Ondo state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, honourable Lola Fagbemi has described the ongoing verification exercise in the local government council as a normal routine with no interior motive

The commissioner while addressing the council workers in Akure south, Idanre and Ondo west local government while monitoring the exercise said the entire workforce will be better for it afterward. Saying that planning is essential for any administration to succeed.

Some of the workers who spoke on the issue commended the Akeredolu led administration for it’s laudable project especially on regular payment of salaries and allowances.

The commissioner was accompanied by the permanent secretary in the local government and chieftaincy affairs, Chief Segun Odusanya, his counterpart in the local government pension board, comrade Bunni Eniayewu as well as the NULGE State chairman, Comrade Taiwo.

It was gathered that Exercise of this nature was last carried out in 2013 by the State government.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY AJIBADE GBADEGESIN THE OLOWO ELECT APPLAUD AKEREDOLU ON IMPROVEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL VALUE.


PRINCESS EIGBOKHAN ORIH
FOR TCC NEWS



The Ondo state Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has been commended by his Imperial Majesty Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin III the Olowo of Owo Elect says in a bid to upgrade agriculture into Agro business ventures, the Ondo state governor Akeredolu has continued to encouraged the youths to go into Agriculture as a way to strengthened the Ministry of Agriculture and the State's Agricultural Development Project (ADP).



The Olowo of Owo Elect Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin III said the Ondo State Government reviewed the mandates of one of her Agricultural Agencies and renamed it "Ondo State Agri-business and Empowerment Centre (OSAEC)" to specially focus on youths in the state. In other to Established a two thousand (2,000) hectares Cocoa Plantation at ljugbere, Owo which will eventually be apportioned to youths at four (4) hectares per youth for ownership and maintenance. The clearing and planting are being done in phases.



Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin III said this innovative development will create self-sustaining jobs for the youth through intervention schemes. Which is commendable in the wake of agro business in the globe.



According to his imperial majesty The Ondo state Government has rehabilitated the 1,744 hectares Oda road Estate and shared it to youths for proper management. The management is under the strict supervision of Ondo State Government. Premium cocoa beans are being produced from the estate in preparation for the production of chocolates.



The Olowo of Owo Elect applauded Akeredolu for The establishment of Sunshine Cocoa Factory at Alade-ldanre and the operation of the long-abandoned semi mechanized abattoir established in Akure to process beef for the citizens of Ondo State.



His imperial majesty said his vision as the new Olowo of Owo is to empower the youth in Owo kingdom as he has taken it as a challenge to make sure that the youths are gainfully employed.



According to him “We would be able to leverage small scale, medium scale and large scale industries in our kingdom, that is one of the challenges I have decided to take on so that at the end of the day, youthful exuberance here and there would be curtailed, so I have a vision to empower the youths.”



His imperial majesty The Olowo of Owo elect Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin iii said he looks forward to turning all traditional festivals in Owo Kingdom to tourist attraction which will bring people from all works of life to Owo Ondo state, thereby adding valve to the state economy and empowering the youths. He said the Igogo and Ero festival will be celebrated as his forefathers has done but the youths and the people will benefit greatly from these festivals.

Following discoveries of unwholesome practices of some food producers in Nigeria, citizens of Ondo State have been cautioned to watch the foods they purchase and consume in order to avoid the harmful food products causing harm to their system.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, gave the advice while reacting to a recent publication in The Hope newspaper on ‘poisonous fufu’ recently.

According to him, it is important that people give proper attention to their health through what they consume, so as to prevent food poisoning which can be harmful to their health. He added that they should verify the source of every cooked meal bought before consumption.

Speaking further, he described the act of adding hypo, potash and detergent among other things to the processing of fufu as wicked noting that the combination is acidic.

He said, “The addition of hypo and detergent to prepare fufu which will be eaten by the people means going to the extreme”.

” It is a very big disaster because these things contain chemicals which are very injurious to the body as they can damage the bowel and other vital organs.

” It is not ideal, as whoever is doing that, is poisoning the consumers. It can lead to ulcer and other side effects of taking chemicals which are not supposed to be consumed by human beings.”

He implored relevant government agencies to investigate the matter and handle appropriately those found guilty.

Source: https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/commissioner-cautions-citizens-on-food-intake/

In what has been described as a proof to the Akeredolu led administration to listen and heed to the voice of the good people of Ondo state, and protecting the interest of students in the state, the management of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State has announced a new approved tuition fee for the 2019/2020 academic session.

The newly approved tuition fee sees a 30% reduction compared to the previous years.

The 30% reduction of the tuition fee is coming as a result of the intervention of the state government in ensuring that qualitative education is made available and accessible to the good people of Ondo state.

The institution established in the year 1979 has been thrown into public discourse in the past few months due to the state of the previous tuition fee structure, which was described "overtly too high and backbreaking" considering the present state of the nation's economic realities.

The students, parents and other stakeholders had pleaded to the Akeredolu led administration to help in the reduction of the tuition fee, in response to this pleads Governor Akeredolu had stated that the state Government cannot alone continue to bear the burden of running tertiary institutions in the state, nevertheless promised to look into the review of the tuition fee.

The Akeredolu led administration must be commended for its readiness and willingness to put first the interest of the Nigerian students and that of the state in general.

Parents,Guardians and students of the institution can now look forward to a new academic session with utmost sense of relief and joy.

The newly approved tuition fee structure will see the ND 1 and 2, Science amd Non Science based pay a paltry sum of 70,600.00 and 67,000,00 respectively. While the HND 1 and 2 Science and Non Science are to pay 77,600,00 and 72,700,00.

For the Non indigent students, ND 1 and 2 Science and Non Science students will be required to pay a sum of 77,600.00 and 74,100.00 while the HND 1 and 2 Science and Non science students are to pay 86,000.00 and 81,000.00

Amudipe Opeyemi Marcus
TCC NEWS

Source: http://ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/30-percent-reduction-in-tuition-fees--relief-for-Rufus-Giwa-Polytechnic-students

By ALOZIE GENEVIEVE
TCC NEWS

The truth is that everybody needs food. But the challenges that come with providing adequate food to the increasing population of a nation shows why food security should be a top priority for all in leadership.


According to the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, Food Security implies “people, at all times, have physical, social and nutritious food that meets their food preferences for an active and healthy life”


Following the climate change, growing global population, rising food prices and environmental conditions that pose difficult challenges in ensuring the availability of food to the world teeming population, some adaptive measures in line with global changes such as provision of Water, application of land use act, and Postharvest food processing has been taken by some responsive leaders across the world to ensure sustainability of food security.


To ensure food security, for all countries both developed and developing, the place of Agriculture must not be neglected in every country’s annual budgeting. That is why the Ondo state government under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, made Agriculture paramount on his agenda.


In a bid to ensure food security, so many steps have been adopted by this present government to increase food production and Agribusiness. In 2018, 450, 000 cocoa and 25,000 cashew seedlings were distributed to farmers just to boost its production and generate revenue for the State.



During the flag off of the Cocoa and Cashew seedling disbursement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric and Agribusiness Mr. Akin Olotu, said the This initiative is tailored to create employment for the youths and also positioning cocoa production in the country and West Africa at large.


The Ondo state government also collaborated with the Federal government on National Egg Production Scheme with 64,000 layers which currently involves 32 farmers participating in the empowerment. This has in return yielded in the increase of meat supply as well as improving the nutritional intakes of citizens.


To encourage farmers and boost Agricultural productivity, Akeredolu led administration procured and distributed 1,000 metric tons of fertilizer to various farm service centers in the state.


