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Executive Recklessness : Oyo Assembly Orders Arrest of un-screened LG Chairmen.
•Summon SSG, Perm Sec, Ministry of LG and Chieftaincy Matters.
THE Oyo State House of Assembly has ordered the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Asabari Local Council Development Area, Irepo Local Government Area and Lagelu West Local Council Development Area respectively to arrest and detain anyone parading himself as caretaker chairman for these council areas.
The House gave the order following a point of order raised by Hon. Gbenga Oyekola from Atiba State Constituency who drew the attention of the lawmakers to the imminent risk on the inauguration of two (2) rejected nominees and substitution of the screneed nominee for Lagelu West LCDA.
Oyekola who called the attention of his colleagues to some reports in the online media noted that, the house screened 55 nominees but the executive arm led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi went ahead to inuagurate 57 nominees by not taking into consideration of the two nominees who had earlier been dropped for the positions by the house.
The lawmaker further disclosed that there is looming crisis in Lagelu West LCDA over who is the legitimate chairman because the person who was screened has been swapped with another person without the consent of the house.
Oyekola recalled, “the house screened 55 nominees and rejected two, but to my utmost dismay the two were swear-in.
“Also, we screened Akeem Aransi for Lagelu West LCDA but unfortunately another person was swore-in and assumed office. On that note I want the house to produce the copy of the letter we sent to the executive. We sent the name to the executive and they received it”.
Refreshing your memory, the State House of Assembly, had last week dropped Mudasir Agbaje (Irepo LGA) and Taiwo Adeleke (Asabari LCDA) for issues of certificate and poor performance at the screening exercise.
Similarly, other lawmakers who spoke include Hon. Olusegun Olaleye (Ibadan North 2), Hon. Olawumi Oladeji and Hon. Muideen Olagunju, all condemned the action of the executive arm describing it as “illegality”.
Responding, the Speaker of the house, Hon. Micheal Adeyemo at the plenary asserted, “the issue raised has come to the knowledge of the house and actions would be taken on it to invite the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs. We cant say yes or not.
“We have the right to screen, we don’t nominate, the fault is not from us”.
Adeyemo, also read a letter from the Governor dated 6th April 2017 notifying the house on the replacement of Akeem Aransi for Abiodun Oladeji. He said the letter was received last week but could not be read because it was received during plenary days.
The Speaker, however ordered the DPOs in charge of these areas to arrest those parading themselves as the chairmen in these areas to the Commissioner of Police in the state to prevent outbreak of law and order in the areas.
He then seeked the attention of the lawmakers to summon the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli and the Permanet Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Mrs. Hanna Ogunesan for questioning over the abnormalities.
Adeyemo stressed that the SSG who is in charge of the state correspondences and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry should be called to answer the questions bothering on the swearing in of the rejected nominees and the substitution of names.
“Anybody that is parading himself as Chairman for Asabari LCDA, Irepo LGA and Lagelu West LCDA shoud be arrested. The two, Asabari and Irepo, there is no chairman there. On the issue of Lagelu, the person that was swore-in but not screened should also be arrested and the man that was screened but was not inagurate should stop parading himself as the chairman, doing so he should be arrested.
“We as the legistlative arm, we have to uphold the principle of rule of law. Members have said their own, we have to invite and get across to others”, the Speaker reechoed.
Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Josuha Oyebamiji while briefing journalists after the plenary session said that the order takes effect immediatly.
“We screened 55 people but to our dismay, the two people we rejected were also swore-in. At Lagelu, the candidate we screened was replaced by another person. And the house resolved that those people for the 3 councils should stop parading themselves until the committee we set up come up with their report.
“We said that DPOs in those areas should arrest them and hand them over to the Commissioner of Police.
“The Committee will find out who and those who caused it, you can fell the heat in the house today.
Similarly , Oyebamiji said “The person has been swore-in before screening. It is a belated issue. The house has passed the letter to the committee. But there is no Chairman in these 3 councils”.
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has extended warm felicitations to Barrister Sarafadeen Ali, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district, on the occasion of his 61st birthday.
In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Saturday, Akande lauded the lawmaker, describing him as a luminary whose life has been marked by distinguished service to the nation.
“Today, I join the world in celebrating you on your special day, as you mark 61 years of God’s abundant love and glorious impact on humanity,” the former NCC gaffer expressed.
He added, “I wish you many more years of God’s grace in your life.”
The headquarters of Heritage Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos, was besieged on Thursday by members of the labour union, protesting the recent dismissal of 1,000 support workers.
The National President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, led the demonstration, condemning the bank’s management for what he deemed a lack of adherence to due process in the termination of employment contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Abakpa asserted that the leadership of Heritage Bank failed to follow established protocols before executing the mass layoffs.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to pursuing justice for the affected workers, vowing to escalate their demands until the bank’s management rectifies the situation.
“We will intensify our demands for justice,” declared Comrade Abakpa, urging the bank’s management to take corrective action to address the grievances of the dismissed workers.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, clarified that Nigeria is not utilising its foreign reserves to bolster the naira, despite recent fluctuations in reserve levels.
Speaking from Washington DC, where he is attending the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings, Cardoso highlighted the influx of $600 million into Nigeria’s reserves account within the past two days.
While the naira has experienced a notable appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks, climbing over 40% from approximately N1,900/$ to about N1,000/$1, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been dwindling. As of April 15, reserves dropped to approximately $32.29 billion, marking the lowest level in over six years.
Cardoso emphasised that the shifts in reserves are typical for any country, where various financial obligations, such as debt repayments, necessitate withdrawals.
He stated, “What you’ve seen with respect to the shift in our reserves is normal in any country’s reserves where, for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made. They are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility.”
Continuing, Cardoso underscored the dynamic nature of the market, advocating for a system driven by willing buyers, willing sellers, and price discovery.
He emphasised, “The shift in our reserves has really little or nothing to do with defending the naira, and that is certainly not our objective.”
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