The continued revamping of the Health facilities and Healthcare delivery in Oyo state is what this visionary and first-of-its-kind N50 billion HEALTHCARE ENDOWMENT FUND is primarily set up for; this is evident in the projects already outlined for this fund.

We join many to commend the state government for this, and it's no surprise that many individuals and organizations, Pacessetters and patriots alike, from within and in the diaspora, are ready to contribute to the fund.

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseHealth

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has approved the payment of April and May 2017 salaries for workers in the state from the refunded second tranche Paris Club Fund and June released Monthly allocation from the Federal Government.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, disclosed this ina  statement made available to Insideoyo.com on Thursday.

He explained that about 72% of the N7.9bn Paris Club fund was committed to the salaries and salary related payment, at both the state and local government levels to abate the salaries irregularities of council workers.

Arulogun said that despite President Muhammad Buhari’s directive that at least 50% of the Paris Club refunds should be committed to the payment of the salaries of workers in the states, Governor Ajimobi has always displayed his humanitarian and welfarist disposition and commitment to workers’ welfare by committing above the stipulated 50% to salaries and salary related.

The Government spokesman recalled that the governor committed 100% of the N5.003bn second inflow of the first tranche of the Paris Club fund to workers salary, pensions and gratuities, noting that 60% of the N7.2bn first inflow was committed to the same course.

He pointed out that the Oyo state government has paid two months salaries four times in the last 7months, expressing optimism that the government would soon be free from owing workers salaries.

According to him, “our government is committed to the well-being and welfare of the people of the state. We have said it many times that the leadership of the state is not happy with the situation of workers in the state and has never not relented in its efforts to correcting the anomaly. The Governor is consistent in reiterating his commitment to permanently resolving the issue of outstanding workers salaries.

“Before the financial crisis in the country, we used to pay on or before 25th of every month. Workers also received a 300% increase in salaries between 2011 and 2015. We strongly believe and are committed to getting back to the rosy days. We will all recall that the governor said at the 2017 inter faith service in January that the state will survive this period. As at then, we were owing workers in the state about six month salaries.

“It should be noted that with the payment of April and May salaries, we will be owing workers in the state only June Salary and by extension July in some days time.  The prophecy is already coming to pass and we believe that everything will soon be back to normal as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“We appeal to the people of the state to bear with us and continue to support our administration. We will continue to strive to fulfill our electoral promises and improve the quality of life for the citizenry in Oyo state. We do not politick or politicize people’s welfare,” Arulogun stressed.

This is a good one if we can get this

REVEALED: 15 truths you didn’t know about the Ibadan City MasterplanNEWS BY QUICKSILVER
(1) The Ibadan City Masterplan is a consummate urban development plan aimed at charting a modern and new direction of development for the city.

(2) The detailed master plan is expected to be submitted by September, alongside the Ibadan Drainage and Solid Waste master plans; these are expected to be developed as a trifecta of master plans aimed at enhancing infrastructural development and future expansion of Ibadan, as well as ending the regime of flooding.

(3) The Ibadan City Materplan was designed to internationally-acceptable standards by the Design and Architecture Bureau Consulting Engineers (DAR), in conjunction with the World Bank.

(4) The lack of a master plan slowed down the infrastructural and socioeconomic development of the state entirely, while it also contributed to the vulnerability of the city to natural disasters.

(5) It is a 20-year development plan.

(6) The development of this masterplan was inspired by the August 2011 flooding in Ibadan and those before then, which were triggered by several natural and human factors.

(7) The Ibadan City master plan covers the original 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland, and took the state’s natural environment, history of flooding, transport, infrastructure, housing and population into consideration.

( It is a reflection of the immediate and future needs of citizens of the city, who are the major stakeholders that were engaged during the process of drawing up the masterplan.

(9) This Ibadan City Masterplan will provide sound planning frameworks and foundations to attract investment for existing and new business growth.

(10) masterplan will make Ibadan city resilient to stress and responsive to natural disasters, especially flooding episodes for existing and future development areas.

(11) It will improve and expand the city’s transport network. while also aiding plans to accommodate the future population growth. For example, to incorporate an intra and inter-city rail system that will take advantage of the existing Lagos-Ibadan rail line.

(12) The masterplan will establish the basis for the provision of adequate infrastructure capable of meeting the need of the population. It will also enhance the quality of life for existing and future residents.

(13) This masterplan focuses on land use distribution, heritage and tourism, education and healthcare facilities, fire stations and security network, transport network, prevention of flooding and sustainable drainage systems, as well as pedestrian and bicycle networks.

(14) The Ibadan City masterplan incorporates how the state can cope with the existing structures and settlements. It will give us legitimacy to remove illegal structures on flood plains, with recommendations for alternatives to street trading, that include a trading axis, neighbourhood markets and the rest.

(15) A draft masterplan was presented to the state executive council and stakeholders to receive observations and contributions, all of which will be grafted into a final and robust master plan that will ensure coordinated physical growth, improved socio-economic development and enhanced living standards of residents.

N7.9bn Paris Club Refund: 60% will be for Salaries, salary related - Oyo Govt.










The Oyo State Government has disclosed that 60% of the latest Paris Club Refund of N7.9bn will be expended on salaries, wages and pensions of workers in the state, saying that its decision to use 100% of its federal allocations for workers' welfare still stands.




The government has also explained that about 80% of its much touted debt profile of N115bn by political opponents is made up of salaries, gratuities, pensions and wages owed workers and pensioners in the state, emphasizing that it also includes gratuities and pensions predating Governor Ajimobi's administration.




The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi made these explanations while featuring on a live Programme on a private radio station in Ibadan at the weekend, saying that the remaining 20% is largely composed of financial support from the federal government such as budget support and infrastructural loan.




Adekanmbi stated that the the Abiola Ajimobi's administration is very committed to the welfare of the entire people of the state, hence, its decision to deplore 60% of the first disbursement of the first tranche of Paris Club Refund for workers welfare which is more than the 50% suggested by President Muhammad Buhari.




According to the Commissioner, "We will all recall that President Buhari has told state governments to use at least 50% of the refund for workers' wages, salaries and allowances. We are doing more than the 50% in Oyo State. When we collected the first tranche of N7.2bn, we used 60 % for workers' salaries and wages. We also collected a part two of the inflow of the sum of N5.003bn and committed 100% to salaries and salary related payments of workers in the state.




"We have paid two months salaries three times consecutively and the governor has not relented in his efforts to clear all the outstanding wages. We will all remember that Oyo State was initially excluded from the refund, but the governor's tenacity and strong will ensured that we also got our share.




"It amazes me when people throw figures in the air without proper explanation or understanding. It is ver disappointing when people who claim to be knowledgeable bandy figures for mischief with malicious intent for cheap political gain. Our books are available for all to see and the leadership of the workers' unions meet with us regularly. We devote 100% of our federal allocations to workers' salaries and salary related and we did not borrow all the N115bn debt.




"About 80% of it is an accumulation of outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities including those from previous administrations. We will do all within our capacity to always set the record straight and put things in proper perspective with a view to enlightening the public," Mr. Adekanmbi said.





--




'Toye Arulogun
Hon Commissioner,

Min.of Info., Culture & Tourism,

Oyo State Government

Governor Abiola Ajimobi will this evening joined a delegation from the Nigerian Governors Forum to London to visit President Muhammadu Buhari.


The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this today at a briefing with State House reporters.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the selection of the delegation was done by the governors forum.

The chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State is expected to lead the delegation. This is coming few days after some APC governors, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the APC Chairman John Oyegun met with the President at the Abuja House, London.


On the delegation are the governors Borno, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Kano.

President Buhari has been in London since May 7 for a follow-up consultation with his doctors.

The N50bn endowment fund to be held on Thursday, August the 3rd, 2017, are aimed at achieving following:

The upgrade of 679 health facilities across Oyo state.

The establishment of a cardiovascular center which will provide up-to-date routine and emergency care in a bid to reduce sudden deaths arising majorly from cardiovascular causes.

Completion of the construction of five (5) new secondary level facilities in five (5) LGAs

Upgrade of existing secondary health facilities in the 33 LGAs and the primary care facilities in the 351 wards of the State.

