₦airaland Forum

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated new boards for the state’s Civil Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission and Hospitals Management Board


The inauguration ceremony took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Wednesday.


The Governor implored the new appointees to ensure fairness to all in the discharge of their duties, while he also advised them to embrace godliness in their service to humanity.


Ajimobi reminded them that they were chosen among other eminently qualified people in strict recognition of their track records, past contributions to the state, competence and personal integrity.


He said, "The expectations of our people from this government are huge and rightly so. They expect that we must be willing and able to put in place policies, strategies and programmes that can ensure that our state regains its pioneering and pacesetter status.


“I expect you to bring forth new innovations capable of improving the lot of our people in different areas. For those of you saddled with education and health responsibilities, you have to do more because you have critical assignments ahead of you.


"Those of you who are to work in the education sector must work conscientiously with the schools governing boards system to ensure that we lift the morale of the school authorities and students.


“Similarly, those of you in the health sector must work with your colleagues across the board to ensure that all critical stakeholders are encouraged to key in into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme."


Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, pledged to deliver on the mandate entrusted to them, while she assured the governor that it would be a new dawn for primary education in the state.


Apart from part-time and full-time members, the civil service commission would be chaired by Mr. Doja Oladele; while the SUBEB will be chaired by Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola on a full-time basis.

The teaching service commission is to be chaired by Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade; while the HMB is headed by Dr. Adegoke Adeyemo, on a full-time basis.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated new boards for the state’s Civil Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission and Hospitals Management Board


The inauguration ceremony took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Wednesday.


The Governor implored the new appointees to ensure fairness to all in the discharge of their duties, while he also advised them to embrace godliness in their service to humanity.


Ajimobi reminded them that they were chosen among other eminently qualified people in strict recognition of their track records, past contributions to the state, competence and personal integrity.


He said, "The expectations of our people from this government are huge and rightly so. They expect that we must be willing and able to put in place policies, strategies and programmes that can ensure that our state regains its pioneering and pacesetter status.


“I expect you to bring forth new innovations capable of improving the lot of our people in different areas. For those of you saddled with education and health responsibilities, you have to do more because you have critical assignments ahead of you.


"Those of you who are to work in the education sector must work conscientiously with the schools governing boards system to ensure that we lift the morale of the school authorities and students.


“Similarly, those of you in the health sector must work with your colleagues across the board to ensure that all critical stakeholders are encouraged to key in into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme."


Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, pledged to deliver on the mandate entrusted to them, while she assured the governor that it would be a new dawn for primary education in the state.


Apart from part-time and full-time members, the civil service commission would be chaired by Mr. Doja Oladele; while the SUBEB will be chaired by Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola on a full-time basis.

The teaching service commission is to be chaired by Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade; while the HMB is headed by Dr. Adegoke Adeyemo, on a full-time basis.

"I learnt that the name of my city, # Ibadan , was coined from two words namely "èbá" and "odán", loosely translated - "near the Odán tree". Of late, I've been able to identify why the founding fathers and first settlers of this city chose to indeed settle by this awning tree.
Warmth!
The warmth and hospitable nature that characterizes the air and people of my city is so visible you just can't miss it. It wraps you in an instant upon entry, so much it's gotten an almost alchemical feel to it.
This probably explains why the founding fathers settled by this tree to enjoy the warmth; and for it to have lasted this long, grown into its people, formed the crux of its culture and determined the richness of its history, shows how true this fact is.
Some years ago, perennial violence threatened this warmth and made proud Ibadan indigenes like me sad. But, recently, I served the privilege of leading the High Commission I work for as a Translator, on a working visit to my city; and I couldn't be happier, even prouder, to know that violence is fastly becoming a buried past, especially in the past few years.
The warmth is back and my boss, the High Commissioner himself, couldn't resist"

The Oyo State Government has called on all artisans and tradesmen to participate in the ongoing bio-metrics data capturing and identification card project, saying that the exercise would open a new vista of opportunities.

The government also said that the biometrics project will present a platform to showcase outstanding artisans and traders in the State.

The State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Princess Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba made this call during the presentation of uniformed identity cards to the executive members of the association of artisans and tradesmen Oyo State, held at the Conference room of the Ministry.