In recognition of the vital role that Agriculture play in the development of any nation, Ondo state House of Assembly approved the request of the executive arm of government to borrow N2Billion for the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme (CACS) fund. This fund was later distributed to farmers as credit loan to enhance their farm produce as well as improving the food supply in the State.


All these measures have yielded positive results as recorded by Consumer Price Index CPI/ Inflation report released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The report shows the prices of food items has witnessed a decline in Ondo state while some other states across the nation battles with inflation in the prices of food.

Today the prices of food in Ondo state has drastically reduced as dwellers can afford to live a life style with little amount spent on food purchase. All these, is because of the governor’s initiative of making the state a “Zero Hunger State”. He will not stop at this; as other measures are being put in place to maintain food security in Ondo state.

ALOZIE GENEVIEVE
TCC NEWS

The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Bamidele Oleyelogun has commended the Kamomi Aketi initiative of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the provision of clean and accessible water supply at the grassroots in the 18 council areas of the state.

He gave the commendation at the commissioning and handing over of some water projects at Osinsin, Erigi, Ariwajoye and Amutere Olorunsogo in Ifedore council areas of the state.

The Speaker, alongside the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju and the Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Transportation, Tobi Ogunleye led a team of Kamomi Aketi to four communities in Ifedore council area has described where they were received with cheers and drums by its inhabitants.

The project for the improvement of rural water supply (Kamomi Aketi) in the 18 council areas of the state was conceived by the state govt to provide clean and accessible water supply to people at the grassroots.

The Speaker, who lauded Governor Akeredolu for water supply initiative in his constituency noted that the gesture will go a long way in the provision of portable water to communities at the grassroots.

The Commissioner for Water Resources and Hygiene, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju assured that the kamomi Aketi water initiative will extend to other communities in the state in order to provide accessible water supply for its people.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Tobi Ogunleye who staff from Igbaraoke sought for the cooperation of people at the grassroots to fast track more people oriented projects in the state.

Some of the people who spoke with The Hope thanked Governor Akeredolu for remembering them in the provision of water supply to their communities.

The General Manager, Rural water supply and sanitation agency, Rotimi Oladimeji noted that a committee has been set up within each beneficiary communities for the maintenance of the water facility for the benefit of the people.

Source:https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/oleyelogun-applauds-kamomi-aketi-initiative/

The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has declared that the forthcoming governorship election will be an easy ride for the party, saying the government of the ruling party had performed well in the last two and a half years.

This came within 24 hours that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, declared his intention to recontest against Mr Rotimi Akeredolu in the 2020 election.


The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, in a statement on Wednesday, said the people of the state were happy with the APC-led administration.

Kalejaiye stated that, contrary to reports, the party was not factionalised or divided.

According to him, the APC is waxing stronger daily, which will make it difficult for the opposition to overthrow the government in the next year election.

The statement read in part, “The state executive is not factionalised nor disenchanted with a government that has made the party proud, and created an atmosphere of confidence and trust between government and the governed.


“The State Working Committee, for example, is deeply preoccupied with its continuous duty of ensuring, and sustaining oneness and unity of members without prejudice. The SWC has no regard for camps or groups.

“The APC-led government has never slacked in the construction of quality roads, provision of potable water, massive investment in agriculture and the health sector, and creation of industrial hubs in the state.

Source: https://punchng.com/ondo-2020-electionll-be-easy-for-us-says-apc/

PRINCESS EIGBOKHAN ORIH
TCC NEWS


The Ondo state government has signed an MOU with The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria an intervention arm of the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) which facilitate cash transfers and capacity building of beneficiaries.

NCTO through the Household Uplifting Programme provides support for poor and vulnerable citizens through targeted cash transfers, capacity building, and coaching and mentoring and livelihood support. Research has shown that commitment savings accounts, which feature either incentives for saving or penalties for withdrawing, are effective in helping the poor save.

Akeredolu said his government is passionate about the programme and committed to partner with the Federal Government in implementing programs that are beneficiary to the people of the state. As Ondo State commenced the enrolment and training of cash transfer beneficiaries a programme organized for the poorest of the poor in the country. Evidence suggests that facilitating access to formal savings services can increase savings, investment, and income among this population. However, use of these accounts is relatively low, and it is less clear how to increase interest in, and usage of, formal savings services among the poor.

It is possible that conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs—in which households receive cash if they meet certain requirements, such as sending their children to school as Governor Akeredolu has always say, “we all want to see our kids going towards success which is only possible through the good and proper education. Every parent tells their kids from childhood about the importance of education in life and all the advantages of education to make their mind towards better citizen in the future”. It develops confidence and helps building personality of a person or regularly visiting health facilities—offer a mechanism to encourage the poor to save. This research evaluates:

(1) who benefits most from access to formal savings products among the target population of CCT recipients, as measured by a range of individual and household characteristics.

2) whether increases in savings affect household consumption and the goals highlighted in preliminary focus group research as important to beneficiaries: housing improvements and education.

(3) what are the characteristics that make individuals more responsive to pro-saving messages, to take up commitment savings accounts and fulfill their savings goals.
This will be of great benefits to the people of Ondo state as Governor Oluwarotin Akeredolu has tapped into this program

Nigeria is undergoing rapid socioeconomic changes that affect health and social distribution of its citizens. One of the most increasingly employed poverty alleviation strategies is Cash Transfer (CT) programs. CT Programs are expected to improve all aspects of citizens’ lives, including their health status. CT Programs are classified into two types; Conditional (CCT) and Unconditional (UCT).

The national programme coordinator Mrs. Temitope Sinkaiye during her visit to Ondo state appealed to governor Akeredolu to provide security for staff of NCTO that would be going round the state to register the beneficiaries.

The governor promised to provide security and the enabling environment for the contingents to ensure the success of the programme.

mutumina007:
Wow! Good things are really happening in Ondo State thorough Gov Rotimi Akeredolu aka AKETI!!..what is my Gov doing in Kano state..Kai! Gandollars!!! Haba Mallam?!

LooooL

Ondo State youths on Monday joined their contemporaries all over the world to mark the 2019 International Youth Day celebrations.

Various youth organisations, students, corps members and politicians converged at the Ondo State Cultural Centre for the annual event.

The programme had commenced at the M.K.O Abiola Democracy Park, where the youths, under the umbrella of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) embarked on a commemorative march through the Oja Oba market to the Cultural Centre.

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, in his message reiterated his administration's irrevocable commitment to ensuring both the human and capital development of the youth.

Arakunrin Akeredolu, whose address was read by Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Dotun Owanikin promised his continued exploring of avenues to improve life of the youth.


"We will continue to explore opportunities to partner the private sector and other development partners to build the capacity of our teeming unemployed youths for sustainable job creation."

He gave assurance that his administration would not relent investing in education and natural talents.

"I strongly belief in your capability to change the negative narratives and to drive the transformational change trajectory of our administration by leveraging innovative voluntarism."

The Governor solicited their unflinching support and cooperation with the administration to ensure a free and fair exercise during next year's Gubernatorial election.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Dotun Owanikin appealed for joining hands with government to drive the process of the state development together.

The Commissioner, whose address was presented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports charged the people to support the Akeredolu government.

"It is pertinent to note that many of the programmes of the present administration will begin to crystalize within the next few years and the more reason why this administration must be supported for the second term."

The Guest lecturer and Director of Schools, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Dr. Akindele Ige's paper advised youths to acquire the necessary knowledge.

