News

Makinde approves hazard allowance for traffic officers

Published

2 months ago

July 30, 2024

Admin

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday, approved hazard allowance for personnel of the State Road Traffic Management Authority, with effect from Thursday, August 1, 2024.

He stated this during the passing-out parade of the 500 newly recruited OYRTMA officers/men and the inauguration of its marshals, held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iseyin.

The governor also inaugurated the Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; two permanent secretaries, G.O Oyedele, General Administration and Akeem Salami of Cabinet and Special Services and 47 others as Marshals.

The step, according to the governor, would enable the personnel to contribute their quota to the development of the state through diligent and dedicated service.

“On our part as an administration, we will continue to prioritise your welfare as we have always done for all our workers since we assumed office in 2019.

“You asked for hazard allowance and I agree with you that you face quite a lot of hazards. The work we have asked you to do is fraught with a lot of hazards. So, your hazard allowance is approved and will be effective August 1, 2024. I want to wish you well and thank you for the work you are doing for our state,” he said.

The governor, therefore, charged them not to misplace their priorities or focus on enriching themselves unjustly.

He also charged the new OYRTMA Marshals to work effectively and with absolute commitment.

“We are here today at the passing-out parade of 500 newly recruited OYRTMA officers. Our presence here indicates how important this exercise is to our administration.

“So, this recruitment is to strengthen the capacity of OYRTMA, because when the agency is strengthened, the rule of law in the state is strengthened.

“We want a state where all laws will be obeyed, especially traffic laws. To achieve this, we need to sensitise our people and enforce the laws. To sensitise our people, we formed the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development. They will be going round to let our people understand the law,” he added.

The governor thanked officers and men of the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, for collaborating with OYRTMA in training the new personnel.

Earlier, the state OYRTMA Chairman, Maj Adekoya Adesagba (retd), who appreciated the governor for his support, said, “The recruitment process was rigorous and thorough, designed to ensure that only the most qualified and capable individuals joined our ranks.”

At the event were former deputy governors of the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi and Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker, House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by the member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju Constituency, Dele Adeola; former Speaker of state Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu; Chief Judge, Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice E.A. Taiwo; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi and the Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni.

Also in attendance were a former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, represented by High Chief Omotoso Olubiyi, service commanders and other dignitaries.

News

Ecoparl: Speaker Ibrahima Reaffirms Parliament’s Dedication to Regional Unity

Published

4 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Honourable Memounatou Ibrahima, restated that the parliament remains committed to ensuring the unity and integration of the people within the subregion.

According to Speaker Ibrahima, the Parliament will continue to use parliamentary diplomacy to engage countries that are considering leaving the bloc due to political challenges, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as a result of military coups they experienced.

The Speaker stated this when she led a delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament on a working visit to the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday in Abuja.

She highlighted that while countries may break formal cooperation, the people of the region remain interconnected, adding that the Parliament, as representatives of these people, will work to maintain the unity.

Ibrahima expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Senate for supporting ECOWAS by providing necessary facilities for their plenary sessions, even as she discussed the socio-political challenges facing the region, as well as how parliamentarians can contribute more to address these issues.

She said: “We strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, because we know that the countries might break cooperation but we cannot separate the population. The population always live together and we as representatives of the people, we are doing our best so that this living together will continue to be reality and even made better.

“We came to thank him for all the facilities that the senate has been providing to the ECOWAS Parliament to facilitate the holding of our sessions here in Abuja. We also discussed on the socio-political situation in the community. We also discussed on the ways parliamentarians can make more contributions on the various issues and the challenges that we are experiencing in ECOWAS”.

The President of the Senate,

Senator Akpabio, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Barau Jubril, commended Ibrahima’s leadership and her efforts in using parliamentary diplomacy to foster cooperation within ECOWAS, especially in light of the challenges posed by countries considering an exit from the bloc.

He noted that since Speaker Meimounatou assumed office, she has deployed enormous parliamentary diplomacy to bear not only on the level of cooperation with institutions in the region but also on those that have expressed the wish to quit the regional block.

Naijablitznews.com reports that Senator Jubril is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

He said: “Since she was elected the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, she has been up and doing in terms of giving leadership to the parliament. It is in that regard that she is here trying to chart a better course for the parliament to make sure that she brings parliamentary diplomacy to bear in terms of our cooperation not only with those who are within the community as we speak but also even those who are attempting to leave the community.

“It is in that respect that she is here, and what she is doing is commendable. She has come to strengthen her idea and initiative of making the parliament stronger and more effective”.

News

Air Force Begins Moving Electoral Materials For Edo Guber Election

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.

The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.

This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.

Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.

The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.

Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.

“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.

News

“Dancing gives me abundant joy and peace of mind”-Gov Adeleke

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.

The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.

An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.

Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”

Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.

Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.

Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.

He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”