According to the Commissioner, “Governor Abiola Ajimobi came up with the idea of creating bio-metric data capturing for artisans and tradesmen which will serve as a means to provide commercial incentives and welfare packages to various groups of artisans and trades men in the State.”

Princess Adeyemi-Agaba urged the leadership of the artisans and tradesmen’s association to ensure that all their members are captured in the ongoing exercise, noting that the governor has mandated all the contractors handling projects in the state to patronize captured and registered artisans and tradesmen.

In his remarks, the President of the Association, Alhaji Yisau Kolayode pledged the readiness of the association to support the biometric exercise, saying that members of the Association within and outside Ibadan would be educated on the benefits of the exercise.

Oyo State Government has warned pensioners in the state to desist from patronizing individuals who collect illegal fees before processing their pension arrears and gratuities for them, urging that they should rather follow due process.

The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, who gave this admonition during the sensitization tour by the Management of Oyo State Pension Board to the twenty-nine (29) pension offices in respect of the forthcoming verification and Biometric capture of Civil Service Pensioners in the State, posited that pensioners are not expected to pay any amount as processing fee for their pensions and gratuities.

Mr. Adekanmbi, who spoke through the Executive Secretary, Mr. Olaleye Ajagbe after the board’s visit to Eruwa, Igboora, Saki, Igboho, Igbeti, Kisihi, Iseyin, Oyo, Jobele and Ogbomoso, assured the pensioners that government will not relent in its effort to have accurate, efficient and effective database of its Pensioners so as to be able to take proper care of their welfare.

The Commissioner also enjoined all the State pensioners to bring along their necessary documents for verification during the forthcoming biometric capturing in which the date and the venue will be announced later.

The State Chairman, National Union of Pensioners, Mr. Gbadegesin Akande commended the efforts of the Oyo State government under the leadership of

Senator Abiola Ajimobi for ensuring that the welfare of the pensioners are well taken care of, pledging the union’s unflinching support for the success of this administration.

In a related development, teachers in the state have been charged to desist from securing loans that their net pay cannot cover in order not to embarrass themselves and the government.

The Coordinating Director, Oyo State Post Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM) Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, made the charge while addressing the officials of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the TESCOM headquarters.

Oni charged teachers to be decent in their approach and appearance, and consequently advised the teaching and non teaching staff who are retiring, to stop giving tips, patronising touts or any intermediary while processing their pensions and gratuity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Oyo State Government has taken delivery of about 25 tons worth of fertilizers for the benefit of farmers in the state, at no cost.
This is in a bid to provide food production in the state.
While receiving the farming imputes on behalf of the state government at the state’s Ministry of Agriculture zonal offices at Awe in Oyo town and Tede in Atisbo Local Government Area of the state respectively, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr. Fajimi Shakrulahi stated that the gesture was in line with the state government resolve to create an enabling environment for would-be investors to invest in the state.
He disclosed that the initiative behind the 25 tons of fertilizers and seedlings delivered to the state to boost rice production was a specialized programme amongst the state government, Dangote and farmers in the state.
The project is a pilot programme, which the state government would serve a guarantor for the farmers.
“We have selected about two hundred and ninety two farmers that have one hectare of land each and above for this programme.
All these imputes you are seeing are going to be giving to the farmers according to the number of hectares they have.”
“So, after planting, Dangote will now be the off-taker. It will get the harvested rice back from the farmers at specified rates,” he disclosed.
The governor’s aide pointed out that this season, the state government would embark on plantation for five hundred hectares, while disclosing that another six thousand hectares plantation would similarly be embarked upon next year.
He noted that farmers earmarked for the plantation had been selected, adding that they have paid visit to their farms to ascertain their level of readiness for the programme.
“The state government has mandated the state’s Ministry of Agriculture to resuscitate all depleted forestry for agricultural purposes,” adding that the plan of the governor was to develop the rice farmers and boost food production in the state.

The Oyo State government on Monday commenced sensitisation exercise for public servants in the state on the benefits and advantages of the newly introduced N650 monthly health insurance scheme, disclosing that pregnant women and children under the ages of five are exempted from paying the stipulated amount.
The sensitisation which started with the engagement of senior civil servants led by the Head of Service and was followed by a meeting with the staff of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Receiving the staff of Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme (OYHIS) and Six Health Maintenance Organisation (HMOs), the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun reiterated the government’s commitment to affordable, accessible and quality health care delivery, urging the people of the state to take advantage of the first health insurance scheme by a state government in the country.