The engagement of more qualified medical personnel for the afore-mentioned health facilities.

Used for infrastructural upgrade of 57 hospitals and 622 Primary Health Care centres

The revamped and free medical services so far have served over one million citizens over the past 6 years; this endowment fund is aimed at tripling that figure.

# AsiwajuNiWa
# AjumoseHealth

Dear Pacesetter, do you know that with just N200, you can go to the nearest accredited hospitals within #Oyo state or the State Ministry of Health, to register for the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme?

This novel scheme is the first of its kind by any state government, covers almost all the ailments and is free of charge to pregnant women and children between the ages of 1-5 years.
Have you registered? No? Oya, go now!

#AsiwajuNiWa

Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH Governing Council

The Oyo and Osun governments have announced the immediate constitution of a 7-man Governing Council for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), saying that the council will be headed by a retired Head of Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi.

The Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mr. Olalekan Allli said this in a statement issued and signed on Monday, listing Professor Lai Olurode, Prof. (Mrs) Olaide Adedokun, Mr. Abiodun AbdulJelil Owonikoko SAN, Mr. Isiaka Olagoke, Mr. Tise Adenipekun and Bade Adesina as members of the Governing council.

Alli explained that Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Counterpart form Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acted on the powers conferred on them by the laws establishing the institution as Visitors, met and approved the immediate constitution of the Governing Council of LAUTECH with Professor Oladapo Afolabi as the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor.

The SSG noted that the tenure of the Governing Council, as mandated by the University Law, shall be for four years from the date of its inauguration, unless determined by the Visitors.
Alli stressed that the Visitors have also directed the immediate inauguration of the Governing Council, whose mandate shall also be guided by the provisions of the relevant laws establishing the University.

He added that the Visitors are confident that with this development, the ongoing crisis in the institution will be resolved soonest and consequently enjoined all stakeholders to cooperate with the newly constituted Council in its determination to realize its mandate.

This is ibadan,new ibadan

Veteran Yoruba language and culture ambassador, Adebayo Faleti, passes onNEWS BY QUICKSILVER
Renowned Yoruba author, Adebayo Faleti, is dead.

He died in his home on Sunday in Ibadan, aged 86.

His son, Adeniyi,affirmed that he was helping his father with his bath when he died.

According to him, his father observed the early morning devotion with his family members when he woke up and soon after, told them that he prayed to God to send someone else to continue his mission as he was tired and longing for home.

After the morning devotion, I helped him to the bathroom as I normally do, when he said he wanted God to send someone else to come and complete his work because he had done all he could do. He also said that he wanted to go home. Suddenly, I noticed that he was not breathing again.

“We took him to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he was confirmed dead. We shall miss him greatly.”

 

Not many people did as much, or fared as well as Baba Fálétí in making the Yoruba language; the culture, and its premier, unique idiosyncrasies star quality within the pantheon of other cultures.

May His Soul Rest In Peace!

Public Universities and funding challenge | Peter IshakaEDUCATION BY QUICKSILVER
Our public universities need to think out of the box to find creative solutions to their funding crisis
The nation woke up recently to the decision by 38 public universities to jack up their tuition fees. According to the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Deji Omole, the hike was necessitated by poor funding from the owners, the federal and state governments. Whatever may be the merit of this decision, we are concerned that it may obstruct the peace of the universities, whose students have already notified the authorities of their intention to oppose the proposal because it would shut out many of them who might not be able to afford the increment.

There is no doubt that the nation’s public universities are facing hard financial times. This is a corollary of government’s meagre attention to education, a fact attested to by its poor annual budgetary allocation to the sector. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that developing nations allocate 26 per cent of their annual budgets to education to enable them close the yawning gap in the sector’s development and to lay a solid foundation for their future growth, which would rely largely on the quality of their human resources.
Government, at all levels in our country, has performed abysmally on this front. In this year’s budget, for instance, the share for education in the federal government N7.3 trillion appropriation is a mere N448.01 billion, a miserly six per cent. But nothing demonstrates the perennial disdain for the sector than the allocation of a miserable N50 billion to capital development while a whopping N398.01 billion is allotted to recurrent expenditure. But reports on education from the 36 states of the federation are no better. The figures for 2016, for instance, showed that 33 of the 36 states allocated N653.53 billion, representing 10.7 per cent of their combined total budget estimates of N6.1 trillion to the sector.
These poor allocations fly in the face of government’s own realization of the dire situation in the Nigerian universities. An enquiry commissioned by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012 on the needs of these universities led the federal government to earmark N1.3 trillion for special intervention in the Nigerian public universities over the next six years. Only N200billion has been released to date.
With low budgetary allocation to education, it is little wonder why tertiary institutions, particularly universities are broke with the attendant degeneration of their infrastructural facilities as well as lowering of standards of teaching and learning. The situation has led to perennial shut down and instability in the public institutions. Their global ranking has sunk so low that none of them is ranked among the top 800 in the world or among the top 10 in Africa.
Meanwhile, in spite of government’s stated commitment to education, widespread agitations for increased budgetary allocation to the sector has not persuaded it to take more substantive steps in that direction, notwithstanding its complimentary funding of tertiary education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
While we support the clamor for increased funding, we nonetheless think that given the dwindling resources of government, the tertiary institutions need to think out of the box and find more creative solutions to the problem. Elsewhere, universities have explored several ways of raising money to fund their operations. In this regard, ours need not reinvent the wheel. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, gifts, grants and consultancy services. We note that many of our universities have embarked on these but their performance needs to be stepped up.
The total earning of Nigeria’s 89 universities was N340.6 billion in 2016. Clearly much more work has to be done to shore up internally generated revenue in order to wean the universities of their virtual total dependence on government funding. More importantly, our universities’ administrators also need to manage their resources prudently and transparently as part of the challenge in several cases has been misappropriation of funds kept in their care.
Quote
Elsewhere, universities have explored several ways of raising money to fund their operations. In this regard, ours need not reinvent the wheel. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, gifts, grants and consultancy services. We note that many of our universities have embarked on these but their performance needs to be stepped up.

Written by Peter Ishaka

Ibadan is dead and we ve different bars,lounge or club springing up? How many new clubs do we ve in the last six years? Even you Mr Isaac owns one at adeoyo ring road. Are the yahoo boys not part of those that patronize you? The ring road mall was a place where refuse is been dumped for many years before this present gov gave that place transformation and gave more opportunities. How many people are working in that mall alone? Broken door isn't a big deal,there were broken doors at ur bar at a point in time. What impact ve u made as an individual at ibadan?

This is the same ibadan

Our public universities need to think out of the box to find creative solutions to their funding crisis
The nation woke up recently to the decision by 38 public universities to jack up their tuition fees. According to the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Deji Omole, the hike was necessitated by poor funding from the owners, the federal and state governments. Whatever may be the merit of this decision, we are concerned that it may obstruct the peace of the universities, whose students have already notified the authorities of their intention to oppose the proposal because it would shut out many of them who might not be able to afford the increment.