"You must be knowledgeable to discern whom to follow and what to do.
These days, many are being misled to join undesirable companies due to ignorance."

There were goodwill messages from Commissioner for Information, Mobilisation and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, Special Assistant to Mr. Governor on Youth and Education, Mr. Banji Adewumi and President NYCN, Comrade Toyin Owoeye.

One of the highlight of the event was presentation of the athletes representing the state at the forthcoming National Youth Games to the Governor by the General Manager of Ondo State Sports Council, Chief Wande Fabuluje.

Also wife of Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Jumoke Abegunde was decorated as matron of the NYCN.

The award-winning Ondo State Cultural Troupe added glamour to the event with a display that made Mr. Governor and other dignitaries on the business table joined the fray by dancing to the irresistible drumbeat of the troupe.

Sunday Ajibola,
Press Officer,
Youth and Sports Development.

The Ondo state government has reemphasized its commitment to developing the skills and expertise of its youth population to make them competitive for emerging jobs in the 21st century.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu reiterated this in Akure, at an event organized in commemoration of the 2019 United Nations International Youth Day, organised by the Nigerian Youth SDG Network with the theme “Amplifying Youths Voices for the SDGs”.

Akeredolu who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Innovation and Partnerships, Joel Ogunsola said he is conscious of what he called a “looming crises” and working daily with young people to solve this problem ahead in a sustainable way.

He said, “By 2050, one in every five young persons across the world will be an African, and one in every two of those young people will be a Nigerian.

“Also from the records of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate keeps increasing, and more numbers are joining the figures.

“Youths rush to the university to get degrees which don’t determine employability anymore, so the government kept thinking on what to do. The ultimate approach to getting a job is for the applicant to find out what exactly he or she could do.”

He said the Ondo State Office of Innovation and Partnerships was set up to create innovative solutions to these problems.

“We work on increasing opportunities for our young people, and regardless of their academic qualifications, and associations, we need to be able to increase personal productivity outcomes for them.

“We have focused on MSME development, and human capital development, where we espouse technical and vocational education, digital technology as well as creative skills.

“To increase opportunities for young people in Ondo State, what we do is to actively engage employers, make them advise us on skillset they are looking for in the workplace, and with that, we start to train our people on those skillset.

“The target is to make employers, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa see us in Ondo State as a talent pool of reliable skills.“ The Governor assured.

The Ondo state Coordinator for Nigeria Youth SDG Network, Idris Bashiru told the gathering, the need for youths to amplify their voices for the SDGs and take responsibilities to transform perspective to education for desired functionality.

Source: http://www.ondoevents.com/2019/08/13/2019-iyd-akeredolu-restates-commitment-to-make-ondo-talent-pool-for-employers/

Following the recent incessant kidnappings cases in the six South West States, a plan by the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Muhammed to deploy Anti-Kidnapping Special Squad to the region to rid off these bandits is now at the top gear.

This was revealed on Wednessay, by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG)Police in Charge of Operations, Abdulmajid Ali, while on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN at the Governor's office in Akure, the State Capital.

Akeredolu was represented by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi.

Ali, accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of zone 11, Leye Oyebade and the State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, said the squad members are currently undergoing training in Abuja and will soon be dispatched to Ondo State and other south west states to curb crimes.

The DIG commiserated with the state government over the killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunori, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti, saying the Nigerian police is keen on making the country safe for every Nigerian.

According to him" I am sent by the Inspector General of Police not only to Ondo State but to other south west states to see the security architecture on ground and as well as to see how to redesign the security apparatus

"I decided to start with Ondo before I go to Ekiti and Osun because Ondo being one of the focus states of recent, I believe we need to sit down with my officers here and see how we can merge ahead.

"I want to let you know that the Inspector of General of Police is mindful of what has been happening particularly along the road as well as some of these miscreants disturbing the peace of the people.

"I also want you know that security is one of the first pillar of any government in doing any service to the people. If security is not provided, there won't be peace in that area and the governor too will find it difficult to operate.

"We are aware of our responsibility. The Inspector General has put in place a very strong team that are are on training now and in the next two weeks, they will be out and Ondo and other south west states have been the place of focus.

"We are deploying them here to take charge of security and to work with our men on ground. I can assure you that the place will definitely have a change because when the membere of the Special Squad are around. I want to assure you that peace will reign again in Ondo state and other south west states.

The Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who responded on behalf of the Governor said he was worried on the recent insecurity in the State and other South West States, saying Ondo state was not known to be a dumping ground for crime.

He particularly charged the Police to arrest killers of Mrs. Funke Olakunori, saying that is a debt that must be paid by the Nigerian Police.

Ajayi noted that it is high time the police embraced digital policing fully to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country.

He added "the police must also engage the community. This is very important. Even if you have 200,000 policemen in a community, you need the corporation of the people in that community for you to be able to carry out your job effectively"

He said the police must map out strategy to secure the boundaries and other flashpoints in the state.

The Deputy Governor assured the visitors that the State government would give necessary supports that would enable the security men to chase criminals out of the state.

Source: http://ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/IG-to-deploy-special-squad-to-Ondo--other-South-West-States-over-Insecurity

While taking his oath of office on Friday, February 24, 2017, Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) gave the people of Ondo State a message of “hope, clear agenda of prosperity and a vision of life abundant.”

In marshaling his plans to ensure that his blueprint of abundant prosperity for the people succeeds, Akeredolu had set up a Strategic Development and Policy Implementation Committee, to set the tone for the new administration.



The committee, which was made up of seasoned technocrats, came up with a five-point agenda that was aimed at:
1. Job creation through agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialisation;
2. Massive infrastructural development and maintenance;
3. Provision of functional education and technological growth;
4. Provision of accessible and quality health care and social service delivery and
5 Rural development and community extension services.

A little over two-and-a-half years after, Akeredolu has delivered on those promises, scoring high marks on the people’s score sheet. For a man who is determined to make a mark and leave the state better than he met it, nothing less was expected of him.

In his first year in office, Governor Akeredolu recorded unprecedented success in road construction. Taking into consideration the economic situation of the state at the time, the number of roads constructed was nothing but magical.

The administration inherited decayed and derelict infrastructure. The roads, even in the capital city, were pockmarked with craters and gullies. For the people, especially those of the northern and southern senatorial districts, the roads had become death traps.

From Ikare-Akoko to Oka-Akoko and to other areas in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas, stories of multiple deaths caused by damaged portions of the roads became a daily feature of our lives.

At the notorious Oke-Oka and Oke-Alabojuto roads in Oka and Ikare respectively, entire families have been wiped out multiple times.



But, in two years, the story has changed. Governor Akeredolu has done what many thought was impossible and there are new songs on the lips of the people. The mythical Oke-Alabojuto Hill in Ikare has given way to the bulldozers deployed by Akeredolu, leaving the people marveling.

And in Owo, the ancient town has been further opened up for development with dual carriage ways, fitted with beautiful street lights. This transformation of the town has led to a coinage by the people: Ogho ti segwa, which translates into Owo is now beautiful.

In the Central Senatorial Zone, Akure is gradually wearing a true status of a state capital. The major roads around the capital city are wearing new looks. Residents of the State Hospital Road, Oke-Ogba, Iwalewa, Abusoro, Isarun, Idanre, Igbara-Oke and many other towns are hailing the governor for a good job, while the construction of new road networks in the Alagbaka area has continued to wow the people who now refer to the area as their own Banana Island.



