@RotimiAkeredolu 's administration assures the readiness of the State Government to implement workable solutions generated at the end of the summit. #ArmedForcesRemembranceDay
During the 2018 celebration, @RotimiAkeredolu promised that the Cenotaph would be given a facelift. The promise came on the heels of the request by the Chairman, Nigerian Legion in the State. #ArmedForcesRemembranceDay

We’re committed to grassroots devt - ODSG




The Ondo State government has restated its resolve to continue to put up developmental projects and policies that will impact the lives of the people at the grassroots and improve their total well-being.

The Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu stated this at the 2019 Oreyin Day and launching of N50m ultrasound modern palace of Isarun in Ifedore Local Government area of the state at the weekend.

The governor represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi congratulated the community for the celebration of the 2019 Oreyin day, urging the indigenes to continue to live together in harmony and peace to enable more development in the area.

While reiterating the various efforts of the present government to bring about sustainable development in the state, Akeredolu assured the people of his administration’s determination to leave the state better than it met it.

Speaking at the event, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun thanked governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for the “ongoing monumental projects in Ifedore local government area and the state in general”.

He particularly lauded the ongoing reconstruction and renovations of primary schools across the state, noting that the move has improved, in no small measure, the education sector in the state and the local economy through the involvement of artisans and traders within the locality.

The Chairman of the occasion, CEO Elizade Group of Companies, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo urged the sons and daughters of the town home and abroad to unite together and contribute meaningfully within their powers to the development of the ancient town.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Isarun Development Council, Pharm Famakinde thanked the government on behalf of the community for the construction of Isarun and Igbara -Oke township roads and other road network in Ifedore local government area of the state.

He however appealed to the government to look into the development of the Town’s tourist attraction “Cave of ashes” site in a view to constructing good roads for easy access for the comfort of tourists.

He recalled that the cave of ashes in the community which had existed thousands of years BC has been acknowledged and enlisted by international bodies as having great tourist potentials, saying it could bring about a turn around to the economy of the town and that of the entire state if fully harnessed.

Horticulture: Schools urged to plant trees against encroachers

Schools Principals and Headteachers have been charged to think outside the box by planting exotic trees or plant at the borderline of their schools.

This is to ward off encroachers who are fond of encroaching into schools land to build residential buildings on it.

Giving this advise was the Permanent Secretary of Ondo State Ministry of Education, Rev Akin Asaniyan, while answering questions from pressmen.

He said when research was done to know what the teachers of old did to ward off those encroaching on schools’ land, it was observed that exotic plants were planted at edges of the school,hence the need to go back to that.

According to him:” the issue of perimeter fencing should be there, but in the absence of resources we were able to go into archives and we realised that in the past ,we have exotic trees that were planted at the borderline of the schools,so no one encroach “.

Apart from warding off those encroaching, he said the trees when matured can boost the revenue of the schools.

He therefore warned those taking schools land and houses their residential building on it to desist from doing that because the present government would not take it lightly with any culprit.

Vote Buhari To Ensure More Infrastructure And Employment, Ondo APC Chairman Charges Electorates



Ondo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Ade Adetimehin has assured all his party’s candidates at all levels of success in the coming elections just as he called on the people to rally round and ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and other contestants win their various seats to ensure more road construction and massive empowerment schemes

Image result for buhari ondo
Adetimehin made this known at the first anniversary of the Chairman of Agbajowo Timber Flitchers Association, Elder Babatunde Akinnaso.

At the ceremony held at the Palace of Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Adetimehin assured that the new road to link Odode Idanre to Akure which is under construction would be completed before the end of the year.

He announced that a comprehensive empowerment programme would be held at Idanre very soon.

The APC chairman assured all his party’s candidates at all levels of success in the coming elections just as he called on the people of Idanre to rally round and ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and other contestants win their various seats.

Image result for Mr Ade Adetimehin
Adetimehin who congratulated Akinnaso for being a good and visionary leader, charged him not to relent on the service delivery to his people.

High Chief Alex Ajike who gave kudos to the people of Idanre for the existing peace, commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for being the first Ondo State Governor to rub minds with flitchers and as a firm believer in providing level playing ground for all to legitimately ply their trades.