There is no doubt that the nation’s public universities are facing hard financial times. This is a corollary of government’s meagre attention to education, a fact attested to by its poor annual budgetary allocation to the sector. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that developing nations allocate 26 per cent of their annual budgets to education to enable them close the yawning gap in the sector’s development and to lay a solid foundation for their future growth, which would rely largely on the quality of their human resources.
Government, at all levels in our country, has performed abysmally on this front. In this year’s budget, for instance, the share for education in the federal government N7.3 trillion appropriation is a mere N448.01 billion, a miserly six per cent. But nothing demonstrates the perennial disdain for the sector than the allocation of a miserable N50 billion to capital development while a whopping N398.01 billion is allotted to recurrent expenditure. But reports on education from the 36 states of the federation are no better. The figures for 2016, for instance, showed that 33 of the 36 states allocated N653.53 billion, representing 10.7 per cent of their combined total budget estimates of N6.1 trillion to the sector.
These poor allocations fly in the face of government’s own realization of the dire situation in the Nigerian universities. An enquiry commissioned by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012 on the needs of these universities led the federal government to earmark N1.3 trillion for special intervention in the Nigerian public universities over the next six years. Only N200billion has been released to date.
With low budgetary allocation to education, it is little wonder why tertiary institutions, particularly universities are broke with the attendant degeneration of their infrastructural facilities as well as lowering of standards of teaching and learning. The situation has led to perennial shut down and instability in the public institutions. Their global ranking has sunk so low that none of them is ranked among the top 800 in the world or among the top 10 in Africa.
Meanwhile, in spite of government’s stated commitment to education, widespread agitations for increased budgetary allocation to the sector has not persuaded it to take more substantive steps in that direction, notwithstanding its complimentary funding of tertiary education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
While we support the clamor bloc or increased funding, we nonetheless think that given the dwindling resources of government, the tertiary institutions need to think out of the box and find more creative solutions to the problem. Elsewhere, universities have explored several ways of raising money to fund their operations. In this regard, ours need not reinvent the wheel. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, gifts, grants and consultancy services. We note that many of our universities have embarked on these but their performance needs to be stepped up.
The total earning of Nigeria’s 89 universities was N340.6 billion in 2016. Clearly much more work has to be done to shore up internally generated revenue in order to wean the universities of their virtual total dependence on government funding. More importantly, our universities’ administrators also need to manage their resources prudently and transparently as part of the challenge in several cases has been misappropriation of funds kept in their care.
Quote
Elsewhere, universities have explored several ways of raising money to fund their operations. In this regard, ours need not reinvent the wheel. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, gifts, grants and consultancy services. We note that many of our universities have embarked on these but their performance needs to be stepped up

On LAUTECH: Comrades, it's more #AuditLautech than #FundLautech | Praise Ifedayo​

Right now, one pertinent question that should be stuck on repeat on the lips of every concerned and deeply thoughtful student or persons directly affected by the lingering anomie at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is this - "How long does it take to perform an external audit nitori Olórun?". Please, permit the Yoruba for emphasis.

As far back as February 2017, the Visitation Panel that was set up by the two owner states had delivered its recommendations, where an external audit of the school's financial and administrative activities, was prominently prescribed as the main course of action to set the school back on track, and to also prevent another breakdown like this ongoing one. Swiftly, the two owner states secured the services of the international and independent audit firm, KPMG, to commence the external audit and pave way for the reopening of a productive and transparently managed LAUTECH.

But, since this February, the audit, which shouldn't take more than 3 weeks, has been unsuccessful till date, thanks solely to a lack of cooperation from the school management. Reportedly, as recent as just a week ago, the KPMG team were rebuffed and not given full cooperation by the LAUTECH management, and this is at the second time of asking. We are now edging into August, and so, to put its effect in proper perspective, this lack of cooperation has shut down the school for an extra one hundred and eighty (180) days, needlessly, and painfully too.

From clear cut fact-finding, the reason why the three (3) months of work of that Wole Olanipekun-led Visitation panel arrived at the feet of an external audit among other recommendations, was the level of financial impropriety and maladministration revealed in the process. A shocking highlight from that exposé was the fact that no audit, be it internal or external, has been performed on LAUTECH activities for the past 6 years, the school has been on autopilot into doom for a long time. The White Paper from the panel, which has since been made public, advised a more robust and complementary pattern of funding for the school, but, it also inferred strongly that no further funding should be provided until after an external audit is done to fix what's clearly broken within the system.

In other words, while a more collaborative funding of LAUTECH should be practically encouraged, (that is from a combination of government subvention, a broadened internal enterprises, a raised IGR, Grants, TETFund, etc), an audit MUST be done first, in order to prevent pouring scarcely sought resources into a bucket riddled with holes. Quite simple, right? Good.

But, the question now is even simpler. What is making the LAUTECH management not cooperate with this external audit? What is making them not give full access to KPMG to make them perform and complete this audit in record time? Who is afraid of the LAUTECH forensic audit

While we nibble on these pertinent questions, this delay leaves only one scenario to the imagination of any keen mind, and this is that, the school management are dillydallying with the process of this KPMG audit simply because they know heads will roll if it is successfully done, and are therefore hell-bent to either frustrate it, or take time to "clean house" before it is allowed. No? Oh! If there lies nothing to hide, why grind their teeth against an external and transparent audit?

The reason why this is even more disheartening is the fact that the LAUTECH management have seemed to fed fat on our collective ignorance for long, probably even till now. At one point or the other, we've all pointed all accusing fingers at the two owner states citing funding shortages, unbeknownst to us that funding, wasn't really the problem, both then, and now. In fact, despite the effect of a nationwide recession that barked and bit almost every sector, the owners coughed out 584 million naira earlier in the year to meet the school management at the centre, and thereby encouraging a forward-looking audit. Yet, nothing.

Now, listen. This above, is why without an #AuditLAUTECH, any attempt to #FundLAUTECH, either directly or by 'bambianllah', will possess striking similitude to a sham.

Should the two owner states insist on this audit before further financing is provided? I say absolutely yes! This is because the seemingly underhanded manner with which the school management had approached this important move, gives room for major doubts. At this point, both Oyo and Osun have the right to demand for checks and balances before issuing more cheques to make the school balanced. The LAUTECH management is demanding 1.9bn from the owners, and how sufficiently laughable that is, because really, what reasonable owner will sink additional N1.9bn into a fledging cause without a forensic audit?

In fact, it will be self-inflicting for the owner state governments to allow themselves get hoodwinked and blackmailed by the LAUTECH management into taking a course that will keep coming back to hurt us all, the school's reputation and subsequent students, particularly. It'll be nothing short of trying to cure a malignant cancer with a topical balm or 'aboniki'.

In light of all these, won't it therefore be wise and instructive, to sound a charge to every hurt LAUTECH student, parent, guardian and concerned heart out there, to recycle and rechannel our collective pains behind the right demand to #AuditLAUTECH and tax the school's management to cooperate with the government and KPMG to rid LAUTECH of rot and pave way for a reopening?

​Praise Ifedayo, a LAUTECH Alumnus and a HR Assistant at Intel Nigeria, wrote from Lagos.

The Oyo State Government has disclosed that 60% of the latest Paris Club Refund of N7.9bn will be expended on salaries, wages and pensions of workers in the state, saying that its decision to use 100% of its federal allocations for workers’ welfare still stands.

The government has also explained that about 80% of its much touted debt profile of N115bn by political opponents is made up of salaries, gratuities, pensions and wages owed workers and pensioners in the state, emphasizing that it also includes gratuities and pensions predating Governor Ajimobi’s administration.

The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi made these explanations while featuring on a live Programme on a private radio station in Ibadan at the weekend, saying that the remaining 20% is largely composed of financial support from the federal government such as budget support and infrastructural loan.

Adekanmbi stated that the the Abiola Ajimobi’s administration is very committed to the welfare of the entire people of the state, hence, its decision to deplore 60% of the first disbursement of the first tranche of Paris Club Refund for workers welfare which is more than the 50% suggested by President Muhammad Buhari.

According to the Commissioner, “We will all recall that President Buhari has told state governments to use at least 50% of the refund for workers’ wages, salaries and allowances. We are doing more than the 50% in Oyo State. When we collected the first tranche of N7.2bn, we used 60 % for workers’ salaries and wages. We also collected a part two of the inflow of the sum of N5.003bn and committed 100% to salaries and salary related payments of workers in the state.

“We have paid two months salaries three times consecutively and the governor has not relented in his efforts to clear all the outstanding wages. We will all remember that Oyo State was initially excluded from the refund, but the governor’s tenacity and strong will ensured that we also got our share.

“It amazes me when people throw figures in the air without proper explanation or understanding. It is ver disappointing when people who claim to be knowledgeable bandy figures for mischief with malicious intent for cheap political gain. Our books are available for all to see and the leadership of the workers’ unions meet with us regularly. We devote 100% of our federal allocations to workers’ salaries and salary related and we did not borrow all the N115bn debt.
“About 80% of it is an accumulation of outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities including those from previous administrations. We will do all within our capacity to always set the record straight and put things in proper perspective with a view to enlightening the public,” Mr. Adekanmbi said.

Whether unintended or deliberate, it is now a fact that years of layered maladministration and fiscal mismanagement are the hunk harbingers of the hurtful halt that has besieged the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, for a while now.