Good things are happening in the Southern Senatorial District. The first ever overhead bridge in Ondo State is nearing completion in Ore. Aside from the aesthetics; the bridge is expected to put an end to the traffic problems which travellers encounter at the Ore-Benin Expressway intersection.

Months after the construction of the roads in Sabome and Ajagba has been completed, the people are still in wonderland. This was the opinion of Sunday Leji, a resident who said the people never believed anything good could come from the government to the people.

With no single senatorial zone left out of the major infrastructural boost blowing across the state, the Governor Akeredolu administration has completed the construction of more than 50 roads and still counting.

The governor, from his first day in office, has maintained his unflinching interest in the welfare of workers of the public service. For him, the workers’ welfare is very strategic to the success of the government.

On assumption of office in February, 2017, Akeredolu met a disturbing state of affairs. The workers were being owed a backlog of seven months’ salaries. The children were sent out of school because their parents could not pay their fees, and families separated because the man could not perform his responsibility of catering to the needs of his family.

The workers have moved on from a season when they looked to the future with little hope and their children were sent out of school because their parents could not pay their fees, to a new season of abundance and hope.

Akeredolu has kept to his vow, clearing six of the seven months’ salary backlogs. For the first time in a long while, the workers have earned their salaries more than 24 months unbroken! The government has also paid the workers their leave allowances. Without doubt, these are feats some people said were impossible to achieve a little less than two years ago.

Within two-and-a-half years, the governor appointed about 44 permanent secretaries, righting the wrongs that have been done to many top civil servants by past administrations.

Currently, the state is gradually changing the ignoble tag of a ‘civil service’ state to a state driven by industries and privately-oriented businesses. From less than N500, 000 every month, the Akeredolu administration has grown the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to a little less than N2 billion every month.

It was, therefore, no mean feat when the Joint Tax Board (JTB), a body of all the tax authorities in Nigeria, declared Ondo State as the most improved state in internal revenue generation for last year.

To sustain the feat and continue to boost the state’s revenue generation drive, the state recently employed about 234 young graduates.

To ensure that the gains of the last two-and-a-half years are not reversed, the administration has embarked on a massive industrial revolution that is already changing the face of the state. On the last count, no fewer than five new industries have settled and began operations in the Ore Industrial Hub.

The last time a deliberate and genuine efforts with visible results were made to industrialise the state was during the administration of the first civilian governor, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, between 1979 and 1984. The Oluwa Glass Company and the Okitipupa Oil Palm were the pride of the state at the time.

source: https://thenationonlineng.net/akeredolu-two-and-a-half-years-later/

Ondo State Government said it would confiscate all unregistered motorcycles and tricycles operating in Ore and other parts of Odigbo Local Government area of the state.

It also added that operators of such unregistered motorcycles and tricycles, either commercial or private, would be arrested and prosecuted, as government would not allow any operator without identity to operate any longer.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Strategies, Dr. Doyin Adebowale, made government’s position known while briefing Government House correspondents in Akure, the Ondo state capital, on the ongoing registration exercise of motorcycles and tricycles operators in Odigbo council area.

He noted that the essence of the registration exercise was to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of the state and identify those sneaking into the state without proper identification. He affirmed that the exercise has been assisting the security agencies to arrest criminals in the state.

According to him, the ongoing exercise which started in 2017 has successfully covered five out of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state including; Akure South, Owo, Idanre, Ondo West and Akoko North-East.

Adebowale revealed that the registration commenced last week in Odigbo council area, but some hoodlums in their desperate bid to stall the exercise in Ore, attacked officials of the taskforce.

He, however, insisted that the taskforce team would not be discouraged by the antics of those who wanted to sabotage government’s efforts aimed at securing the lives and property of the citizenry in any part of the state, hence the team would continue with their good work in Odigbo council area.

“We will continue and ensure the exercise is seamless. But we want to say categorically that the governor has directed that any motorcycle or tricycle, either commercial or private, without number plate in Odigbo local government area should be confiscated and whoever is found with the motorcycle should be arrested and prosecuted. This is going to happen immediately, he said.

Adebowale further said the taskforce would also ensure total compliance with the extant law on registration of any vehicle moving on the road to further strengthen the security architecture across the state, just as he urged the security agencies to ensure total compliance with the directive of the governor in every nook and cranny of the state.

The senior special assistant also warned those who may want to duplicate the jacket in their domains to desist from the criminal act saying government did not permit anybody to do so.

Source:https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/security-govt-to-impound-unregistered-motorcycles-tricycles-in-odigbo/

Southwest governors have reiterated their commitment to the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), in furtherance of their collective push for regional integration. They have resolved to leverage on their resources to tackle insecurity and promote the wellbeing of their people. LEKE SALAUDEEN examines how DAWN has fared so far and what needs to be done to enhance its performance.

Southwest governors are pulling their resources together to tackle insecurity and improve the welfare of the people.

They have resolved to work as a team, shun political differences and implement the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) in the interest of the region.

To achieve this, a security summit organised by DAWN was held in June in Ibadan, the political headquarter of Southwest. The six governors were present. Also in attendance were security chiefs, traditional rulers, leaders of thought and prominent groups within the region. The governors vowed to put their political affiliations aside and confront the challenges facing the region.

The governors made a strong case for the establishment of state and local police to compliment the efforts of the federal police. They also agreed to set up joint patrol teams to ward off criminals that have been killing and kidnapping innocent persons and check the activities of killer herdsmen that have made highways unsafe for travellers.

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Governors Forum, emphasised that governors in the region have decided to cast their political affiliations aside and tackle the security challenges. He said: “Partisan coloration should not delimit the extent of collaboration aimed at maximum of service for our people. This meeting has become exigent, considering the spate of insecurity in the country. The axiety of our people is palpable. The growing fear among the populace makes nonsense of any plans conceived for the development of our God-given space.

“It is my fervent hope that this engagement will not be limited to the current challenge which threatens to wreck our collective space. I look forward for future interactions on matters as important and effective as this one which compels this assembly. There is no gainsaying the obvious; the issue of socio-economic integration in the region must be taken seriously for any aspiration towards development to be meaningful.

“No remarkable progress can be achieved amid chaos. No state in the region can achieve greatness in isolation. We should extend the possibility of cooperation on other socio-economifronts. Our people stand to benefit from our resolve to ensure that they remain at the centre of all permutations and considerations. Our seeming difference, considering political platforms, should not stand in the way of commitment to promote the collect well-being of our people.



Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi urged the people to hold the governors accountable for insecurity in the region. He gave assurances of a lasting solution to the crisis.

Fayemi, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), stated that “Insecurity has created palpable fear in the mind of the people. We hold it a duty to reconfigure our security architecture. We are set to harness the potential of security agencies to rid the region of insecurity.

“The crisis should unite us, not divide us. We need to focus on the root cause of the challenge. We should focus on what we can do. We don’t have to demonise any ethnic group. Security situation should be a serious concern to everybody. We need a regional response to insecurity given the contiguity of our states. We, as your governors, should be held accountable for the insecurity. We will not sleep until the problem is tackled head-on,” the Ekiti governor said.

Fayemi emphasised the importance of a state and community policing system to compliment the federal police. “We cannot have a unitary police system in a federal state. We must democratise the intelligence gathering. Our demand for state and local policing is not tantamount to removal of the federal police. They will exist side by side with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)”.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) governor in the Southwest, expressed support for state police. He noted that the advantages of community policing far outweigh the fear we have against it.

He described the problem of insecurity in the Southwest as a snake on the roof of a building that cannot be ignored. The growing tension between herders and farmers is worrisome. We should not allow the actions of the miscreants to change who we are. There cannot be development without peace,” Makinde said.