He revealed that fliching business has earned the state government over N200 million.
Image result for buhari ondo

Earlier, Akinnaso who listed some of the landmark achievements he has recorded, lauded the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who according to him, had given them uninterrupted approval on flitching in conformity with the law guiding its operations in Ondo State

We have taken cogent measures against kidnapping, says Akeredolu

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has assured the people of the state that his administration has taken cogent measures to permanently stop the unfortunate cases of kidnapping.
Governor Akeredolu said the state government is confronting the menance with every possible measures.
The Governor spoke at the 2018 Service of Carols and Lessons held at the International Culture and Event Center (DOME), Igbatoro road, Akure.
Governor Akeredolu said steps taken so far by his administration were to ensure that no kidnap case is recorded within the state again.
Speaking on the reason for the season, Governor Akeredolu urged the people to seek and embrace the Prince of Peace so as to know and enjoy peace in life and beyond.
Earlier, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle highlighted the advantages of the season.
According to him, the season of Christmas is a season to seek Jesus passionately and rejoice.
While charging the people to understand the reason for the season, the CAN President explained that one of advantages of the season is to worship God and give him praise.
The event was attended by the wife of the Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyawu Akeredolu, deputy governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Olarewaju Akeredolu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Gbenga Ale and other eminent personalities.

Troops nab cult leader in Ondo



Troops of 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena barracks in Ondo state in collaboration with other security agencies on Thursday arrested one Abiola Oseni aka Oje one, a gang leader of a notorious cult popularly known as Confraternity in Owo.

Oseni, who had been on the wanted list was arrested based on a tip off, was arrested by the soldiers operating under the recently launched Exercise Egwu Eke 111.

His gang and other cult groups have been terrorizing Owo community and its environs for a long time.

A statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Major Ojo Adenegan urged the public to continue with their support to the troops on information sharing through emergency numbers: 09030002161. 09030002151.

The first Ondo State security summit is set to begin on the 17th of January 2019.

Ondo FA crisis: No victor no vanquish – Akinwumi




The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday reinstated Mr Dele Ologbese as the vice Chairman of Ondo State chapter of the association.


This was part of the resolutions reached after a stakeholders meeting organised by the NFF to resolve the differences in the Ondo FA in Akure, the state Capital .


While speaking to the newsmen after the stakeholders meeting, the first NFF vice president Mr Seyi Akinwumi, said that as the Coordinator of football in the South-West, NFF statutes must be followed.

Akinwumi said, nobody can replace any elected member, “no elected member could not be brought into the board to act”, he reiterated.

Asked about the returned of Ologbese to the Board ! He said in the eyes of the law, he was never removed , that is why I took my time to explained what is in the status for them .

He described all the allegations levelled against Ologbese as baseless and needless, adding that they were not in any way for the FA to act on.

He said he was not on either side of the factions but had come with the Chairman of Chairmen, Mr Ibrahim Musa Gusau to move football forward in the state.

“The situation here is a no victor no vanquish”

The Dele Ajayi-led board had suspended Dele Ologbese and four other board members for different reasons in 2016.

The other suspended members are Zion Ogunfeyimi, Felix Ademulegun, Dotun Omoogun and Ajayi Ogidi and had all being returned by the NFF leadership.



The tussle between Ajayi and Ologbese was over the chairmanship of the association in the state.

Ajayi, had supported the Chris Giwa-led faction of the NFF, while Ologbese, who was elected the Vice-Chairman of the board but suspended by the Ajayi-led board, was recognised by the Amaju Pinick-led NFF.

“Thank you for coming for this resolution of issues, we are one football family, crisis will affect children, young footballers and young referees, coaches and all businesses around football will suffer.

“It is in our collective interest that we sort this matter out, you should at least sheath your swords for Ondo State football to move forward. As a coordinator of southwest football, I am not on the side of anybody, but on the side of football,” Akinwumi said.

Contributing, Chairman of Chairmen, Mr Ibrahim Musa Gusau ordered the FA in the state to as a matter of urgency conduct elections at the local government level of the association, before the state’s election.

Gusau noted that elections must be conducted into the board of the state’s FA before Feb. 28, saying, “no one will stay extra one-day in a position if elections were not conducted.”

We are not coming here to do anything for you during your elections, we will only come to observe your elections”, he said.

Ologbese during an interview with newsmen after the meeting, expressed his satisfaction, saying he was happy that the NFF’s leadership came to the state to resolve the perceived difference in the FA.