It is high time we stated and followed facts of the situation without getting our views and opinions blurred by the sting of emotions. This only applies if we truly desire an end to the lingering impasse.

Without mincing words, it is almost incurably sad that students, parents and workers alike have had to suffer stagnation and drought due to this lingering crisis. But also, judging from recent moves, it is an unmissable fact that the two owner states of the university, Oyo and Osun, especially the latter, have both recognized the importance to forestall such halt again. A reason why they set up a panel that gave a 75-number recommendation from a 6-point mandate viz – (i) To review the current terms of engagement of the University, with a view to consolidating the joint-ownership structure of the institution; (ii) To conduct an audit into the institution’s sources and application of funds; (iii) To review the structure of the institution, with a view to enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness; (iv) To propose a suitable funding structure that will ensure non-dependence of the institution on Government – subventions; (v)To propose suitable strategies for the overall improvement in the institution’s quality of education and service delivery; (vi) Consider any other matter relevant to the upliftment and sustainability of the institution and make suitable recommendations on same.

Then, I was privy to a detailed reading of the White Paper submitted to the Oyo state government on behalf of the two owner states by the Chief Wole Olanipekun-led panel, and I was shocked to the bones at the level of administrative imbalances and fiscal flaws replete within that document.

How can you run a public institution this huge for almost six (6) years without an audit, be it internal or external? How can the subventions, IGR, grants, TETFund, etc, be unaccounted for by audit or other means for five (5) successive academic sessions? How can you run a non-computerized Bursary and Audit departments and not expect to be prone to graft and a risk of managerial misappropriation? The Panel also observed the existence of ten (10) Chief Accountants in the Bursary department and regarded the number as “too big” as some of them would either be redundant or underutilized. One would ask, “why does LAUTECH need 10 chief accountants while some Federal, State and Private Universities use far too less?”. Well, the panel asked that it be reduced to four. Furthermore, how does one explain the need for 97 bank accounts for a singular institution? Red flags almost everywhere!

Many other unnecessary bleeding points and maladministrative abscess were indicated in that 75-pointer White Paper, and all were accompanied with many well thought-out recommendations to reverse the damnifying drain, and set the institution back on a stable course.

For example, in this document, the Panel recommends a minimum of 10% of the University’s IGR for funding its business units/operations so that in future the quantum of income of the University would be higher than its present income. It also advised the expansion of LAUTECH enterprises to accomodate further diversification. Furthermore, it advised that the laws establishing the University should be amended to allow for construction of student hostels on either Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Another recommendation was that the University should make internal transportation arrangement for the students through PPP arrangement to alleviate the plight of the students. All these and more, the document said will reduce over dependence on funding from either the owner-states or student fees. It did also stress that the financial commitment of the owner states should not be caught in doubt despite the recommendation of fiscal independence for the institution.

In brief, contrary to what a Dr. Adejumo, an ASUU executive and LAUTECH Lecturer said on Channel’s TV Sunrise Daily programme, the root cause for this painful pause of productivity in LAUTECH is chronic internal mismanagement, as espoused by a majority of the recommendations in that panel report, and NOT “chronic underfunding” per se.

Yes, everyone with sane thoughts agree that the two owner states provide subventions to the university, and while they have lapsed in payment of these subventions for a while, that lapse is neither the singular nor major reason for the halt. At this level going forward, what the owner states seek is transparency in administrative management and even, a degree of fiscal independence for the school by recommending diverse revenue generation means, most of which are addressed in the quite detailed White Paper.

As a parent with a daughter stuck in her third year (300 level) for almost 2 sessions and without the means to bail her out of grief by enrolling her into a private university, you could imagine my pain all these while and why I hauled expletives at the two state governments at every chance I got. But of late, after seeing details of administrant rot espoused in this White Paper, I’ve had to recycle my pain and redirect my anger and prayers at the right diagnosis.

In fact, I opine that the state governments make this White Paper public, publish it someway. It’ll do a whole lot to help converge thoughts and congregate efforts of all parties involved at solving this issue from its foundation.

Without a surge of emotion, any responsible parent like me will agree to tow any course of solution being primed to finally forestall a recurrence of this sad phase. It should be agreeable by all sides that the system within the school be healed of managerial cancers before more funding is procured and poured into the school, else, this kind of situation will surely reoccur; it’s no rocket science!

As I said above, at this level, we can’t seriouslty want a change in the fortunes of this once best state-owned university in the country, by dissipating energy on insulting remarks, needless propaganda and endless protests. We need to rather converge on facts together, students, parents, workers, ASUU, SSANU and NASU alike, and tow a path to progress from there.

Anyone would imagine how the faces of students and parents lit with hope to have heard the Commissioner of Education in Oyo state say that LAUTECH could be reopened some four (4) weeks from now, especially if all parties involved cooperate with the process of thorough external audit commissioned by the state to ensure absolute clarity, transparency and stability, moving forward.

The role of the school authority to make this happen is to allow the external audit to be done in time and successfully at that. Parents too must be clearly seen joining hands with the students to rechannel common energies to appeal to school associations to cooperate with external auditors to complete audit and thus fast track the reopening of the school and resumption of academic activities.

It’s no farce, that to forestall fiscal flaws and further failures in the running of LAUTECH, we all must follow the facts without the flak of emotions to find a final and lasting solution to the current siege, and ensure this university is seen as great again.

Oyo State Government has said that it will hold its N50bn endowment on Thursday, August 3, 2017, assuring that the fund will be used for infrastructural upgrade of 679 health facilities in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, who disclosed this on Thursday during a Press Conference held at the Conference Theatre of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ibadan, stated that the fund will be utilized for the establishment of a cardiovascular center which will provide up-to-date routine and emergency care in a bid to reduce sudden deaths arising majorly from cardiovascular causes.

Dr Adeduntan, in company of his counterpart from Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun and the Consultant on the N50bn Endowment Fund, Dr Bola Olaosebikan, noted that the fund will also be used for the upgrade of existing secondary health facilities in the 33 LGAs and the primary care facilities in the 351 wards of the State as well as engagement of qualified medical personnel for the afore-mentioned health facilities.

According to him, “the State has already commenced the construction of five (5) secondary level facilities in five (5) LGAs previous without such facilities. Presently, construction of these facilities is at various levels, but the Fund will adequately allow for full completion. Also, it will ensure that there is availability of up-to-date equipment for use in these hospitals.”

The commissioner further explained that the endowment fund will be used for infrastructural upgrade of 57 hospitals and 622 Primary Health Care centres, assuring that the fund will be administered with utmost transparency and accountability.

Dr Adeduntan expatiated that the fund will be managed in a public purse separate from Government account by a Board of Trustees comprising notable Nigerians led by renowned Professor of Medicine, Chief Oladipo Akinkugbe, stressing that the first phase of the endowment activities will span the next two (2) years with the possibility of extension.

Dr. Adeduntan explained “since all other vital sectors of the economy in the State are also competing for attention at the same time with the health sector, the government had no other alternative than to call on individuals, corporate organizations and well-meaning indigenes of the State to donate generously towards N50billion health endowment fund. We need the support of well meaning Nigerians to take our health sector to the next level.”

Speaking at the Press Conference, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun noted that the Senator Abiola Ajimobi administration met health care services in a bad state, saying however that the sector has been revamped and free medical services provided to over one million citizens.
He reiterated that the present administration has placed health care delivery on the front burner, noting that there is need for concerted efforts to ensure the sector is not moribund and static.

In his own address, the Consultant of the project, Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, who noted that the Endowment fund is the first of its kind in Nigeria, commended the State Government for supporting the lofty idea and assured that many organizations from within and in the Diaspora are ready to contribute to the fund.

He therefore called on well-meaning Nigerians to give Oyo State government huge support by donating generously towards the N50billion health endowment fund.

Oyo Government Orders Reopening Of State College Of Education

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday ordered the immediate reopening of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, EACOED, Oyo.

A statement by Yomi Layinka, media aide to the governor, said the order came against the backdrop of apologies and promises by the students’ representatives that their colleagues will turn a new leaf.