The governors met second time in July in Akure to review the technical report committee on security summit. At the end of the meeting, they pledged a new security architecture that would address the security challenges in the region.

Akeredolu said that immediate steps would be taken on some key areas as contained in the technical report submitted to the governors after the summit. He said: “Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission is going back to do some work for us, and thereafter, we will all implement it and ensure that there is security of lives and properties in Western Nigeria.



“We are assuring our people that we are prepared and determined to deal ruthlessly with anyone found within the Southwest region perpetrating any criminal act. The full details of the plan cannot be made public for now. We want the people concerned to only just wake up to see the action”, Ondo State Governor added.

A security expert and retired police officer commended the decision of the Southwest states to jointly tackle the problem of insecurity in the region. He said: “It i s a welcome development. A network approach is needed to achieve maximum success in this regard. If uniform security measures are put in place, criminals will not have a hidden place in the Southwest.”

He said kidnapping is rampant in the region because states like Lagos, Ondo and Ogun have riverine areas.” If the states can jointly police these areas effectively, it will minimise kidnapping. It is even cost effective than each state doing it on its own. The end result is that there will be peace, security of lives and property and as well creating enabling environment for local and foreign investments”, the expert explained.

A major landmark in the quest for regional integration in the Southwest was the admission of Lagos State as the sixth member of the Odu’a Investments. Economists believe the drive towards regional integration of Southwest cannot be effectively pursued, if the states in the region do not combine their resources, work together and maximise their comparative advantages to build strong regional infrastructural and social links among the states. They therefore see the admission of Lagos as a welcome development.

They observed that with its huge population , its vibrant economic base and its being the centre of economic and business activities in Nigeria, Lagos is uniquely placed to contribute to the development and growth of the Odu’a Investment Company, the investment arm of the group as well as the integration of the Southwest.

The admission of Lagos State which acquired 115 million shares, grew the share equity of the company to 690 million. Odu’a Investment Compay Limited was incorporated as a Limited Liability Company in July 1976, to take over the business interests of the former Western State of Nigeria. It commenced operations on October, 1976.

Former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said: “My belief in total economic integration of the Southwest arising from our vision of the Southwest Governors Forum that there is a need for all of us to come together as a regional force to be able to help each other in the areas of our comparative advantages was what drove me to make sure we become partners in the Odu’a Investment Group.

“We are happy also that we would be bringing in part of our own expertise to grow this investment. We are proud that it is the only regional investment group that is existing in the country right now and because of that I am very happy that I was able to lay down the foundation and the framework that would allow the bigger economic integration to take place even with the kind of infrastructure that we have tried to put in place”, the former governor stated.

An economist, Dr Ismail Adepoju said the inclusion of Lagos State in Odu’a Investment Company will accelerate the pace of growth and development of Southwest region and fast track its integration. He said bringing Lagos into the fold will boost regional integration and increase the pace of economic development in the region.

Adepoju said: “The good financial rating of Lagos in the global market will assist in the growth and development of the Southwest. The collaboration would foster comparative advantage where the states would provide what they have for the general development of the region. With the pace and standard set by Lagos in terms of infrastructural growth and development, the integration is a quick one. It would make it easy for other states to pursue Lagos and effectively implement a system of rail transportation and boost our agricultural production. For instance, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti would increase production; Ondo would provide us with various mineral resources that can be tapped while the finances can be secured from Lagos.”

He recalled that the last administration in Lagos State promised to acquire large hectares of lands in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun for modern, technologically driven farming so that both raw and processed products from such farms would be brought to Lagos for profitable sales, given the huge market potential of the state. He prayed that the present administration led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would continue will implement the programme so that states benefit from one another by creating jobs and ensuring food security.

At independence, Nigeria had been a Federal state until the advent of the military in 1966. Though the military retained the name “Federal Republic of Nigeria” as the official name of the country, but proceeded to restructure the entire country along central command lines. All the features of federalism such as state police, resource control by the states, fiscal federalism were removed.

As a result, the impact of governance in all spheres of life is abysmally low. The Southwest is losing its competitiveness and falling short of its economic and social ambitions. The answer is to go back to what worked in the past and adopt them in the present context. Therefore, the establishment of a composite Regional Integration and Development Agenda for the Southwest became imperative in order to fulfil the immense potential of the region. The primary objective of DAWN is to foster regional cooperation and integration as a catalyst for decentralisation.

The bottom line of the regional integration is the economic rejuvenation of the region. The Western Region was the pace setter in the country during the First Republic. The first Premier, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, laid a solid economic foundation for the region. He created what is now known as economic empire for the region which is today being managed by Odu’a Investment Company. The company generates revenue for the states in the Southwest.

A Yoruba elder and a First Republic politician, Chief Olatunji Adeyemo, has charged political leaders in the Southwest to replicate Awo’s achievements in the region. He said: “As far back as 1950s the late Awo had realised that aggressive state investment was sine qua non for rapid economic development, especially where there is weak indigenous capital base. That informed the establishment of Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC), the Agriculture Finance Corporation and Western Nigeria Housing Corporation which are being managed today by Odu’a Investment Company and money spinning institutions for the states in the Southwest.”

Adeyemo added: “The need to restore high sense of dignity and self-worth among the people of the Southwest remains urgent and critical imperative. The Yoruba have vested the authority to lead them out of the developmental quagmire in the hands of the present governors. It is under their authority that the people expect to see progress and irreversible developmental strides.”

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/dawn-the-journey-so-far/?fbclid=IwAR0KAEpu45GFtLp1WfgL2mH6pbQ39It0fudpB4MrChUfnx8uy6x0umrbfJI

Akeredolu Rehabilitates Over 1,000 Dysfunctional Boreholes In Ondo State

One of the five point ''JMPPR'' agenda of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu SAN in rural development and community extension services is the steady provision Of Water Supply across Local government In Ondo State.

It would be recalled that in March, 2018 Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN gave Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA directive to “take inventory, to evaluate and to carry out the needs assessment of WATER FACILITIES in the state.

The program is tagged "Water-for-All programme, nicknamed “KAMOMI AKETI WATER SCHEME”.

RUWASSA, immediately swung into action, and the program was first launched in Ijare, Ifedore local government area of the State.

KAMOMI AKETI WATER SCHEME is indeed on course to achieving Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s zero tolerance to lack of access to portable water in all the 3,250 communities Ondo state.

So far, RUWASSA under the administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has successfully rehabilitated over 1000 dysfunctional boreholes across the local governments of Ondo State.

The mission of our Governor Akeredolu is to ensure that all moribund facilities /non functional water facilities are fixed.

PRINCESS EIGBOKHAN ORIH
TCC NEWS

Good Governance is an approach to government that is committed to creating a system founded in justice and peace that protects individual’s human rights and civil liberties. Good Governance is measured by the eight factors of Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability.

The concept of "good governance" then emerges as a model to compare ineffective economies or political bodies with viable economies and political bodies.

The concept centers on the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of the masses as opposed to select groups in society.

Most states in Nigeria have not really experience ‘’good governance’’ in the true concept of the word good governance by meeting the needs of the masses who elect them to power.

Before Governor Owarotinmi Akeredolu took the staff of office in 2017, Ondo State was not an exception as the people suffered especially in the area of having potable water which is a basic amenity for the people of the state.

Water is essential to the wellbeing of citizens; it is rather unfortunate that its accessibility was as low as 4% (percent) to the entire population of Ondo State at the inception of the present administration under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.