Arulogun noted that the health insurance scheme is one among the various health initiatives the government offers the people, adding that the government will not relent in its efforts to ensure that the people of the state enjoy the dividends of democracy.

In his address, the Executive Secretary of OYHIS, Dr Sola Akande said that the Insurance Scheme is the future of the health sector which starts now in the State. He emphasized that the attendant reformation underscores the importance the state government places on the health sector and the well-being of the citizens of the state.

Dr Akande pointed out that the scheme which will reduce mortality rate among residents of the state as well as give them access to basic health care delivery through easily affordable monetary commitment of N650 naira per month and N7800 per annum.

The Executive Secretary, who stressed that the scheme would outlive many administrations in the state, explained that the insurance scheme comes on three platforms which include Standard, Standard Plus and Standard Peak plans.

According to him, “the Standard plan is the least of the scheme and affordable, while every enrollee can pay for it in two installments. As much as possible, we want to ensure no one is left out in this bounty which is first of its kind by any state government in the country.”

Dr Akande, who allayed the fears of the general public that the service would be scrapped after the expiry of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, said that the Scheme was duly established by the law and is made available to everyone in the State, noting that individuals have a crucial role to play in the scheme by joining hands with government to promote the health sector and prevent untimely death.

He however appealed to civil servants and the general public to believe in the scheme by buying into it as well as supporting it, stressing that the scheme will bring about a paradigm shift in the State health sector in earnest.

During the 2011 governorship electioneering, nearly all the political parties and their candidates jostling for the coveted office in Oyo State employed the usual refrain to worm themselves into the hearts of the electorate.

As they mounted the rostrum, all you hear then was ‘we will build roads; low-cost houses will be yours for the asking; it will be life in abundance for citizens and sojourners…’

In fact, some chose to revile past holders of the office or frontline opponents in the war of attrition. Rather than malign his predecessors or adopt vainglory approach, Senator Abiola Ajimobi chose a different path.

He would always tell his teeming supporters that “If I will not make a remarkable difference as governor, may God abort this ambition.

He did not only win in 2011, but broke the second term jinx in 2015 with the support of the appreciative citizens of the state.

In retrospect, it is on record that the Oyo State Ajimobi inherited in 2011 was an entity in complete tumult. Murder, brigandage, rape, arson and other forms of violence qualified Oyo then as a Hobbesian state where life was short, brutish and nasty.

Ajimobi’s pyramid of development bears semblance to the theory of human needs espoused by the American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, in his 1954 book, Motivation and Personality.

In six years, the governor’s scorecard in peace and security suggests that he did not only dream about his desire to make the people of the state sleep with their two eyes shut, he walked his talk. First, he reined in the rapacious drivers’ unions before clamping down on other bands of brigands.


Next, the governor inaugurated a joint security outfit codenamed ‘operation burst’ with six zonal commands to whip into line the errant scallywags disturbing the peace of the land. The governor procured armoured personnel carriers, a fleet of patrol vehicles and state-of-the-art communication equipment for the outfit’s operations. He also floated a security trust fund to raise funds for its operations.


Today, nightlife that was hitherto at zero level is now witnessing a new hustle and bustle, with night clubs and drinking joints dotting the landscape. Residents can now freely pass through the once dreaded Iwo Road interchange, formerly the den of armed robbers, drug addicts and rapists, who hid under the cover of darkness to bare their fangs.

The safe city project of Ajimobi will proffer cutting edge solutions that will nip crime and criminality in the bud, especially in Ibadan, the state capital. To this end, Ajimobi recently declared that plans were afoot to install closed circuit television (CCTV) in black spots and business districts in the city to monitor the activities of criminals.

Although the recent onslaught of the self-styled one million boys in Ibadan would suggest that it is not yet Uhuru, the rapid force with which they were crushed confirms that law enforcement agencies are equal to the task of ridding Oyo State of undesirable elements.

Before the advent of the Ajimobi-led administration, Ibadan was touted as one of the dirtiest cities in the country because of the mountain of refuse indiscriminately dumped in open places. The city had no clear cut solid waste management policy, while it constantly suffered environmental hazard and degradation.