Mr. Ajimobi, who gave the directive shortly after meeting with the students’ leaders, admonished them against unruly acts that might truncate the peace of the state.
The state government had through a statement by the state Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Adeniyi Olowofela, shut the college on June 2 in the wake of violent protests by some students of the institution.

On Wednesday, the governor warned the students against a recurrence of the violence, adding that dialogue and engagement “were civilised ways of resolving grievances and issues bordering on welfare, no matter how knotty they might be.”

“We have forgiven you. But you must turn a new leaf. We are grooming you to become future leaders, but not through acts of hooliganism, destruction or any form of violent protest over issues that will still be resolved through dialogue and engagement,” Mr Ajimobi said.

In his reaction, the Provost of the EACOED, Rasaq Adefabi, appreciated what he called the role played by the governor in resolving the crisis.
He disclosed that the school management had set up a counselling unit saddled with the responsibility of attending to the welfare and concerns of the students.

Meanwhile, the governor has restated his appeal to the stakeholders at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, LAUTECH to allow unfettered access to auditors engaged to study the records of the institution.
This, he said, would pave the way for the reopening of the institution

Continuous collaboration for excellence – LAGOS, OYO to partner on agriculture, regional Integration

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has announced the preparedness of the state to partner Oyo State and the rest of the Southwestern states in agriculture and other economic activities to enhance the socio-economic integration of the region.

Ambode stated this when he paid a courtesy call to his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in his office, in Ibadan.

With the steady progress being recorded by Oyo State in physical and social infrastructure, and the establishment of a commercial hub along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to attract investors, he said that Ajimobi had demonstrated that he was purpose driven.

In the last six years of the Ajimobi-led administration, he said that Lagos State had leaned towards the exemplary leadership of his Oyo State counterpart to drive some of its activities.

Ambode said, “Lagos activities towards the commencement of integration of Southwest leaned towards the activities of Oyo State government in the last six years.

“For the first time, we can see an upward progress of Oyo State and I believe strongly that the capital projects carried out by the government in this state through public-private-partnership are just the right steps in the right direction.


“In the last one and a half years, Lagos State has decided to join the crusade for the economic and political integration of the Yoruba dynasty. May I say that Governor Ajimobi has been an exemplary leader, with the dexterity he used in bringing the Southwest governors together.

“Lagos is ready to partner Oyo and our sister states in the Southwest on agriculture and other economic activities that will enhance the renewed integration agenda of our region. The Southwest, especially Oyo, has arable land capable of growing crops that will guarantee food security for the nation.”

Ambode said that the arrangement Lagos State had with Kebbi State on the production of rice could be replicated with Oyo State in the area of cassava production.

In his response, Ajimobi said that Oyo had the location advantage as the gateway between Lagos, which is touted as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, and the rest of the country.

As the largest producer of cassava and poultry products, the governor added that Oyo State would benefit immensely from the proposed partnership with Lagos State to drive its economic revival programmes.

Ajimobi said, “Lagos, being the most viable, stable and economic nerve centre of the country, can be of great help to the nation if it consumes what other states in the Southwest produce.

Look at our own advantage in Oyo State as the gateway between Lagos and the rest of the country. We are the highest producer of cassava and poultry products and if Lagos consumes our products, it will assist the people of our state and our economy.

I am of a strong conviction that we will soon put pen to papers on this partnership, especially in the area of sustainable food security where we have a comparative advantage over other states. Oyo has the largest arable landmass in the entire South and a vast population.

15 FACTS and BENEFITS of the Ibadan City Masterplan you should know

(1) The Ibadan City Masterplan is a consummate urban development plan aimed at charting a modern and new direction of development for the city.

(2) The detailed master plan is expected to be submitted by September, alongside the Ibadan Drainage and Solid Waste master plans; these are expected to be developed as a trifecta of master plans aimed at enhancing infrastructural development and future expansion of Ibadan, as well as ending the regime of flooding.

(3) The Ibadan City Materplan was designed to internationally-acceptable standards by the Design and Architecture Bureau Consulting Engineers (DAR), in conjunction with the World Bank.

(4) The lack of a master plan slowed down the infrastructural and socioeconomic development of the state entirely, while it also contributed to the vulnerability of the city to natural disasters.

(5) It is a 20-year development plan.

(6) The development of this masterplan was inspired by the August 2011 flooding in Ibadan and those before then, which were triggered by several natural and human factors.

(7) The Ibadan City master plan covers the original 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland, and took the state’s natural environment, history of flooding, transport, infrastructure, housing and population into consideration.

( It is a reflection of the immediate and future needs of citizens of the city, who are the major stakeholders that were engaged during the process of drawing up the masterplan.

(9) This Ibadan City Masterplan will provide sound planning frameworks and foundations to attract investment for existing and new business growth.

(10) masterplan will make Ibadan city resilient to stress and responsive to natural disasters, especially flooding episodes for existing and future development areas.

(11) It will improve and expand the city’s transport network. while also aiding plans to accommodate the future population growth. For example, to incorporate an intra and inter-city rail system that will take advantage of the existing Lagos-Ibadan rail line.

(12) The masterplan will establish the basis for the provision of adequate infrastructure capable of meeting the need of the population. It will also enhance the quality of life for existing and future residents.

(13) This masterplan focuses on land use distribution, heritage and tourism, education and healthcare facilities, fire stations and security network, transport network, prevention of flooding and sustainable drainage systems, as well as pedestrian and bicycle networks.

(14) The Ibadan City masterplan incorporates how the state can cope with the existing structures and settlements. It will give us legitimacy to remove illegal structures on flood plains, with recommendations for alternatives to street trading, that include a trading axis, neighbourhood markets and the rest.

(15) A draft masterplan was presented to the state executive council and stakeholders to receive observations and contributions, all of which will be grafted into a final and robust master plan that will ensure coordinated physical growth, improved socio-economic development and enhanced living standards of residents.

Oyo/Dangote Partnership yields impressive results as 292 farmers received 25 Metric tons seedlings.

admin July 16, 2017 0
THE Oyo state government was impressed by the collaborative achievements of Dangote’s partnership as it disclosed at the Weekend that it has received 25 Metric tons of fertilizers and rice seedlings from Dangote Group of Companies which is to be distributed to 292 rice farmers in the state.

Contained in a statement issued and signed by the stats Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the Government informed that the distribution of the seedlings will start on Wednesday July 19, 2017, explaining that the fertilizers and rice seedlings received by the State Government is in furtherance of the Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative (AgricOyo) which was announced by the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi during the official launch of WAMCO Milk Collection Centre, Saki last month.

Receiving the seedlings on behalf of the state government at OYSADEP Warehouse Saki, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Hon. Fajimi Shakirullahi stated that about 800 bags of the fertilizers have been delivered at a warehouse in Awe to take care of rice farmers in the area.

He noted that the remaining seedlings are for the benefit of farmers in Oke-Ogun zone of the State with about 500 hectares of farmland which has been earmarked for pilot project, stressing that the farmland is expected to be increased to 6,000 hectares next farming season.

The Governor’s aide allayed fears that the fertilizers and seedlings might not get to genuine farmers, saying, “farmers who registered with government will benefit from this gesture. We know them, we have been meeting with them and they will surely benefit”.

Hon. Fajimi explained “the programme is an outgrowers scheme between the Dangote Group of Companies and the Oyo State Government, whereby the farmers will plant rice with the fertilizers given to them free of charge and Dangote Group will further assist in buying up the produce from them, serving as the off-takers between the farmers and the market. We want to urge our farmers to put in their best in the cultivation of their farms as there is ready-made market for them.”

He assured farmers in the State that with the enabling environment created by the Governor Ajimobi led administration as well as its drive for investors to come to the state, food production especially rice, poultry and other crops will receive necessary support needed to boost the agricultural sector.

The final draft of a 20-year Ibadan city master plan aimed at ending the regime of flooding as well as charting a new direction for the city has been presented to the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The detailed master plan is expected to be submitted by September, while the Ibadan drainage and solid waste master plans are expected to be developed as a trio of master plans aimed at enhancing infrastructural development and future expansion of Ibadan.