“I am very happy about this development, we are back as one indivisible family.

“I want to say that football is going to grow and develop in this state now.

“There is no way progress can be recorded in an atmosphere of crisis,” he said.

A board member ,Mr Fadoju Moses Ajayi said he is happy with the intervention of the NFF, which finally put an end to the lingering crisis in tg Ondo FA .

Present at the stakeholders meeting were; Ogun state FA Chairman and NFF Board member Mr Majekodunmi Ganiyu, ODSFA Chairman , Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi, former Ondo FA Chairman Mr Dele Ogungbemi, Mr Daodu Alex, Ondo FA Secretary and others .

Oshiomhole, Okorocha, Keyamo rebuff claims of APC govs’ beef with Buhari

Ahead of tomorrow’s flag-off of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign rallies, the President was, yesterday, locked in a strategy meeting with his Presidential Campaign Council. The absence of all 24 All Progressives Congress, APC, governors at the meeting, however, prompted mutterings of disharmony in the campaign.

The claims of muttering arose from President Buhari’s charge on the electorate not to re-elect any governor found to be owing salaries during the inauguration of the council last Monday.

That claim was, however, rebuffed by several APC operatives, including the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Rochas Okorocha, chairman of APC Governors Forum, APC national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu and APC presidential campaign spokesman, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN. Yesterday’s meeting of APC presidential campaign council was graced by Buhari, the co-chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Director-General, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and other officials of the council.

The meeting was called to strategise on operations for the APC presidential rallies flagging off tomorrow in Bauchi. Speaking at the meeting yesterday, President Buhari charged those who were present to uphold the virtues of the party as he said there was no political challenge that they cannot conquer.

“You are the cream of the party, and I assure you that with unity of purpose and effective harmony and communication, there is no political opponent you cannot overcome,” he said before the meeting went into closed doors. A senior campaign official present at the meeting told Vanguard, yesterday, that Buhari would attend the rallies in all 36 states beginning with the one in Bauchi tomorrow. However, particularly missing at the meeting were all 24 governors of the party who are members of the council and at the same time state coordinators of the Buhari campaign.

However, that insinuation was pooh-poohed, yesterday, by the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole who said the governors stayed back in their states to attend to governance issues. He said: “Don’t forget that elections are not defined in Abuja, it will take place in the 36 states, and I am sure there are APC members who are campaigning for the House of Assembly, various federal House and Senate constituencies, governorship constituencies.

“The achievements of Mr. President are all there for people to see and I think the entire country is quite excited quite unlike our colleagues in the PDP who do not seem to have anything except to criticize, attempt to run campaigns of calumny and false accusations against us in the APC.

“Today (Thursday) we are meeting to restrategize and conclude, dot the ‘i’s and cross the ‘t’s in the campaign structure so that we can come out with not just a formidable campaigns across the country but also sensitive our people in terms of voter education, we are ready for it.”

NO GOVERNMENT MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN, PRESIDENT BUHARI SAYS

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja reiterated his commitment to eliminate corruption in campaign financing in the country, pledging that he will not authorise the use of any money from the treasury for his re-election campaign.

Speaking at the close of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari directed cabinet ministers to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in next month’s general elections.

“As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and corner of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.

“Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government.

‘‘There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorize that,” he said.

President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

‘‘This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.

‘‘Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics,’’ he said.

The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish the minister success in her electoral contest.

The Minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.

Kidnapping/insecurity: Law against night, underage grazing coming in Ondo

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Wednesday adopted a new strategy aimed at tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities allegedly associated with the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

He asked members of the association to stop night and underage grazing in all parts of the state.

The governor, therefore, asked the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kola Olawoye, SAN, to work on the legislation that would back the order stopping the night and underage grazing.

Part of the law, Akeredolu said, would accommodate the issue of compensation of items or farm products destroyed or plundered by either cattle breeders or farmers.

According to the governor, underage are likely not to differentiate between maize plantation and grasses and thus grazing their cattle on the former.

Akeredolu spoke during a meeting with members of the cattle breeders association led by its national chairman, Alhaji Kirowa Mohammadu, at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.

This is just as the Brigade Commander of 32 Artillery, Akure, Bridgadier General James Ataguba, confirmed the arrest of no fewer than four suspected kidnappers in Owo area of the state.