But, Ajimobi took up the gauntlet and cleaned up the city in a well-thought-out urban renewal and physical infrastructure development programmes. Similarly, residents of Ibadan can attest to the poor network of roads in existence before the governor mounted the saddle.


That the pristine state capital has now become the next investors’ destination will not be an overstatement judging by the number of blue-chip companies that have berthed in Ibadan since Ajimobi cleaned up the city.

For starters, investors don’t take their money to an environment where the safety and security of their workers and investment would be jeopardised; where there is poor network of roads or where the environment is filthy and uncongenial for business

At the last count, 36 new companies have been attracted to the state in the last six years, with close to 4000 direct employees, according to figures obtained from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

Further proof of this upsurge in industrialisation is the rating of Oyo as the fifth most investment friendly state by the National Bureau of Statistics, which also credited the governor as having attracted more than $61m (N22.4bn) foreign direct investment to the state.



The governor recently opened a new vista of industrial development with the acquisition of large expanse of land on both sides of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to accommodate the Polaris-Pacesetter Free Trade Zone and an Industrial Park.

The free trade zone is one of the dividends of Ajimobi’s many shuttles to China, where Oyo State is now very popular, because of the governor’s relentlessness and spirited efforts to attract investors into the state. Exuding confidence at a recent event, the governor enthused that seven of the more than 157 companies expected to populate the free trade zone would be inaugurated by the end of this year.



Within the first six years of his administration, Ajimobi constructed the Mokola flyover, which was the first by any civilian governor in the state. Although it may sound exaggerated, some travellers coming into Ibadan through the Challenge/Orita axis for the first time in six years have been said to miss their ways due to the transformation brought to the area with the new network of six-lane roads.

Apart from Challenge, the once decrepit Alesinloye, Dugbe-Magazine-Eleyele roads have been expanded to six lanes, complete with modern furniture and built to last.

The governor’s road revolution was extended to the other five major zones of the state. Thus, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, as well as Oke-Ogun I (Iseyin axis) and Oke-Ogun II (Saki axis) now boast six-lane roads, for the first time in their history. The administration also constructed 183 roads and seven bridges, totalling 590km.

The governor had in the past few weeks inaugurated the Eleyele-Ologuneru-Eruwa; Idi-Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks junction; Gate-Old Ife Road-Alakia, as well as Oke Adu-Iwo roads for construction into standard and six-lane roads. In Ajimobi’s avowed determination to enlist Ibadan among the elite state capitals and mega cities, the governor had also revived the Ibadan Circular Road, which had remained a dream in the past 15 years under successive administrations.

But for the Ajimobi-inspired World Bank-assisted Ibadan Urban Flood Management initiative, the perennial flooding that had consumed lives and property in Ibadan prior to his regime would have again wreaked havoc this year. In the last six years, extensive dredging and channelisation efforts had taken place in the Ogunpa and other rivers in Ibadan, while drainage is being desilted for free flow of water.

As the Yoruba will say, ‘Oro po ninu iwe kobo’ (there are far too many words to encounter in a penny-worth newspaper!).


There is much to reel out about the Ajimobi success story. For sure, Ajimobi has already etched his name in the sands of time and would most certainly be remembered as the builder of the modern Oyo State by generations to come.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 reasons why Olubadan & Olubadan-In-Council agreed to the Chieftaincy Declaration review by Gov. Ajimobi's government

