Mimiko gives families of deceased journalists cash, scholarship
From Niyi Bello, Akure

ONDO State Government has offered full scholarship to the children of the two journalists and a driver who died on October 4 when the convoy of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, in which they were travelling, was involved in an accident along the Okitipupa-Akinfosle road.






Aside the offer of scholarship and defraying of all burial expenses, the government also pledged immediate release of N1 million to each of the families, with promise of employment for any of the deceased's children who has reached employment age.

Mimiko, who personally announced the assistance to the families at the lying-in-state of one of the victims, Elekan Samuel Bolorunduro, at the Press Centre of the Ondo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday, described the demise of the officials as devastating.

In an emotion-laden address, the governor said: "We mourn the sudden passing into glory of three professionals in the service of Ondo State Government, whose lives were cut short in a ghastly motor accident while in active service of their fatherland.

"The irreparable loss rattled and devastated the entire state and particularly members of my immediate family and the cabinet members to the extent that all government engagements in and outside the state were promptly suspended in honour of the officers for one week.

"While it could be painful that they departed this sinful world when their services would be mostly needed, we, however, take solace in the fact that they lived exemplary lives. On our part as government, we shall remain committed in our collective efforts to transform Ondo State to a more prosperous state where its citizens will be adequately catered for and protected."

Expressing the readiness of his administration "not to abandon the families of the deceased at their moments of needs," the governor announced that he had directed the relevant agencies of government to immediately commence the process of payment of their gratuities and pensions."

In his address, the National President of NUJ, Mallam Garba Muhammed, condoled with the family of the deceased, the body of journalists in Ondo State and the entire citizenry. He promised that the process of life assurance for journalists in the country would be pursued to logical conclusion.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/oct/16/9.html