Drinking water comes from a variety of sources including public water systems, private wells, or bottled water. Ensuring safe and healthy drinking water may be as simple as turning on the tap. It is important to know where drinking water comes from, how it’s been treated, and if it’s safe to drink.

Research has shown that half of the Ondo State's hospital beds were filled with people suffering from a water-related disease. In developing countries, about 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 is due to a water-related disease. Clean and safe water is essential to healthy living.

Contaminated water can cause many types of diseases, such as Cholera, and other serious illnesses like Guinea worm disease, Typhoid, and Dysentery. These were some of the major problems facing the people of Ondo State before Akeredolu got to office.
Rural dwellers and the urban poor feel the lack of safe water and proper sanitation in the State. The poor are particularly vulnerable to chronic illnesses that hinder their productivity, making the escape from poverty even more difficult.
The dangers of dirty water and the power of a safe clean and hygienic Water is a foundational element of life and is vital to the wellbeing of families.

In the quest of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu administration’s commitment towards providing potable water supply across the State he has rehabilitated over 750 boreholes in about 300 communities through the Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA.

This agency is setting a New Direction for the provision of adequate, safe and accessible water in rural and small towns across the state and also achieving tangible benefits to health for Ondo State citizens.

Through this projection, the Ondo State Government is aiming to meet the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal Six which centers on Water and Sanitation with an impressive percentage of performance before the year 2030.

Consequently, the Ondo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, is daily making significant progress in water accessibility delivery to citizens of Ondo State through On-the-Spot Borehole Rehabilitation, inventory and needs assessment across the 18 Local Government Areas irrespective of the technical and geological challenges.

The actual increase in the percentage of access to safe water supply through KAMOMI AKETI Accelerated Water Scheme is now 9.3%, thereby bringing the proportion of water access to 13.3% in less than seven months. This followed the declaration by Governor Akeredolu to provide potable water for all the communities in the state through Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, RUWASSA.

Governor Akeredolu’s KAMOMI AKETI initiative has been applauded across the country. Presently other State Governors have started such projects in their various states, while the federal government has imbibed this great initiative of the Akeredolu led government.

The Ondo state Governor Akeredolu’s administration is measured by these eight factors Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability.

Governor Akeredolu has been lauded in all the communities of the state for his good governance by being ultimately accountable to the people of the State. They described his leadership as a positive move towards changing the face of Ondo state.

Akeredolu said it was the duty of his administration to continually deliver projects and the projects he initiated will never be abandoned.

He however urged that the communities will reciprocate the gesture by cooperating with the government to make sure those boreholes in their various communities are not destroyed.

Nice one

izzou:


Emeka Ihedioha....

He keeps nagging instead of listing policies and strategies to move the state forward, irrespective of how it is currently

Speaking of Emeka, you people need to visit Government house and talk with him. Nagging isn't good enough in democracy

izzou:


If only most of our governors were this reasonable

One is busy tearing down every single achievement of his predecessor

Mention � �

Akeredolu is working effortlessly in Ondo state. He has used this to cut costs in the state budget. Refurbishing of abandoned vehicles from old to brand new. A whooping 463 million naira has been saved. Kudos Mr Governor

Lalasticlala mynd44

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has reiterated his commitment towards giving priority to the state health sector as he assured the state chapter, of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) of adequate support in ensuring that the people of the state enjoy qualitative health care delivery.

He stated this at the 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 2019 Scientific Conference of Ondo NMA held in Akure.

According to him, the present administration is committed to ensuring that necessary vacancies are filled in order to have a vibrant health sector.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ifedayo Abegunde, the governor called for the support of stakeholders for government in order to guarantee adequate safety to citizens of the state especially health workers.

In his remarks on the theme, “Impact of incessant insecurity on health care delivery services in Nigeria: the Role of Stakeholders and the way forward”, he described it as timely and added that it was in line with the recent series of meetings on the region’s security by South west Governors.

In his welcome address, Chairman, Ondo NMA, Dr. Wale Oke commended the state governor for his giant strides in the health sector, noting that the establishment of the UNIMED Teaching Hospital and the recruitment of doctors as and when due was highly commendable.

While also commending him for securing the roads in the state, he stated that security is crucial to the development of the state, saying, ” without security, we won’t be able to perform our job maximally,” He implored government not to relent on its oars in providing adequate security in every ramification to the people of the state.

Speaking further, he called on Federal Government to establish the Bank of Health in order to assist members of the association improve on their services, which according to him would improve the health sector.

He also called on the state government to improve on infrastructural development of the General hospitals across the state.

However, he assured other health professional bodies of adequate support in order to avoid incessant strike in the sector.

Representative of the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Akinriboya Henry described the medical profession as a noble one among others noting that it has added value to the populace.

He said, “Nigerians appreciate your efforts due to the fact that you are a very important aspect of human life.”

Also speaking, the Royal father of the day and Paramount ruler of Igbara Oke, Oba Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye lamented the security challenge confronting the nation noting that doctors too have roles to play especially while on duty.

While assuring that steps have been taken to curb the menace within the region, he said that doctors should carry out their duty without fear saying, “we traditional rulers are behind you in our prayers.”

Speaking on the above mentioned theme in a lecture, Chief Medical Director, Police Hospital, Akure, CSP(Dr.) Dere Olalekan described health as a pre-requisite for all social and political activities saying, “without sound health, there won’t be meaningful development in all aspects of human endeavour.”

Source: https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/odsg-pledges-support-for-nma/

Sunshine Queens FC of Akure during the week picked maximum points away from home in an Elite league tie played at the Kaduna township stadium against debutant, Kaduna Queens.

Patricia Innocent scored first for the Ondo state sponsored side in the 44th minute to give Sunshine Queens the deserved lead which only lasted few minutes as Kaduna Queens equalised via a spot kick to end the first half 1-1

On resumption into the second half, Sunshine Queens intensified efforts in search of a winner which never came until the 79th minute when Akudo Ogbonna superbly slotted home to send Sunshine Queens technical bench into a wild jubilation.

With few minutes left, the home team mounted pressure on the visitors but were denied an equaliser as Sunshine Queens defence line exhibited experience and calm in denying Kaduna Queens attackers.

With the result, Sunshine Queens now top group C temporarily with four Points from two matches, having played a goalless draw at home in their first league game against Nasarawa Amazons.

Kaduna Queens are at the bottom of the group having failed to pick a point from two matches played so far, losing 3-0 to Bayelsa Queens and 2-1 against Sunshine Queens FC.

Kaduna Queens Head Coach Usman Shuaib in his post match interview commended his players for putting up a good fight against a more experienced Sunshine Queens FC

“Its sad we lost at home, but we are taking the positives from the game and we’ll start preparing in earnest against our next opponent”

Sunshine Queens Team Manager, Mojisola Adekanye who spoke with newsmen attributed the win to hardwork and determination

“We had a game plan before we arrived Kaduna, and I’m glad it all worked out as planned, the result is a clear reflection of determination and hard work”.

source: https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/nwpl-sunshine-queens-pick-three-points-away-from-home/

The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) says Ondo State has commenced the enrolment and training of cash transfer beneficiaries.

Mrs Temitope Sinkaiye, the National Programme Coordinator said this when she paid a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday in Akure.

The coordinator noted that the programme was organised for the poorest of the poor in the country.

According to her, it is being funded with loans from the World Bank, targeting the poor and vulnerable.

“The state has already signed an MoU, the next thing is to have an office, with enrollment and training,’’ she said.