1. The review is in line with the modernization agenda of the present government, a postion which is in tandem with modern trends obtainable generally in the traditional and Obaship institution of Southwest Nigeria.
2. The review does not aim at distorting or destroying the age-long succession arrangement pertaining to the Olubadan stool.
3. Rather, this Ajimobi government-led review seeks the elevation the Olubadan to the level of an Imperial Majesty, with royal majesties beneath the imperial stool.
4. The review has legal backing - Sections 10 and 25 Cap 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2000, states the following:
(a) Section 10 of the Chiefs law gives a discretionary power to the Governor of the state if satisfied that a Declaration is faulty or objectionable, to amend or replace such declaration. That power is exercisable only by the governor without necessarily being in consultation with anybody.
(b) “Section 25(1) gives power to the Governor to set up an enquiry which he may consider necessary or desirable, which includes the power to make, review or amend a declaration.
5. The review has historical traction - Past governments in Oyo state have exercised the right to commission a review of the Declaration.
(a) A 1974 Commission of Enquiry reviewed the Chieftaincy declaration and its recommendations were adopted and changes effected by the then Military Government of Western States.
(b) In I976, there was the Adenekan Ademola Judicial Commission of Enquiry which made recommendations which the then Military government accepted and changes effected in 1981.
(c) Governor Kolapo Ishola set up the Oloko Commission of Enquiry on April 1st 1993 to review the chieftaincy declarations all over the state.
(d) Governor Rasheed Ladoja also set up the Adio Commission of Enquiry whose recommendations never came to fruition.
6. The review has the backing of many stakeholders in Ibadan - Over 100 memorada were submitted and sittings were attended by different groups including the members of Olubadan-in-Coucil, Ibadan elders, Mogajis, baales among others, urging that all parties should let the law take its course and allow peace reign in Ibadanland.
7. Governor Abiola Ajimobi, like other past governors, derived his constitutional powers to commission the review from Sections 10 and 25 Cap 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2000 stated above.
8. The review is much needed and long overdue because Ibadan, and its over 160 regions, needs it.
9. Ibadanland is big enough to entrench and accommodate a broader traditional base for cultural and communal efficiency.
10. This review seeks expansion and not distortion of the succession of the Olubadan stool. Rather, it seeks ways to make Ibadan have regional Obas to ensure much ease in attaining communal accord and peace, and driving socioeconomic development.

Despite the nation’s economic downturn, which has stifled internal generated revenue, Oyo State Government is already seeing a huge opportunities in major monuments and wooing local and international prospective investors.
The State authorities plan to engage the private sector in the establishment, resuscitation, rehabilitation and management of five tourist sites under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
Under the programme, the government is embarking on the establishment, rehabilitation and management of Captain Bower’s Tower, Oke-Are, Ibadan; Cultural Centre, Mokola Hill Ibadan; Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake, Araromi LCDA, Ado-Awaye; establishment of Ironsi-Fajuyi Memorial Park and Gardens, Lalupon and Eleyele Water Front Resort, Ibadan.
Among the proposed project is the renovation and redevelopment of Captain Bower’s Tower, which served as the home of Captain Bower; one of the earliest Colonial District Officers of Ibadan. The vantage position from the Spiral Tower (Layipo) enables a breath taking panoramic view of virtually the entire city of Ibadan. The site consists of a small restaurant, amphitheatre, Captain Bower’s Colonial residence, chalet and game area.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun explained the government wants investors to set up fun parks, both indoor and outdoor; install standard power generating set; provision of security measures within around the centre while also embarking on beautification and landscaping of the site and adjoining grounds.
Another renovation is anticipated for the Cultural Centre, which is a massive and great architectural masterpiece sited on the imposing Mokola Hill, next door to Agodi Gardens and Premier Hotel Ibadan. The only one of such constructed along side the National Theatre in 1977 to complement the historical hosting of the Black Festival of Arts and Culture tagged FESTAC 77.
In its blueprint, the government is proposing the rehabilitation of the main theatre, a multi-purpose auditorium with a seating capacity for 1,500 persons, musical rehearsal hall, with a seating capacity of 500; Cinema hall with a seating capacity of 250; Open space Tarmac) that can accommodate about 1000cars, also suitable for social activities; a spacious foyer for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Other proposed facilities are the open theatre stages to be set up on the two available open spaces for drama; rehabilitation of crafts village, which has seven huts (mini-workshops); rehabilitation of the exterior of the complex; wall fencing and landscaping; management of the Halls and open space as well as development of a Museum and Hall of Fame.
Investors and partners are also sought for the Ironsi-Fajuyi Memorial Park and Gardens, Lalupon, where Nigeria’s former Military Head of State General Aguiyi Ironsi was killed in the company of his host and former Governor of Western Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi on July 15, 1966.
The site spots the bullet ridden and bloodied tree that reminds us of Nigeria’s first Military coup. The vision of the Oyo State Government is to develop the acquired two plots of land into a National Historic monument with statues of Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt Colonel Fajuyi. The project includes well-groomed garden sitting area; restaurant /bar; games area; administrative office; cinema/video room (50 seater).

