News
Despite COVID-19 pandemic, Makinde assures Oyo workers of bumper package in 2021
…To clear backlog of promotions from 2017
…We’ll commission 10 ongoing infrastructure projects in 2021, gov says
Despite the economic challenges being posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, promised bumper deliverables for workers and people of the state in the 2021 fiscal year.
The governor, who enumerated the series of developmental initiatives his government is targeting in the New Year, also declared that his administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of civil servants in the state.
Makinde stated this during the annual inter-faith service to mark the beginning of 2021.
The governor disclosed that the backlog of promotions from 2017 to 2020 will be cleared, while the government will also create the opportunity for deserving civil servants to rise to Grade Level 17.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor stated these while addressing civil/public servants at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, noting that though the government expects 2021 to come with its challenges, the welfare of civil servants will be a top priority.
The governor equally declared that his administration is on top of the insecurity challenges in the state, noting that the government will continue to run policies and programmes that impact positively on the lives of the majority of the populace.
While appreciating God for the grace to survive 2020, a year termed as a tough one due to the myriad of challenges that came with it, the governor said that despite the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, his government was able to keep up with the prompt payment of salaries and pensions all through 2020 and even paid the 13th month salary as well as embark on several infrastructure development projects.
Governor Makinde added that the government will commission 10 infrastructure development projects in 2021, including the 65 kilometre Moniya-Iseyin Road; the 21 kilometre Ajia-Airport Express with spur to Amuloko; the four bus terminals in Ibadan; Challenge-Odo Ona-Apata Road; the Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa Road in Oyo town; and the Lekan Salami Sports Complex remodelling, among others.
He said: “First, let me thank God for the gift of life and His protection over us all in the past year. 2020 has been described in many quarters as a tough year. We did not survive last year because we are tougher, we survived only by His grace and that is why it is good that we are holding this inter-faith service in gratitude.
“We are starting this year in good spirits. We are confident that this year, the seeds we planted in the previous year will yield good fruits. Last year, I didn’t know where the International Airport was from February till December. We all stayed together to experience the pandemic.
“On the 30th, I decided to spend the New Year in the United States of America and before I came back, critics were saying I went to America to enjoy myself while Oyo State was burning. My belief is, they were criticising me because they had no other thing to say. Well, I am back and we will continue to serve the people of Oyo State.
“So, we are looking forward to commissioning various projects that we started last year. For example, the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road will be commissioned this year. Also lined up for commissioning this year are: the 21km Airport- Ajia-New Ife Express road with a spur to Amuloko; the 12km Apete-Awotan-Akufo road, which will be the first concrete road belonging to the state government.
“We also hope to commission the 3km Under G Stadium-LAUTECH-2nd Gate road; the 5km Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa road; the 12.5km dualisation of Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe-Apata road and that road is special because it will take pressure off Ring Road.
“In the course of the year, we will also commission the 10km Saki Township road dualisation amongst others.
“Aside these, we will also be commissioning the remodelled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, and I look forward to watching Shooting Stars in the stadium soon. Mark this, the first match we will watch there will be at 7 p.m.
“We hope to also commission the four bus terminals at Iwo Road, New Ife Road, Challenge and Ojoo in Ibadan as well as the bike and bus terminal at Agodi Gate, Ibadan. I will be visiting Akesan Market next week. The first phase is done and we will be commissioning the entire project (the two phases) in the next three to four months.”
While speaking on his administration’s continued commitment to the welfare of civil servants, Governor Makinde said: “We heard some people wondering last year if we will continue paying salaries promptly given the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic meltdown. Well, by the grace of God, we are not owing salaries.
“We even surprised them more by paying 13th month salaries for the second time running at a time when other states are owing their workers. In fact, we have spent about N9.3 billion to pay pensions and gratuities owed by the previous administration so far, and we will continue to pay to clear up the backlog.
“Also, as you may be aware, there is a backlog of outstanding promotions from 2016. This will be addressed this year. All the outstanding promotions from 2017 to 2020 will be done. Furthermore, under our watch, deserving civil servants will have the opportunity to get up to grade level 17.