Sinkaiye also appealed to the governor to provide security for staff of NCTO that would be going round the state to register the beneficiaries.

Responding, Akeredolu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Olugbenga Ale said he was passionate about the programme.

Akeredolu said his government would continue to partner with the Federal Government in implementing the programme.

The governor promised to provide security and the enabling environment for the contingents to ensure the success of the programme.

source: https://nnn.com.ng/2019/07/31/ondo-state-begins-enrolment-training-of-conditioner-cash-transfer-beneficiaries/?fbclid=IwAR3aEYxGh-_Gy1xRFqWNH0maVIUoOSjhwjAgLs6RI15Rg9FjEWNQZGdKVpU

ONDO STATE PARTNERS NATIONAL CASH TRANSFER OFFICE ON HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

PRINCESS EIGBOKHAN ORIH
TCC NEWS


The Ondo state government has signed an MOU with The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria an intervention arm of the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) which facilitate cash transfers and capacity building of beneficiaries.

NCTO through the Household Uplifting Programme provides support for poor and vulnerable citizens through targeted cash transfers, capacity building, and coaching and mentoring and livelihood support. Research has shown that commitment savings accounts, which feature either incentives for saving or penalties for withdrawing, are effective in helping the poor save.

Akeredolu said his government is passionate about the programme and committed to partner with the Federal Government in implementing programs that are beneficiary to the people of the state. As Ondo State commenced the enrolment and training of cash transfer beneficiaries a programme organized for the poorest of the poor in the country. Evidence suggests that facilitating access to formal savings services can increase savings, investment, and income among this population. However, use of these accounts is relatively low, and it is less clear how to increase interest in, and usage of, formal savings services among the poor.

It is possible that conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs—in which households receive cash if they meet certain requirements, such as sending their children to school as Governor Akeredolu has always say, “we all want to see our kids going towards success which is only possible through the good and proper education. Every parent tells their kids from childhood about the importance of education in life and all the advantages of education to make their mind towards better citizen in the future”. It develops confidence and helps building personality of a person or regularly visiting health facilities—offer a mechanism to encourage the poor to save. This research evaluates:

(1) who benefits most from access to formal savings products among the target population of CCT recipients, as measured by a range of individual and household characteristics.

2) whether increases in savings affect household consumption and the goals highlighted in preliminary focus group research as important to beneficiaries: housing improvements and education.

(3) what are the characteristics that make individuals more responsive to pro-saving messages, to take up commitment savings accounts and fulfill their savings goals.
This will be of great benefits to the people of Ondo state as Governor Oluwarotin Akeredolu has tapped into this program

Nigeria is undergoing rapid socioeconomic changes that affect health and social distribution of its citizens. One of the most increasingly employed poverty alleviation strategies is Cash Transfer (CT) programs. CT Programs are expected to improve all aspects of citizens’ lives, including their health status. CT Programs are classified into two types; Conditional (CCT) and Unconditional (UCT).

The national programme coordinator Mrs. Temitope Sinkaiye during her visit to Ondo state appealed to governor Akeredolu to provide security for staff of NCTO that would be going round the state to register the beneficiaries.

The governor promised to provide security and the enabling environment for the contingents to ensure the success of the programme.

ODSG Industrialization Drive delivers bomber IGR amid low debt burden

Genevieve Alozie
TCC NEWS

Infrastructure funding is a prerequisite for expanding the economy and lifting people out of poverty, and for any government to embark on industrialization, it must make plans for these expenditures in its annual budget. But when a country’s spending plan exceeds its revenue, it results into borrowing either from domestic or external sources to finance critical infrastructure projects contained in its budget, a move when pursued diligently could shore up its economy and create jobs.

Domestic debts are funds sourced from borrowers within the country, while external debts are foreign obligations payable to lenders outside the country. Although it is worrisome for a country’s debt to continue rising, it is more worrisome when the amount spent to service debt accounts for greater proportion of revenue. In Nigeria, not only is debt service taking a bigger chunk of the nation’s revenue, the size continues to increase as revenue maintains a downward spiral further undermining Nigeria’s capacity to pay off its obligations.

A searchlight beam into Ondo state debt portfolio shows the state is Nigeria’s least indebted state in the south-west sub region and eighth across the country having recorded a total domestic debt of N56.96 billion as at March 31, 2019, according to the latest state debt data obtained from the Debt Management Office (DMO). This places the state among Nigerian states with the lightest debt burden. Ondo ranked eighth least indebted state in the country, leading 29 others in the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Ondo state government under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has rewritten the economic history of the state for good through industrialization and partnership with foreign investors who are expertise in converting raw materials into finished products.

While debt is tamed at one end, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is being grown aggressively at the other, making the state financially stable and boosting domestic investment.

Ondo state significantly increased revenue generated within the state from N8.68 billion in 2016 to N10.93 billion in 2017 and N24.79 billion in 2018. The low IGR in 2016 suggests that the state could hardly cover her recurrent expenses and at such was unable to pay up her expenses and workers’ salaries. During this period, the only option left for Ondo state was to borrow. In 2015, the state borrowed $50.2m and $49.53m in 2016.

According to National Bureau of Statistics, Akeredolu’s led administration with the tremendous increase on the state IGR, Ondo state becomes the only state in the Southwest Nigeria that made progress in the unemployment rate statistics between July to September 2018 compared with the same period a year earlier.

The unemployment rate in Ondo state dropped in the third quarter (Q3) of 2018 to 14.2%. This represents 1.17 percentage points lower when compared with 15.4% recorded in the corresponding period of 2017. Ondo state is rated among the 9 states of the federation that were able to curtail unemployment in the review period even when the economic index worsened in twenty-eight states including the federal capital territory.

Further data analysis by the nation’s statistics bureau show that Ondo state added 122,708 fresh job within the one-year period under review, boosting the number of employed persons, which comprises those engaged in full-time jobs and the underemployed, in the state from 2.02 million in Q3 2017 to 2.14 million.

The unbridled desire of the Ondo state governor towards boosting the state economy through industrialization and Agriculture has really paid off in the state economic growth and employment rate. As one of the established industries, Wee-Wood Afforestation company from China, inclined in combating desertification, encroachment and Land degradation, has presently, employed 1000 youths at Wee-Wood Nigeria, Limited Omotosho in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. which speak loud in the State

While on the other hand, Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, wood processing, Cassava- Ethanol Plant and textile company situated in Ore is said to generate 20, 000 job opportunities in no distant time. Also to encourage farmers, Ondo-Linyi buys Cassava proceedings from local farmers in Ondo state which invariably increases the farmer’s standard of living as well as generating more funds for the Ondo state government.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed three ways his administration would curb banditry and killings during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the South-West traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Here are the three points the president mentioned:

Air Force to bomb criminals’ locations



Buhari said, “We will equally continue to bring in our military when needed to complement the work of the police including possible deployment of troops on certain highways on a temporary basis, and the use of the Air Force assets to bomb hideouts where criminals are located.

He sought the cooperation of traditional rulers to monitor different communities.

States to get approval for drones

“I will be issuing directives to the appropriate federal authorities to speedily approve licensing for states requesting the use of drones to monitor forests and other criminal hideouts. We also intend to install CCTVs on highways and other strategic locations so that activities in some of those hidden places can be exposed, more effectively monitored and open to actionable review.

Community policing

Buhari stated, “We hope that, for instance, traditional rulers would be able to observe new entrants into the community by requesting leaders of such ethnic groups to notify the traditional authorities of intakes, thereby creating the opportunities for the gathering of actionable intelligence which tracks such movements in and out of communities thereby offering early warning signals.