Osun State Government has called on members of the public to prevail on the management and staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to be opened and sincere on ending the lingering crisis rocking the university.

 
The state government, in a press statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, on Sunday, said it is concerned about the plight of the students of the institution, hence the need to alert the public on what is going on in the LAUTECH.

According to press statement, the state government was worried on and doing all humanly possible to resolve the crisis and ensure quick resumption, notwithstanding the selfish politics being played by some people, management union and staff of the institution.

The government claimed that some elements within the university were not sincere on resolving the matter, saying that such people are grandstanding and deliberately stifling efforts to pull out the institution out of the crisis.

The government said the setting up of the Chief Wole Olanipekun led visitation panel which recommended auditing of the university, is a bold step taken by the Osun and Oyo states government to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis.

Based on the recommendation, the state government said the two owner states engaged the service of KPMG to audit the university accounts, disclosing that ‘internal enemies’ in the institution are frustrating the auditing exercise.

It maintained despite the resolve of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo states to bring lasting solution to the institution crisis, the some members of staff and management are sabotaging the owners’ efforts.

The Osun government commended Ajimobi’s administration for its understanding and commitment to bring back LAUTECH to live.

The press release reads: “It is worrisome and disturbing, especially in this present recession time, to know that LAUTECH runs 97 bank accounts when the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has become the order of the day. There are 10 Chief Accountants which is not so in other universities.

“More worrisome too is that LAUTECH has lost money in many distressed banks according to the report of the visitation panel.

“For 27 years of existence, Osun Government lived up to its expectations as equal partner , notwithstanding the obvious cheating meted to it as only one (1)  out of the eight ( academic faculties is in Osun, while Oyo has about twice of the staff strength of the University.

“Osun single-handedly funded the infrastructure development in the Osun campus; also 85 per cent of the total institution’s infrastructure is in Oyo, whereas funding is equally carried out. Despite this, we are fully committed to joint ownership of our joint heritage. Indeed, we staunchly fought for it in 2010 when effort was mis-advisedly made”

The state government said it was worried about the level of mismanagement of funds in the university, saying that the institution should have been self-sufficient financially by now.

“Osun State University with student population of about 9000 with six campuses which implies more recurrent cost and just nine years old like some other state University in the country are surviving.

“It is surprising that a more viable LAUTECH with students population of 26,360 undergraduates paying average of N70, 000 tuition fee, part-time students of over 2000 paying average of N120, 000, 1560 academic postgraduate students paying N150, 000; professional post-graduate students  of 2600 paying average of N250, 000, pre-degree, distant learning and other programmes cannot survive on its own.

“While ventures in other institutions thrive, that of LAUTECH is dead. TETFUND and Needs Assessment Funds running into billions have been given to LAUTECH without commensurate research output to show for it.

“Right-thinking members of the society should please prevail on LAUTECH management and staff to allow owner governments to do the right thing – proper auditing which invariably will ensure proper running of the institution and make it responsive to the essence of its establishment”, it added.

A sane mind reflects every moment and day on whether the social contract advocated by Thomas Hobbes (1651), the great philosopher of the ancient time, has been breached. This represents the plight to comport oneself as a law – abiding citizen, and as a result, deserves the sole prerogative rights to protection, provision and purity of rites, as a reward for his servitude to the territorial integrity of the land.

As every partnership agreement are parties to it, so the government and the citizens form the contractual agreement to the Hobbesian law of social contact. According to him, the contract is everlasting and monumental, so long the popular sovereign government respects the sanctity of the contract, and, thereby, provide the necessities for the citizenry.

These necessities, according to the Utilitarian School of Thought such as Jean Jacque Rousseau, should be directed towards absolute maximization of pleasure and minimization of various forms of pains. This is utmostly grounded on the principle of state of nature that an “average human being desire maximum pleasure and look for all possible ways to avert all forms of pains”.

Without much ado, one can unequivocally state that the Abiola Ajimobi led government in Oyo State, through its transportation initiative dubbed “Ajumose Shuttle” has provided a new lease of life to noble citizens, who submitted their will to the sovereignty of Oyo State sometimes ago to form the syndicate of the said social contract.

