the discussion with relevant agencies of the state government.

Other top officials at the meeting include Speaker of House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye; Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Bolaji Olagbaju; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Engr Sunday Komolafe; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani; Special Adviser on Governance, Hon Odunayo Ayeni and Director General, Ekiti  Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA), Mrs Lolade Olutola.

The Embassy’s team included Foreign Agriculture Councelor, Chris Bielecki; Deputy Political and Economic Chief, Kenise Hill; Political Specialist, Mayowa Obilade; Foreign Agricultural Specialist, Tolani Abegunde among others.

The team proceeded on an inspection of the Agbeyewa farms and other agricultural investments in the state, shortly after the meeting.

No plan to scrap LCDAs, says Aiyedatiwa.

No plan to scrap LCDAs, says Aiyedatiwa.

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has promised not to scrap the Local Council Development Areas created by his former boss, late Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu, before his death, signed the creation of the LCDAs Bill into law after it had been passed by the state House of Assembly last year.

The assembly also approved the list of the caretaker chairmen appointed by Akeredolu to oversee the affairs of the local governments and LCDAs till the time the local government election would be held.

But the court stopped the inauguration of the appointed LGA caretaker chairmen and that of the LCDAs, preventing them from assuming office.

Speaking at a meeting with the former members of the caretaker committees of the LGAs and LCDAs at the Governor’s Office in Akure, on Monday, Aiyedatiwa said he would not scrap the council development areas because it was part of the late Akeredolu’s legacies.

He however said the government would soon constitute transition committees for the 18 LGAs and the 33 LCDAs ahead of the coming local government elections in the state.

He said, “Our administration does not have plans to abolish the recently created Local Council Development Areas in the state.

“The creation of the LCDAs is one of the legacies of our late leader, former Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and it must be preserved.”

According to him, the case instituted in court by the opposition party and subsequent court injunction had prevented the inauguration of the caretaker chairmen’s assumption of office. But he noted that efforts were being intensified to resolve the court case through a political solution which has been granted by the court.

He added that once the case was finally withdrawn from the court, all the errors made in the composition of the list of appointees would be corrected and transition committees would be inaugurated.

The governor urged the former appointees to demonstrate more commitment to the party within their respective local government areas.

“It is important for us to come together as one big family for the progress of the APC and the development of our state. But I know that there is no division in the party’s leadership.”

In his remarks, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, echoed the governor’s words of unity in the party, commending the governor for the interface with the party members.

INEC speaks on Edo APC primary, protesters demand chairman sacking.

INEC speaks on Edo APC primary, protesters demand chairman sacking.

As controversy continued to trail the results of Saturday governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, the  Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, said on Monday that the Independent National Electoral Commission would only reckon with the exercise conducted at the venue communicated by the national leadership of the party.

Onuoha said by the decision of the Supreme Court, only the national leadership of a political party and not the state leadership could determine the venue of a primary election.

According to him, in the Edo State case, the venue communicated to INEC by the APC national leadership was Lushville Hotel and Suites.

It was reported that the Edo APC primary produced three ‘winners’.

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, who is the Chairman of the Edo State Primary Election Committee,  announced Dennis Idahosa as winner at Protea Hotel.

The state Returning Officer, Stanley Ugboaja, held a parallel announcement, declaring Monday Okpebholo as winner.

Ugboaja started the announcement at Lushville but  finished it at Pastor Osagie Iyamu house.

Also, Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local government declared Anamero Dekeri as the winner of the election.

The trio of Idahosa, Okpebholo and Dekeri are laying claim to victory.

The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, had congrulated Idahosa, who was declared winner by Uzodimma.

But the Edo State leadership of the party have rejected the results declared by Uzodimma, insisting that only the state Returning Officer could declare the winner.

On Monday, Dekeri, who was the third winner to emerge, stormed the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja demanding to be issued with a Certicate of Return as the winner of the poll.