“Let me reassure you that we will continue to prioritise the welfare of the civil servants in Oyo State. Yes, we are expecting that 2021 will come with its own challenges. In as much as we want everything to be smooth-sailing, God promised us that He will get us to our destinations safely.
“There will be a period of turbulence but if we believe in God, we will get to that destination. So, I expect challenges and we are ready to face them.”
He further stated that the government will continue to deal decisively with the security challenges because its aim of expanding the economy could not be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity.
“The general consensus is that we have started well. I have heard people say, we hope he continues like this. Well, let me remind you that when we came in about one year and six months ago, our promise was to serve. We remain unwavering in that resolve. We shall continue to serve the people of Oyo State and we will put their interests first,” the governor said.
Earlier in her speech, the Head of Service of Oyo State, Mrs. Ololade Agboola, appreciated the governor for the various packages already being enjoyed by civil/public servants in the state.
Mrs. Agboola, who commended the governor for approving the recruitment of youths into the civil/public service to fill vacant positions in the state, including the recruitment of over 7,000 into teaching and non-teaching cadres, as well as recruitments of Health Workers, Environmental Health Officers, Health Superintendents and State Counsels.
She equally commended the governor that despite the lockdown and absence of the majority of the workers from work, the salaries, leave bonus, pensions and other entitlements of workers were paid as and when due, saying that the new minimum wage for the workers had been implemented.
She said that over 300 staff dismissed in the state civil service by the previous administration were reinstated by the governor, charging workers in the state to put in their best, have the right attitude towards work and desist from all forms of misconduct.
In their separate remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, and the chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Kayode, among others, enjoined civil servants in the state to redouble their efforts in 2021 by ensuring effective service delivery and continuous support for the Makinde-led government, so that it can further build on the successes already recorded.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has decried the negative impact of internet crimes popularly known as “yahoo yahoo’’ on the country.
Olukoyede disclosed that several international companies had to shut down their Nigerian operations following massive theft of their finances through local wire fraud.
He noted that in 2022, over $500m was lost as a result of the activities of Internet fraudsters.
A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the EFCC chairman spoke at the Global Peace Movement International awards on Thursday, where he was named the Man of the Year.
He said, “In 2022, we lost over $500 million in our economy to yahoo boys. The statistics are there. In the same year, about 71 international companies left Nigeria because they hacked their accounts.
“We can’t get credit cards in Nigeria because of our poor credit rating because of the activities of these cyber criminals. So, the best we can get is debit cards.
“Do you know that there are some international merchants that you cannot use Nigerian cards on their platforms? Display your green passport outside the country and see if they will not take you aside and search you thoroughly.”
He stated that no shade of economic and financial crime would go unaddressed under his leadership of the EFCC.
Olukoyede added that people stealing money in high places started from local governments and school associations.
He said, “We will do the mini; we will do the mega. If you don’t do the mini, the mini will become the mega. Some of these people stealing money in high places started from the local governments, they started as leaders of associations in schools, where they stole money and they did nothing to them and it became part of their lives.”
Olukoyede promised not to disappoint Nigerians and not to spare the corrupt.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the clearing of all pension backlogs in the state on Thursday.
In a statement on X.com on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu stated that with a payment of ₦4.46 billion to 2,000 retirees, the state has fulfilled its commitment to eliminate outstanding pension arrears.
The statement read, “Today, we effectively cleared all pension backlog in Lagos State with the payment of ₦4,461,659,536.82 to 2,000 retirees.
“In February, we paid ₦3.1 billion to 1,013 retirees with a promise to settle all arrears and current pension liabilities, and that promise has been fulfilled today.”
He further stated that since assuming office, his administration has paid a total of over ₦68 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees across various government departments.
He added that the “Pay As You Go” pension model utilised by the state will ensure that future retirees receive their full benefits and gratuity immediately upon retirement.
Sanwo-Olu added, “Since the inception of this administration, we have paid a sum of ₦68,164,627,407.21 into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees in the Mainstream, Local Government, State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other Parastatals of the State Government. We are very happy with this achievement.