The governor received the draft document from the representatives of Design and Architecture Bureau Consulting Engineers (dar), led by the Project Manager, Mr Yann Leclerq, at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.
The Ibadan City master plan, which covers the original 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland, examined the state’s natural environment, history of flooding, transport, infrastructure, housing, population among others.
In his presentation to members of the state executive council, Leclerq stated that the draft master plan reflected the immediate and future needs of citizens of the city, whom he said were among the stakeholders that were engaged during the process.

According to him, the development of a master plan was inspired by the August 2011 flooding in Ibadan and those before then, which, he said, were triggered by several natural and human factors.
Particularly, he listed deforestation, development on flood plain, clogging of water surface, informal settlements, dumping in water channels among several human factors responsible for flooding in the city.

He said, “This master plan will provide sound planning frameworks and foundations to attract investment for existing and new business growth. It will prevent flooding episodes for existing and future development areas.
“We are also confident that it will improve and expand the city’s transport network. It will aid plans for and accommodate the future population growth. It will also enhance the quality of life for existing and future residents.
“Part of the objectives is to use this plan to establish the basis for the provision of adequate infrastructure capable of meeting the need of the population.”
According to him, a detailed urban plan, which he said was the next phase of the project, would include the core areas, flood prone areas and the circular road under construction.

The project manager added that Friday’s presentation was aimed at aggregating and incorporating the comments of state executive council and critical stakeholders, leading to the presentation of a detailed plan in September.
The draft master plan focuses on land use distribution, heritage and tourism, education and healthcare facilities, fire stations and security network, transport network, prevention of flooding and sustainable drainage systems, as well as pedestrian and bicycle networks.
In his remarks, the governor said that lack of a master plan contributed to the vulnerability of the city leading to natural disasters, such as the flooding witnessed on August 26, 2011.
Instead of emphasizing only mass transit system of transportation as contained in the draft document, Ajimobi tasked the consultants to incorporate intra and inter-city rail system into the final document to take advantage of the existing Lagos-Ibadan rail line.
Ajimobi added. “I will also want you to incorporate how the state can cope with the existing structures and settlements. It will give us legitimacy to remove illegal structures on flood plains. I know the implementation may pose challenges, but let us see.
“In making recommendations on street trading, emphasis should be on enforcement. But, at the same time, you have to take into consideration our culture and peculiarities. For instance, can we have trading axis, neighbourhood markets and the rest.
“You have listened to the observations and contributions of the members of the executive council. Please, work on these so that we may have a robust master plan that will ensure coordinated physical growth, improved socio-economic development and enhanced living standards of residents.
“More importantly, this will make the city resilient to stress and responsive to natural disasters, especially flooding in the future.”

While answering questions from correspondents of Oyolawa.com about the state of governance in Oyo state, a revered elder in the Bodija axis of Ibadan, Pa Nurdin Bakare, has expressed worry over the direction which desperate politicking is taking the state. He expressed a level of appreciation for the efforts of the present government, and while he strongly opined that more could still be done, he decried the spate of desperate politicking that threatens the peace that has since been achieved in the state.

In his words, Pa Bakare warned politicians within the state to stop “polluting the polity with half-truths and true lies” which are potent enough to “kill the peace” that was recently restored to the state.

“I am from Oritamerin here in Ibadan, and as a proud elder who plies a path of progressive good, I have sworn to always stand behind the growth of my state, irrespective of party or style of politics. And, this is why I do not suscribe to heating up the polity with unfounded statements that can destroy our accord, and take us back to the dark days of violence in this state.

“This present government is trying, you should know there is so much more that can be done, but, what now worries me is something any true elder should see and correct. Back in our own days, politicians went after facts while trying to outwit each other in the process of playing the game, but nowadays, politicians are too desperate to either snatch or hold on to power, without weighing effects of such moves. They are basically playing politics with the lives of people”, Bakare opined.

While prodded by our reporter for specifics that formed his worries, Pa Bakare highlighted recent talking points within the state, and decried how politicians, especially the opposition, have handled some of these issues without facts, reiterating how insensitive and inciting such politically-motivated remarks can be.

He said, “For example, look at that Olubadan review issue. It is sad that we are almost making ourselves a laughing stock in the comity of states, especially here in the Southwest. That matter is too clear to be misconstrued and misrepresented by the opposition. Just too clear. Do you know that this Declaration review was actually a mutual idea between the Olubadan-in-council and the state government, and that it has been attempted many times before by past governments? Yet, opposing politicians, without considering the overdue importance of expanding the functionality and structure of the Olubadan stool, went out into the streets to pollute the polity with propagandist half-truths, potent enough to incite the citizens for the very wrong reasons. It saddens my heart, and I’m really concerned”.

Bakare stated that responsible citizens do not thrive on hearsay about dealings within their state, rather, they seeks facts. However, he stressed that some people don’t really bother to know, and that instead of finding ways to rightly inform these second group of people, it was quite irresponsible that politicians plying the trade of desperation seek to always exploit such ignorance for personal political gains.

“Let me give you another example. When I heard about the issue of the debt profile of our state on radio recently, I knew the claim of a 150 billion naira debt profile sounded somehow high and unrealistic, especially considering the rate at which new developmental projects are either being commissioned or completed across our state through PPPs, government funds and other partnerships. But, I still sought true information in order to confirm my thoughts.

Pa Bakare went further, “See my dear, firstly, getting loans is acceptable practice in governance across the world, and anyone with basic understanding of public sector finance cannot just bandy figures around about the debt profile of a state that just set up an industrial park for example, and without listing components of such debt at that. It is a fact that government does not manufacture monies, and that there are three levels of fulfilling any state’s budgetary obligation, and these are FAAC allocation, Internally Generated Revenue, grants or loans.

“You want to know what I did next? I approached the information desk at our state’s finance ministry that works with the Debt Management Office. Yes, every tax-paying citizen possesses that right to know, if ever in doubt. So, I got to know that the so-called debt is millions shy of 50 billion naira, and not the unrealistic figure claimed by an opposing politician on live radio. I even got to know that only about 10% of this amount was used on developmental projects, while a bulk of it was used to pay gratuities and monies owed in arrears by previous governments in our state. The files and EFCC cases are right there, indicting past governments of mismanagement in this regard”, Bakare added.

He went further saying, “It was clear and confirmed that this present government had executed developmental projects, managed to pay salaries and gratuities, both past and present, and ran the state’s affairs by legitimately obtaining bonds, grants and loans but not beyond her means. In fact, I got to know that the present government had managed to increase our state’s monthly IGR from the 800 million mark from 2011, to an average 1.5 billion, despite enduring harsher fiscal conditions that was national in impact. So dear, you would imagine my bemusement at that 150 billion naira claim and why someone would want to put such unfounded remark out there, without considering its polarising effect it could have on the people. This isn’t right in any way possible”.

He stressed that the present government has justified the reasons why the people gave them a second-term, judging by what he called “foundation laying for a modern Oyo state”; he therefore asked that the opposition should administer criticism in the right way that helps any government, including the incumbent, to sit tight enough to achieve even more.

Putting it succinctly, “I advise the politicians, especially the ones in opposition in Oyo state, to stop this trend, anything that poses a threat to our peace is dangerous and should be stopped. Instead of inciting the polity with remarks borne out of desperation, they must play the role of true opposition by being factual and objectively critical, not otherwise. As I said above, responsible citizens have a right to the right information and they should ask questions if ever in doubt. That’s what I did regarding the debt issue for example, and I was duly informed”, Pa Bakare surmised.

Elderstatesman warns GUEST CONTRIBUTIONS BY QUICKSILVER


While answering questions from correspondents of Oyolawa.com about the state of governance in Oyo state, a revered elder in the Bodija axis of Ibadan, Pa Nurdin Bakare, has expressed worry over the direction which desperate politicking is taking the state. He expressed a level of appreciation for the efforts of the present government, and while he strongly opined that more could still be done, he decried the spate of desperate politicking that threatens the peace that has since been achieved in the state.

In his words, Pa Bakare warned politicians within the state to stop “polluting the polity with half-truths and true lies” which are potent enough to “kill the peace” that was recently restored to the state.