Meanwhile, speaking on the APC primary in Benin on Monday, the Edo State REC said INEC monitored the exercise and would only reckon with results declared at the venue committed to it by the national leadership of the party.

Fielding questions from journalists, Onuoha said, “The Supreme Court has taken a decision on the monitoring of party primaries, that party primaries are  duties of the parties.

“Our own is to supervise and in doing such supervision, the party will tell us the venue. It is not the state chapter of the party that will tell us the venue.

“The national body of the parties will write to INEC national chairman of the venue, and the date and the time of the primary, and that we have followed strictly.

“Any political party primaries that was not minuted to us by our headquarters, we will not monitor. We were notified by APC and we monitored the one we were invited to at Lushville Hotel. I was there.”

The REC warned aspirants and political parties to stop campaigning for the governorship election with immediate effect or face sanction.

He said that the commission had yet to lift suspension on campaign, noting that parties and candidates were expected to begin campaigning on April 24.

Meanwhile, angry youths and women on Monday took over the APC party secretariat in Benin, demanding the sack of the State Working Committee led by acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, over Saturday’s primary.

The crowd, led by the youth leader of the party, Tony Adun, alias Kabaka, forced their way into the offices and brought out the furniture, bag of rice and other equipment, vowing to stay at building for seven days or till the exco was dissolved.

Adun said, “It is clear that the party excutive in the state is no longer working in the interest of the party, so it is time for them to leave.

“We are here in solidarity with Hon. Dennis Idahosa who the party has nominated. We call on party member to back Idahosa’s candidacy in the governorship election in September.

“As you can see, we are here in large numbers, youths and women, to show our displeasure over the way the exco handled the election.

 “We heard that some people collected money from the opposition and some aspirants and want to use that opportunity to destroy the party. They did it before, they sabotaged and betrayed us in the election. What we are hearing now is that because their preferred aspirant did not win, they want to destroy the party.

“I want to send a message to the NWC that since the SWC can disobey what the NWC wanted, they need to be suspended from the party and if that is not done, nobody will enter this secretariat again. We all voted with our membership cards on the day of the election and we all voted for Hon Dennis Idahosa; they are trying to sabotage our efforts but we will not allow it.”

When contacted on the allegation, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae, said an official reaction of the party would be made on the development at the appropriate time.

Also, one of the three aspirants laying claim to victory,  Dekeri, on Monday, angrily walked into the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja to demand a Certificate of Return.

Although he refused to address journalists after he exited the hall, a visibly angry Dekeri, who arrived at the secretariat in Abuja at about 1.30pm, was said to have had a 10-minute closed-door session with the National Chairman of the APC, Ganduje.

“You can see disappointment written all over his face. He came with a letter addressed to the NWC through the national chairman demanding they issue him his certificate of return having been declared winner of Saturday’s primary,” a source offered an explanation.

When contacted, the embattled acting chairman of the party in Edo, Jareth Tenebe, who was earlier seen declaring Okpebholo as their candidate in a viral video on Saturday, called for calm, saying only the leadership of the APC can declare the actual winner.

He said, “The party conducted primary and somebody emerged. So, within the next few days, you people (journalists) will know who won the primary. It is the National Working Committee that did the primary. So, there is a procedure in announcing the result. So, within the next few days, everything will be settled. That is the only thing I can say for now.”

Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo State, Andrew Emwanta, on Monday, announced his resignation from the APC following the controversial governorship primary.

In a letter to the Ward Chairman, Ward 7, Egor Local Government Area and made available to journalists on Monday, Emwanta said, “I am writing to formally tender my resignation from the membership of the All Progressives Congress, effective from today, the 18th day of February 2024.

“My decision to resign from the party stems from its lack of internal democracy, flowing from the flawed process of the just concluded Edo governorship primaries, which has left me with no confidence in the party’s leadership structure and sense of political ethos.

“It is indeed a sad decision for me to take at this crucial time, particularly, because l joined the party few months ago. But, it is an inevitable decision, since l still enjoy the inalienable right to freedom of association, (or dissociation), guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended.