“Some of these interventions include an expedited commencement of community policing, a robust revamping of police intelligence gathering capacity and the significant boosting of the numbers of security personnel in our local communities.”

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has bagged the 2019 best ICT Infrastructural governor of the year.
The award was in recognition of his relentless effort at transforming Ondo state into technology and innovation destination choice of young entrepreneurs.

Presenting the Africa Digital Award at 2019 Nigeria Impact Chief Executive Officer Forum in Lagos, the awardee, “ICT Watch Magazine” applauded the wisdom of Arakunrin Akeredolu in citing Akure Tech-hub in the heart of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) with population of over 20,000 Science & Technology students.

According to ADA, the hub will not only expose the upcoming entrepreneurs to emerging technologies but connect them with the rest of the world at no cost.

Another star digital project that earned the governor this award was the establishment of five ‘Digital Village Projects’ (DVP) across the state to tackle the problem of high rate of youth unemployment.

This is in addition to the upgrading of all operations of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to serve as infrastructural backbone for the State Integrated Financial Mgt Information System (SIFMIS) to ensure accelerated govt businesses & transactions.

Receiving the award, Arakunrin Akeredolu said the theme for this year’s award “connecting the unconnected” was in line with the vision of his administration to make internet services available & affordable to the rural dwellers.

According to the Governor, internet facilities will no longer be seen as luxury as his administration has just approved broadband internet services for the use of civil/public servants in the state to boost their productivity.

Represented by the SSA to the governor on ICT Hon. Olumbe Akinkugbe who was accompanied by some of his management team, the Governor explained that his administration is tackling the issue of security challenges facing the state with ICT.

He therefore challenged youth to take full advantage of hubs available in the state to expand their financial & economic frontiers.

Source: http://www.ondoevents.com/2019/08/01/akeredolu-bags-ict-infrastructural-governor-of-the-year

A West African Examination Council official, Osidehinde Adewunmi, on Wednesday, disowned the Cambridge University’s Moderated International Examination credentials produced by President Muhammadu Buhari and tendered as exhibits before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.

The two documents earlier admitted as Exhibits 19 and 21 were Buhari’s statement of results and the broadsheet for the results of the 18 candidates who sat for the examinations in 1961.

The Deputy Registrar, School Examinations in Nigeria, of WAEC, who appeared before the tribunal on a subpoena, testified before the five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, as Buhari’s fourth defence witness on Wednesday.

He appeared in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging Buhari’s victory at the February 23, 2019 poll.

Part of the grounds of the petition was that Buhari lacked the educational qualification to contest the election.

When cross-examined by the counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Adewunmi said he, as a WAEC official, certified one of the documents bearing the name of the University of Cambridge Moderated Examination earlier tendered as Exhibit marked R21.

The witness, who said he had been working with WAEC for about 30 years, told the tribunal that the examination was conducted by Cambridge University in conjunction with WAEC.

He confirmed that 18 persons sat for the examinations in 1961, adding that Buhari was listed as number two on the list of candidates for the examination.

He confirmed that Buhari sat for eight subjects and had five credits in the examination – Oral English, C5; History, A3; Geography, C6; Hausa, C5; and Health Science, C6.

“He came out with aggregate of 32 and he was awarded Grade 2,” he confirmed.

When asked, he confirmed that “whoever has this (the R21 exhibit) has secondary education”.

Under cross-examination by the petitioners’ lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Adewunmi was asked if Exhibit R19 was a certificate, he said, “I cannot say whether it is a certificate because my signature is not on the certificate. It is not bearing my name or the name of my organisation”.

Asked again, the witness said, “This document is bearing the name of Cambridge University Assessment International Education”.

Asked if the document was issued by WAEC, he said, “It is not a document from the West Africa Examination Council”.

Asked about Exhibit R21, he said, “This is the foundation, the primary foundation for issuance of a certificate.”

The witness was also asked if the document was a certificate.

“This is not a certificate,” the witness answered.

When asked, he also said, “I have never worked with the University of Cambridge”.

In his bid to point out out contradictions in the two documents, the petitioners’ lawyers asked the witness to compare the number of subjects listed against Buhari in them.

The witness confirmed that in R21, “The number of subjects listed against the 2nd respondent (Buhari) is eight”, and in R19 “six subjects”.

He also confirmed that the first name on the two documents was “Mohamed” and as against the President’s “Muhammad”.

He also confirmed that WAEC registrar, Dr. Iyi Uwadae, issued a WAEC attestation certificate to Buhari on November 2, 2018.

He disagreed with the petitioners’ lawyer that issuance of an attestation certificate was not limited to cases of loss or misplacement.

Source: https://punchng.com/updated-waec-official-disowns-buharis-cambridge-credentials/

The absence of conflicts in our society is generally agreed to be the bane of development and growth. As truth and objective as this might sound, it is quite imperative to understand that the story is quite different within our socio-political terrain.

While we advocate a peaceful and harmonious relationship between the legislative arm of government and the executive arm, it is worthy to note that the sight of conflicting interest is no sign of doom or calamity waiting to happen.

As the Yoruba will always say, when two brothers emerges from their rooms with serious countenance, such should not be taken for enmity or rancor but a process of critical and objective engagement. The legislative and the executive arm of government are brothers of the same mother deployed with one common objective which is geared towards the interest of the state. Thus in moments when members adopt a serious approach towards issues, it should not be seen as disaster waiting to happen.

In the past few years the socio-political scene of Ondo State especially in the Executive arm of government and the legislature arm of government has experience a harmonious relationship for the interest and development of the state.

The Ondo State legislative arm of government led by the speaker Rt. Honorable Bamidele Oyelelogun without no iota of doubt has been a major frontier in the recent developmental projects been experienced in the state over the past few years.

While we must commend the good relationship between these two arms of government and the high level of maturity which both has adopted in the execution of their constitutional duties, it must be noted that the recent news and reports of a strained relationship between these two arms of government are nothing but mere distraction with no other aim than to disrupt the peaceful dialogue that has been existing between them.

Recently, it was reported in the media that a snake falls from the roof of the Ondo state house of assembly during a plenary session on the 25th of July, 2019. A news that was later debunked to be false as reported by the media. The unprofessional manner at which the news was portrayed by the media houses prompted the visit of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to verify the incident which was cleared by the speaker himself.

The public must disregard the news of snake invading the plenary sitting in the Ondo state house of assembly, as some unscrupulous elements has taken it upon themselves to allege the Executive arm of government neglecting the welfare of the legislature arm.

The governor broke his silence as he expressed his displeasure at the law makers for not informing him about the state, of the house of assembly, it is only human for him to have expressed himself.

There is never a time in the history of Ondo State where the state government will be committed to the welfares of the state house of assembly.

Governor Akeredolu provided official vehicles for the 26 members of the state assembly to carry out their legislative duties with the sum of N390million for the purchase of these brand new vehicles for the assembly members from the fiscal year budget. This is not inclusive of the official vehicle for the Speaker and the Deputy speaker of the house of assembly which bear a total sum of N80million.

As against the public perception, the people of Ondo state should allay their worries, as the executive arm of government and its legislative arm are not locked on in any power tussle, as both are ever committed to the progress and development of the sunshine state.

The Akeredolu led administration have also enjoyed an overwhelming support of the Legislature which gave room for the various developmental project across the state.

AMUDIPE OPEYEMI MARCUS
TCC NEWS