When the idea of mass transit was conceived by the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, it had the intention of reducing the transportation problem of millions of people in the State. The initiative, which effectively checked the nimieties of commercial drivers who before then were fond of introducing ridiculous fares at any slightest opportunity.

The buses, painted in golden yellow and wine, being the newly introduced official colour of the Oyo State government, were sent to all nooks and crannies of the state, while the government also took a unique step by making the buses free for all students in the state — from both public and private schools.

Since the Transportation Scheme was launched in 2013, residents in the state, irrespective of political faith, queue in large numbers, waiting for the arrival of the “Ajumose Shuttles” at their designated bus stops.

The residents, only pay highly subsidized fare which forced the commercial drivers in the state who had been milking passengers dry by introducing prohibitive fare to reduce their fares. Even, in the face of prevailing fuel scarcity, festive periods , torrential rain, scorching of the sun, little or no impact of this is being felt.

It is important to note that the “Ajumose Shuttle”, a revolution in the transportation sector has also provided direct economic relief to citizens in the form of fare reduction, ease of transportation, employment opportunities, IGR and reduction in environmental hazard from pollution from use of over-age buses.

Obviously, the socialist -inclined project that has provided succour to the distressed constitutes the record- making legacy for Governor Abiola Ajimobi. This worthy legacy commended Ajimobi’s APC to the electorates, who in turn, voted massively for him to break the second term hex and become the first governor to be re-elected in the annals of history.[img][/img]

The Oyo State Youth Restoration Team (OYSRET) has appealed to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja to adopt the plea bargaining approach to resolve his N4.7bn corruption case, saying that the money, if returned, could be used to fund the cash trapped higher institutions in the State.

The student group, led by Comrade Ola Jimoh, pointed out that the money, which the Accord leader is being tried for by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would go a long way in resolving the crises in the state’s tertiary institutions.

According to Ola, “We need to put Governor Abola Ajimobi to test. He said there is not enough money to give our schools’ subventions as he used to do and we all know the present situation in the country. He has however promised to give 100 per cent of the stolen state’s funds to LAUTECH if returned. This, we believe should be a wake up call for for Ladoja to return the stolen money he is being tried for.

“We are against the clandestine move by the Accord leader to use the financial crisis in LAUTECH to score political points. He once returned about N500m which was expended on construction on Model Schools according to the Oyo State Government. He has returned money before and there won’t be any big deal if he does same now. We can now monitor the disbursement of the money as well as telling Governor Ajimobi to give other institutions part of the money instead of LAUTECH alone”, he stressed.

The Oyo State Government has warned residents to adhere strictly to environmental and physical planning regulations aimed at averting flood disasters in the state.
Chief. Isaac Ishola, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, gave. the warning. on Tuesday in Ibadan. after inspecting the damage caused by an early morning. downpour in which properties and public utilities were destroyed.
It was reported that worst hit in the state capital. were flood –prone. areas such as Apete, Ajibode and Orogun as well as other areas. in the metropolis such as Old Bodija, Ashi and. Akobo.
It was also reported that many residents in flood-prone areas fled to safety. as water levels rose, threatening to submerge them in their homes.
The commissioner, however, told newsmen in Ibadan that the damage recorded. was as a result of negligence by residents.
Ishola stated that the ministry’s team had visited seven areas. affected across the metropolis. and was happy that no life was lost.
He said that residents still dump refuse in drains. and build houses around water ways in spite of the several warnings from government.
“The state government under the leadership of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi approved the dredging of 14 rivers and streams in 2016 to avert flooding.
“We also cleared big drains. This action accounted for a flood-free year in 2016,’’ the commissioner said.
Ishola said that the state had secured the approval of. the World Bank on 36 out the 48 rivers identified for dredging in the state, adding that work. had commenced immediately.
He said that 14 rivers were also identified for expansion out of which contract for four had been awarded while the remaining 10 were at design stage.
The commissioner, who. said that government would continue to take proactive measures against flooding, urged residents. to adhere strictly to environmental laws.