Ataguba, who was furious at the meeting over the alleged nefarious activities of herdsmen in the state, warned their leaders to either fish the suspects out or face the consequences of their perceived aide and abetting.

“You know the criminal elements among you. So, you are duty bound to fish them out,” he said.

It will be recalled that no fewer than five persons, including a lecturer with the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic , Owo, have been kidnapped recently. The lecturer was also killed by his abductors.

Akeredolu, however, challenged the leaders of the association to assist the security agencies to arrest suspected criminals among them.

He added that the bio-metric data of all herdsmen in the state would be taken for peaceful co-existence and easy identification.

The meeting ended with a committed formed among the leaders of the association to monitor the activities and their members and thus report the suspects among them to the security agencies.

� Blessed Michael

Mrs Adeyemi charges civil servants on effective service delivery

Civil servants in Ondo State have been charged to rededicate themselves to duties in the new year for effective service delivery.

The Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Titi Adeyemi gave the charge yesterday during the new year prayer meeting of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, held at its Babafunke Ajasin auditorium, Akure.

The SSA who said hardwork is key to achieving success in life, enjoined the workers to continue to support the programmes of the ministry and that of the wife of the state governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu which she said are all geared towards the development of women, girl-child ,children, and the vulnerable in the state.


“The ministry was earlier known as Women Affairs Commission ,wives of former governors played a key role and unanimously canvassed for the creation of the ministries across the federation in order to strengthen its programmes.

“It is therefore imperative for workers of the ministry to at all times support programmes of the first lady which is aimed at achieving a common goal, she stressed.

While describing prayer as a weapon given to people by God to overcome challenges and equally breakthrough, she prayed that the ministry will move to the next level this year.

Workers of the ministry who had earlier prayed for Nigeria, the state and the ministry promised to redouble their efforts this year to achieve the set objective.


Source: https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/mrs-adeyemi-charges-civil-servants-on-effective-service-delivery/

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promise to Igbos by completing the Zik’s Mausoleum.


The Governor made the claim when he visited the Mausoleum to inspect works at the site, on Tuesday afternoon.

“President Buhari is determined to keep to his vows. The Zik’s Mausoleum is important to us. It is an honour to Zik of Africa, who played major roles in re-shaping the nation.


“The project started 23 years ago.
We thank President Buhari for keeping to his words,’’ Gov Obiano said.

The Zik’s Mausoleum is situated at Onitsha, Anambra State at the home of the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and popularly referred to as the resting place of the sage.

While inspecting the the site, Obiano stated that previous administrations had abandoned the project, but the present administration led by President Buhari vowed to deliver every project that would benefit the South East.


He urged the contractor handling the project to speed up the procurement of necessary facilities for the library section.

Obiano noted that President Buhari would be in Anambra in a few weeks time to inaugurate the project.

Recall that minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola had in December also inspected work on the project, while stating that the Federal Government would also equip and furnish the mausoleum.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE INAUGURATION OF A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ON WEDNESDAY, 9TH JANUARY 2019 AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA

Protocols:

The last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011. It is therefore evident that a review is necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges. This is why I constituted the Tripartite Committee of Government, Organized Private Sector and Labour to consider the National Minimum Wage and make recommendations to Government for its upward review.

2. That Committee has since submitted its report with some recommendations. We are currently working on the final steps that will lead to the submission of a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly.

3. I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.

4. Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a National Minimum Wage is in the Exclusive Legislative List, we have been meeting with the State Governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the State Governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.

5. This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.

6. As you know we, at the Federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the Minimum Wage in our 2019 Budget proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly. Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.

7. However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

8. We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of Capital Expenditure, Public Debt, Inflation, Employment, etc. It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

9. It is against this background that I have set up a Technical Committee to advise Government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.

10. The Technical Committee being inaugurated today will be chaired by an Economist and Financial Expert, Mr. Bismarck Rewane. Other members of the Committee are experienced economists and administrators from the private sector working together with all the relevant officials in the Government.

11. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are:

a. To develop, and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases;

b. Identify new revenue sources, as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan;

c. Propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases;

d. Any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.

12. Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month today.

13. It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the National Minimum Wage.

14. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

https://www.citadelng.com