“Employees of the Lagos State Government who retire from the civil service will now get their full pension benefits and gratuity immediately after retirement as Lagos State continues to lead in pension benefits administration with a Pay As You Go template.”
In his statement, Sanwo-Olu stated that to further enhance their well-being, the state launched a new Health Insurance Scheme specifically designed for retirees.
“We also launched a Health Insurance Scheme tailored specifically for our retirees. This scheme will provide access to a wide range of medical services, from routine check-ups to specialised treatments,” he added.
In February that Sanwo-Olu paid N3.149 billion to 1,013 retirees in its 103rd retirement bond certificate presentation.
The governor had also promised that another N4 billion outstanding will be paid in March while the government will try to clear all backlogs by April.
Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun, on Thursday, inaugurated the 5.3-kilometer Okpanam/Ibusa Bypass in Delta.
In a speech at the event, Adeleke lauded Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori for his developmental strides, describing him as a performing governor.
He said that Oborevwori had turned Delta “into a construction site”, by linking communities through his road projects.
According to the Osun governor, his coming to Delta “is a promise made to a dear and performing friend”, whose antecedents, he said, he had monitored over a year.
He said that he chooses his friends and that Oborevwori met the standard as he had impacted the lives of hia people through various projects, policies and programmes.
He also said that given the testimonies of the people and the royal fathers among other speakers, the Okpanam/Ibusa bypass would promote the state economy and save the cost of transportation between the two neighbouring communities.
“In Osun, I will be two years in office in November but if you come to the state, I have turned it to a construction site and we are building flyovers that they have never experienced before.
“Here in Delta, Oborevwori is doing the same thing and I thank him for working for his people, who freely gave him their mandate to govern them.
“I am here because God has put him in office for the people of Delta to enjoy the dividend of democracy and that is why I am here to celebrate with him and inaugurate the road.”
Adeleke, however, urged Oborevwori to do more for the state, while urging the people to continue to support his administration to deliver the dividend of democracy to them.
On his part, Oborevwori said that Adeleke’s visit was a proof of the bond and love they shared as friends.
He said that the ceremony was not about the length of the road but its importance to the state, particularly the people of Oshimili North Local Government Area (LGA).
He described the road as key to all the people of the state, adding that it was a major link between Okpanam and Ibusa Communities in the LGA.
He further said that the road would save the huge cost borne by those commuting from either of the communities, who would first travel to Asaba before negotiating their way to either Okpanam or Ibusa.
“I want to appreciate my predecessor, former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for initiating the project and I completed it because I pledged not to abandon any project started by the previous administration.
“This road is key as it connects Okpanam to Ibusa and it will reduce traffic conjestion at the interchange at the Ibusa Junction on the Asaba-Benin Expressway.
“Delta, particularly Asaba, is developing very fast and I want to advise that investors take advantage to invest in the state,” Oborevwori said.
He gave assurance that the request made by the traditional rulers from Ibusa and Okpanam, urging him to complete the construction of the link road from Okpanam to Akwukwu-Igbo, Headquarters of Oshimili North LGA, would be looked into.
He, however, implored the people of the state to ensure peace and remain law-abiding during the upcoming LG polls in the state.
He promised that the election would be free, fair and credible, while urging all the political party candidates to go about their campaigns orderly and peacefully.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works: Highways and Urban Roads, Mr Ruben Izeze, said the road had 10.6km of drains, among other features.
Izeze thanked the state governor “for approving the release of funds” and commended the contractors and staff members of the ministry for their dedication that saw the work through.
On their part, the Traditional Rulers of the two communities, including
the Obuzor of Ibusa, Louis Nwaoboshi, and the Ugoani of Okpanam, Obi Michael Mbanefo, thanked the governor for completing what they described as “the historical link way between the two-sister communities”.
They, however, appealed to the governor to complement the project by awarding the construction of the Okpanam/Akwukwu-Igbo Road project for ease of movement to the LGA headquarters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two communities of Ibusa and Okpanam rolled out drums to underscore their joy over the completion and inauguration of the road.
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