The Oyo State government will install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic locations across the state.
The move, Governor Ajimobi said, would place Oyo among the league of states and communities under the “safe city project”.
Ajimobi highlighted this, when he hosted the United States (U.S) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington.
Addressing the ambassador and his entourage, Ajimobi said the state, hitherto known for violence and brigandage, changed its course when his administration came in in 2011...He pledged to sustain the peace.
According to him, CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic locations known to be red spots or crisis-prone for close monitoring of the state.

Security operatives, Ajimobi said, would have direct link to the control base of the cameras.
The governor said his administration’s efforts at investing in the security and safety of the state was based on its understanding that they aid development.
On flooding, he said the intervention and assistance Oyo State got from the World Bank on 2011 flood helped the government in installing early flood warning signals which have helped prevent a recurrence.
He said: “We came in 2011 and the state was regarded as an unsafe place. This made us come up with our hierarchy of development, drawing from man’s hierarchy of needs.
“We identified that the job of a government is, firstly, security and safety. The approach we adopted has yielded results and transformed Oyo to be known as one of the safest states in the country.
“Oyo has joined the comity of states in the Safe City Project where technology is deployed to combat crime and ensure safety and security.
“We shall install CCTV cameras in red spot and crisis-prone areas across the state to alert security operatives at the central control unit for prompt response. This measure will help our state more secure and peaceful.”
Symington said: “My visit to Oyo State is not just a courtesy call but a call for vision and wisdom. My goal is to look at Nigeria from every and a different point.
“The reason for Nigeria’s greatness is because of its togetherness. It is a very great nation. We will like to see how the people of this great nation and the people of America can work together to build a better future for the Pacesetter State.”

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Friday flagged off the construction of the Ibadan Circular Road estimated to cost about N70 billion, which will boost the socio-economic development and transportation system in the state.


The governor, while speaking at the flag-off held at Badeku Village in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, said the 32km first phase of the 110km road would be completed within 18 months.

He said the first phase of the project, which would start from Badeku Village and end at Ajanla Village on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, representing the Northeast corner of the project, was awarded to the ENL Consortium Limited.

According to the governor, the project will be financed through a facility sourced from the Nexim Bank of China by the contractor on a ``Build, Operate and Transfer`` arrangement between the ENL and the state government.

Ajimobi said: ``This project is at no cost to Oyo State Government; our partner (ENL Consortium) shall raise fund to finance it on the basis of `build, operate and transfer’ as part of our public-private partnership agreement.

``Nexim Bank of China will provide the fund because of their belief in the expertise and international best practice of our partner for whom we are guarantor’’.

Describing the project as a dream which had remained unfulfilled until his administration successfully brought it into fruition, Ajimobi said, when completed, it would further enhance the socio-economic development of the state.

Besides, he said it would generate unquantifiable number of skilled and unskilled employments as well as end the perennial traffic snarl within the Ibadan metropolis and help those travelling in and out of the city.

The governor pledged that his administration would not leave any project uncompleted, stressing that that was why government opted for the PPP arrangement for the circular road to ensure its speedy completion.

He recalled that the, which was conceived in 2002 by the Alhaji Lam Adesina-led administrationaji Lam Adesina, had suffered abandonment and neglect from successive administrations after Adesina.

Ajimobi, however, called on the federal government to support states with more funds for development to reach the grassroots.

In his address, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Wasiu Dauda, said the circular road was conceived as a by-pass to divert traffic away from the city, thereby reducing travel time and operating cost of vehicles.

Dauda said aside the 32km first phase, he gave the length of the remaining three phases as Northwest 33km; Southwest 24km and Southeast 20.8km.

He explained that the first phase would include provision of hydraulic structures, lined drains, culverts, three bridges, two interchanges/flyovers, pavement of lateritic sub-base of 200 millimetres, three security posts, two filling stations and street lights, among others.

The Chairman ENL Limited, Prince Adesuyi Haastrup, expressed happiness that his firm was considered worthy to be part of the efforts at modernizing the state and Ibadan city, pledging to deliver the project within the stipulated time without compromising the standard.

Haastrup claimed that his Consortium had accessed $232million for the construction of the road and that work would start immediately.

The representative of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Balogun, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, the Onpetu of Ijeru, the Onjo of Okeho, who all spoke at the occasion, applauded the government for the modern trend of development being introduced.

he has paid till march ..only the ghost workers are not getting paid.