“I am from Oritamerin here in Ibadan, and as a proud elder who plies a path of progressive good, I have sworn to always stand behind the growth of my state, irrespective of party or style of politics. And, this is why I do not suscribe to heating up the polity with unfounded statements that can destroy our accord, and take us back to the dark days of violence in this state.

“This present government is trying, you should know there is so much more that can be done, but, what now worries me is something any true elder should see and correct. Back in our own days, politicians went after facts while trying to outwit each other in the process of playing the game, but nowadays, politicians are too desperate to either snatch or hold on to power, without weighing effects of such moves. They are basically playing politics with the lives of people”, Bakare opined.

While prodded by our reporter for specifics that formed his worries, Pa Bakare highlighted recent talking points within the state, and decried how politicians, especially the opposition, have handled some of these issues without facts, reiterating how insensitive and inciting such politically-motivated remarks can be.

He said, “For example, look at that Olubadan review issue. It is sad that we are almost making ourselves a laughing stock in the comity of states, especially here in the Southwest. That matter is too clear to be misconstrued and misrepresented by the opposition. Just too clear. Do you know that this Declaration review was actually a mutual idea between the Olubadan-in-council and the state government, and that it has been attempted many times before by past governments? Yet, opposing politicians, without considering the overdue importance of expanding the functionality and structure of the Olubadan stool, went out into the streets to pollute the polity with propagandist half-truths, potent enough to incite the citizens for the very wrong reasons. It saddens my heart, and I’m really concerned”.

Bakare stated that responsible citizens do not thrive on hearsay about dealings within their state, rather, they seeks facts. However, he stressed that some people don’t really bother to know, and that instead of finding ways to rightly inform these second group of people, it was quite irresponsible that politicians plying the trade of desperation seek to always exploit such ignorance for personal political gains.

“Let me give you another example. When I heard about the issue of the debt profile of our state on radio recently, I knew the claim of a 150 billion naira debt profile sounded somehow high and unrealistic, especially considering the rate at which new developmental projects are either being commissioned or completed across our state through PPPs, government funds and other partnerships. But, I still sought true information in order to confirm my thoughts.

Pa Bakare went further, “See my dear, firstly, getting loans is acceptable practice in governance across the world, and anyone with basic understanding of public sector finance cannot just bandy figures around about the debt profile of a state that just set up an industrial park for example, and without listing components of such debt at that. It is a fact that government does not manufacture monies, and that there are three levels of fulfilling any state’s budgetary obligation, and these are FAAC allocation, Internally Generated Revenue, grants or loans.

“You want to know what I did next? I approached the information desk at our state’s finance ministry that works with the Debt Management Office. Yes, every tax-paying citizen possesses that right to know, if ever in doubt. So, I got to know that the so-called debt is millions shy of 50 billion naira, and not the unrealistic figure claimed by an opposing politician on live radio. I even got to know that only about 10% of this amount was used on developmental projects, while a bulk of it was used to pay gratuities and monies owed in arrears by previous governments in our state. The files and EFCC cases are right there, indicting past governments of mismanagement in this regard”, Bakare added.

He went further saying, “It was clear and confirmed that this present government had executed developmental projects, managed to pay salaries and gratuities, both past and present, and ran the state’s affairs by legitimately obtaining bonds, grants and loans but not beyond her means. In fact, I got to know that the present government had managed to increase our state’s monthly IGR from the 800 million mark from 2011, to an average 1.5 billion, despite enduring harsher fiscal conditions that was national in impact. So dear, you would imagine my bemusement at that 150 billion naira claim and why someone would want to put such unfounded remark out there, without considering its polarising effect it could have on the people. This isn’t right in any way possible”.

He stressed that the present government has justified the reasons why the people gave them a second-term, judging by what he called “foundation laying for a modern Oyo state”; he therefore asked that the opposition should administer criticism in the right way that helps any government, including the incumbent, to sit tight enough to achieve even more.

Putting it succinctly, “I advise the politicians, especially the ones in opposition in Oyo state, to stop this trend, anything that poses a threat to our peace is dangerous and should be stopped. Instead of inciting the polity with remarks borne out of desperation, they must play the role of true opposition by being factual and objectively critical, not otherwise. As I said above, responsible citizens have a right to the right information and they should ask questions if ever in doubt. That’s what I did regarding the debt issue for example, and I was duly informed”, Pa Bakare surmised.

#DoYouKnow

▪That the current global market value (gmv) of Cashew and its value chain is extremely high and outwits even crude oil; and that while Nigeria has the best cashew nuts in the World, #Oyo State has the best in the country. This is why the biggest Cashew Nut processing factory is being set up in Oyo State at the moment.

▪ That 84% [23, 901 sq.km] of the total land area of Oyo state [28,453sq.km] is arable land.

▪ That there are 9 organised farm settlements across our heavily agrarian Oyo state, with a total of 22 dams pulling a capacity of 11,413,00m3 and 126ha irrigable land.

▪That these 22 dams provide water all year round, ensuring the possibility of dry season farming.

▪That Oyo is going digital with agriculture with the "Know Your Farmer" (KYF) initiative; where location, farmer details, commodity, and the size of farm of each farmer can be accessed at a the click of a button.

▪That there's a new land policy to ease access to farmland to new and existing farmers, with a view to expand agricultural production within the state.

▪That Oyo state has leveraged extensively on having the highest number of functional Agricultural Research Institutes (5), by securing constant transfer of knowledge to further aid our agricultural drive.

▪ That rice will soon be produced in hugely commercial quantity in Oyo state off from the MoU signed with the Dangote Group.

▪That the biggest rice processing facility in Nigeria will be here in Oyo state, as this Dangote’s 16-hectare Integrated Rice Mill will require paddy from a minimum of '20000 Hectare' cultivated land.

▪That this will be a very viable project because of the rich Rice belt in the Oke-Ogun area, as the superior soil quality therein, infers that our rice is set to be of top quality in yield and taste!

▪That this Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative will empower thousands of smallholder rice farmers and consequently bring Oyo State to the frontier of rice production in Nigeria.

▪ That there is the construction of first-class, first-of-its-kind and fully-mechanized 10,000 metric ton agricultural storage silos in the senatorial districts of Oyo state for the storage of our cash crops and grains. The one situated in Awe will be commissioned soon.

▪ That we launched the Oyo State Pacesetter Farm (Integrated Farming model - Shonghai model) to complement our desire to be the foodbasket of the Southwest.

▪ That 458 members of Nigeria cassava growers association were empowered with N280,000 each.

▪ That 850 farmers were empowered with N250,000 in the feedwell vegetable planting program.

▪ That there are 18 Large Farms and Agribusiness setups across the state [12 Cassava, 4 Poultry, 1 Aquaculture and 1 Livestock]

Well, now you know!
#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseAgriculture

Despite audit, we gave LAUTECH N147million in 2months, Oyo commissioner
• WE ARE NOT AWARE AS WE HAVE NOT GOT SALARY ―ASUU

Amid the crisis rocking Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela has said that the institution has been given subvention of N147 million in the past two months.



Olowofela disclosed this while addressing journalists against the backdrop of notions that the owner states had abandoned LAUTECH to allow for the institution’s audit.

He maintained that the government only offered support in form of subvention, which is about 25 percent of what was previously given, while the institutions were expected to work towards being financially autonomous.

Olowofela who said that the state was not unmindful of the Olanipekun panel recommendation that Oyo pays N1.8 billion in the shortest time, posited that the audit report was meant to guide the owner states on how best to fund LAUTECH.

Olowofela who spoke in company of Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, affirmed that the owner states were undeterred in carrying out the audit which was last done in 2012.

“LAUTECH is still being given subvention. We have given them N147 million in two months. So, government has not abandoned LAUTECH. The audit will continue. After the audit, we will be guided better on funding of the school. We want them to be financially autonomous as the subvention we give them is support,” Olowofela said.

Generally, Olowofela noted that all state institutions had been to embark on ventures and generate revenue to fend for their affairs, while the state only supported with subventions based on their peculiarities.

Arulogun, while speaking, expressed optimism that the new governing council of the institution, set to be inaugurated, would assist in resolving the issues challenging LAUTECH.

Responding to government’s position, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr Biodun Olaniran has said that it was not aware of the release of subventions since members of staff were yet to receive salaries since it commenced the ongoing strike.