“I believe that my continued association with the APC would compromise my ability to support any decent candidate of my choice, as I would be compelled to unwittingly align with the party’s decisions, regardless of my personal convictions. To do otherwise will be termed “anti-party”. This was my grouse last year with my former party, the PDP.

“Moving forward, l wish to be an ‘Independent’ political player, who can freely support any candidate in future elections, based on their qualifications, integrity, and alignment with my values and beliefs. I am confident that this decision of mine is in the best interest of my life’s philosophy, social orientation and the political principles I hold very dear.”

Lagos plans N4bn pension payment March.

Lagos plans N4bn pension payment March.

The Lagos State Government will release N4bn to pensioners in March, as part of efforts to inject funds into the economy to cushion the economic hardship in the country.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen. 

Akosile explained that Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office would be about social inclusion.

He said this while giving updates on the government’s efforts to ameliorate the hardship being faced by Nigerians especially Lagosinans at this period.

Akosile said, “The second term of the administration is all about inclusion. Part of what we have been doing is to inject directly into the economy funds that will alleviate the suffering of the people. We just did the Trader Money. Two days ago, we paid N1.1bn pension and in March, we are going to pay another N4bn to the pensioners.”

At the weekend, Sanwo-Olu disclosed on his X handle that he had honoured the plan to pay N3.1bn to over 1,000 retirees who served the state meritoriously.

“This payment of N3.1bn alongside their monthly contributions which have already been remitted into their respective Retirement Savings Accounts with the Pension Fund Administrators is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our administration to the welfare and well-being of retirees,” he wrote via @jidesanwoolu on February 16.

“Next month, we will pay another N4bn as Lagos continues to lead in pension benefits administration,” he added.

EKSG Commences Farm Settlements Restructuring, Launches Cluster Farming Initiative.

EKSG Commences Farm Settlements Restructuring, Launches Cluster Farming Initiative.

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the restructuring of farm settlements as part of efforts to promote efficient utilization of land resources and dignity in farming with the provision of basic social needs and ultimately boost food security in the State.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade stated this in Ado Ekiti, stressing that the existing two farm settlements and five farm centers would be bolstered with clustered farming that would be established in several communities across the State.

Boluwade added that the focus is to provide employment and income for school leavers, arrest the wave of rural migration to the towns, increase agricultural productivity, demonstrate modern techniques of farming and solve the land tenure problem which was said to be a constraint on Agricultural development.

Boluwade explained that the Government would partner the private sector in restructuring the scheme to optimize the land through the inclusivity model with legacy farmers and youths, adding that the new arrangement would help farmers scale up their productivity.

The Commissioner assured that the new procedure would also boost security, increase resource availability and strategic resources as well as significantly reduce cost of production.

He said that Government would also ensure that farm owners and labourers are properly enumerated and profiled with their National Identity Numbers (NIN) while Geographic Information System (GIS) would, in addition, be deployed to eliminate the risk of harbouring unlawful informants and criminals at the farms.

Boluwade highlighted other interventions of the State Government to include clearing of land without burden for cluster farming free of charge, 50% subsidy on ploughing and harrowing of maximum of five hectares (5Hs) per farmer, facilitation of availability of tractors

for rentage at affordable rates and layering of different strata of

security apparatus to ensure safe and secured farming environment.

Explaining the concept of cluster farming, Boluwade said that it creates real profit by merging several smallholder farms, noting that the model was conceived to reinforce the existing farm settlements and centers in order to adequately cover the entire State.

His words, “Clearing will be carried out on identified land by the State Government free of charge. The State is bearing the cost because it is very expensive. Ordinarily, clearing one hectare would cost between 1.5 and 1.6 million Naira, so it is difficult for an average farmer to do. Government is therefore clearing free of charge but we don’t want to clear land that people will not use.

“It will be a total waste of money. That is why we ask interested people to do an expression of interest after identifying unburdened land in their communities. It is totally demand driven and the target is to open up land where people want to farm”.