It would be recalled that Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin had once pegged the monthly wage bill of the institution at about N360 million.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, may soon be opened, following letters of apology written by the institution’s unions and management to the state government.

Provost of the institution, Dr Rasaq Adefabi who confirmed this, said the institution had guaranteed government that there won’t be a recurrence of any breakdown of law and order, once the school is reopened.

AJUMOSE AGRICULTURE - DO YOU KNOW:

#DoYouKnow

▪That the current global market value (gmv) of Cashew and its value chain is extremely high and outwits even crude oil; and that while Nigeria has the best cashew nuts in the World, #Oyo State has the best in the country. This is why the biggest Cashew Nut processing factory is being set up in Oyo State at the moment.

▪ That 84% [23, 901 sq.km] of the total land area of Oyo state [28,453sq.km] is arable land.

▪ That there are 9 organised farm settlements across our heavily agrarian Oyo state, with a total of 22 dams pulling a capacity of 11,413,00m3 and 126ha irrigable land.

▪That these 22 dams provide water all year round, ensuring the possibility of dry season farming.

▪That Oyo is going digital with agriculture with the "Know Your Farmer" (KYF) initiative; where location, farmer details, commodity, and the size of farm of each farmer can be accessed at a the click of a button.

▪That there's a new land policy to ease access to farmland to new and existing farmers, with a view to expand agricultural production within the state.

▪That Oyo state has leveraged extensively on having the highest number of functional Agricultural Research Institutes (5), by securing constant transfer of knowledge to further aid our agricultural drive.

▪ That rice will soon be produced in hugely commercial quantity in Oyo state off from the MoU signed with the Dangote Group.

▪That the biggest rice processing facility in Nigeria will be here in Oyo state, as this Dangote’s 16-hectare Integrated Rice Mill will require paddy from a minimum of '20000 Hectare' cultivated land.

▪That this will be a very viable project because of the rich Rice belt in the Oke-Ogun area, as the superior soil quality therein, infers that our rice is set to be of top quality in yield and taste!

▪That this Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative will empower thousands of smallholder rice farmers and consequently bring Oyo State to the frontier of rice production in Nigeria.

▪ That there is the construction of first-class, first-of-its-kind and fully-mechanized 10,000 metric ton agricultural storage silos in the senatorial districts of Oyo state for the storage of our cash crops and grains. The one situated in Awe will be commissioned soon.

▪ That we launched the Oyo State Pacesetter Farm (Integrated Farming model - Shonghai model) to complement our desire to be the foodbasket of the Southwest.

▪ That 458 members of Nigeria cassava growers association were empowered with N280,000 each.

▪ That 850 farmers were empowered with N250,000 in the feedwell vegetable planting program.

▪ That there are 18 Large Farms and Agribusiness setups across the state [12 Cassava, 4 Poultry, 1 Aquaculture and 1 Livestock]

Well, now you know!

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseAgriculture

Nigeria will be self sufficient in rice production by November, Ogbeh

…Assures on imminent price fall
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that the country will be self sufficient in rice production by November, which he said will force a reduction in the price of the commodity.
He frowned on what he called the people’s unbridled penchant and taste for foreign foods, most of which, he said, were not as healthy and nutritious as those produced locally.

The minister bared his mind while addressing a town hall meeting on sustainable agriculture, which was attended by farmers, youths, women and other stakeholders in agriculture, held at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
The dialogue, which featured question and answer session, was hosted by the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi.
The meeting, which was called to chart a new path for agriculture rebirth, climaxed a two-day working visit by the minister to agricultural facilities, including farms, dams, farm settlements and others across the state.

He lamented what he called the culture of wastages and abandonment in the country, which, he said, accounted for decaying facilities and monuments dotting the landscape.
Ogbeh said, “By November we will be self sufficient in rice production. We will no longer need to import rice. And let me tell you, our rice is safer, tastier and healthier than the foreign ones.
“Patronize our farmers, eat healthy. Eat Nigerian rice. Another cheering news is that we will soon bring down the price of rice. Nigerians should embrace local products and stop importation of useless things.

“We are a country that has penchant for importation without exporting anything. In fact, some people will even order for pizza from London for delivery by British Airways. They will tell you London pizza tastes better.

“We import champagnes, cookies, toilet papers and even toothpicks. We have this taste for foreign products. This is killing us, it is killing our economy.”
The minister, who disclosed that Oyo State topped the list of cashew producers in the country, said that a cashew processing plant would be established in the state within the next six months.
While urging the governor to prevail on land owners to surrender them for agricultural purposes, he said that the FG was prepared to join hands with the state government on its agric revolution.
He expressed regret that overdependence of the country on accruals from oil production had robbed it of the development of other sectors, especially agriculture, which he said was once the nation’s cash cow.
Ogbeh said, “For instance, I was almost in tears when I got to Ikere Gorge Dam yesterday (Monday) and saw the magnitude of waste and what Nigeria is losing from its abandonment since 1982. It is pathetic. This dam has the capacity to irrigate 12,000 hectares of farm land.

“I remember that we visited the dam in 1982 and brought the required turbines to complete the project. I almost wept when I met the turbines lying fallow at the dam without being fixed.

“This is a dam that has capacity to generate at least seven thousand megawatts of electricity. Ikere is just one of the 22 dams in Oyo State, which is the second highest in Nigeria next to Kano that has 23 dams.

“We fought the civil war with revenue from agriculture, with at least $1m (today’s N367m) per day. The money came from cocoa, groundnut, soya beans and the rest. But today, the disappearance of oil money has exposed our unclothedness.”
In his remarks, Ajimobi commended the FG for its commitment to the survival of the country through initiatives such as the latest agriculture renaissance.

The governor recalled that many monuments located in Ibadan, which were mostly the first of their kind in Africa, such as the Liberty Stadium, Cocoa House, University of Ibadan, the Nigerian Television Authority and others were built with proceeds from agriculture.

He appealed to the people to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, which he said was paramount to the economic survival of the country.
Ajimobi said, “I don’t know why we are shunning agriculture. I want to put it on record here that I’m also a farmer, because the country’s law did not forbid the president, governors and other political office holders from going into farming.
“Oyo must become the food basket of the nation. No agric, no food and when there is no food, there is no life and no living, no nation. To survive and live well you must make money. The money is in agriculture.
“The FG is now providing many incentives for the people to embrace agriculture. We need to start thinking of the future today. Let us think of agriculture today for our survival. Let us all work. Let us all do agriculture.

“The highest employer of labour in an underdeveloped country like Nigeria is agriculture. We are underdeveloped because any nation that cannot feed its people is underdeveloped.”

Ajimobi restated the preparedness of the state to partner the FG to complement its agric projects aimed at enhancing food sufficiency in the country

The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development today engages youths, women,farmers and other stakeholders in Agriculture,at house of Parliament state secretariat, ibadan Oyostate. He confirms peace in Oyo state from his chat with a fulani during his visit to WAMCO Milk Collection Centre,shaki. He encourages one Nigeria. He said government are trying to give more access to credit in order to boost Agriculture in the state and country. He advised youths to invest in agriculture for better future. Lots were done from Agriculture back in the days before the Era of oil and gas. He made farmers know that it's the best to give a cow 100 litres of water a day in other to produce 25litres of milk in a day also cassava leaves is very in feeding cows,which can generate more money for farmers. Ogbomoso produces the best cashew nuts,shea butter is seriously in high demand for exportation.The Agro system will start linking farmers,youths,women with financial institutions. Oyo state has taken bold step registering farmers in order to measure the farm land and how government will come in,over 2,000 farmers has been registered including our able Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He registered Koseleri Farms Nigeria Ltd. Over 40 agents has been quipped for the registration. Cashew processing machines to be given to Oyostate in another six months and laboratories will be accessible to farmer to test soils before planting and also other related issues. Tractors will be given to state govt to assist farmers in the state. Farmers were given seeds for Plantation which helps in feeding cows to boost milk production. He urges youths,women,farmers and other stakeholders to invest more in agriculture to boost the economy. Governor Ajimobi was commended for such a brave thought and putting it into action to make Oyo state grow.