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Makinde’s frequent faceoff with FG, federal institutions, bad for Oyo, APC warns
The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has called on relevant stakeholders in the state to call Governor Seyi Makinde to order over his alleged penchant for engaging the federal government, its agencies and officials in needless face offs as it has been the case in the last twelve months.
Oyo APC’s warning may have come against the backdrop of some reported cases of altercation between Makinde-led administration and the Presidency as well as officials and institutions of the federal government under the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari which the opposition party in the state claimed was becoming worrisome.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, Oyo APC regretted that Gov. Makinde has never shied away from “open display of his naivety on the issues of good governance as well as the need to establish and sustain synergy with other tiers of government with a view to attracting opportunities to the state for the sake of indigenous and resident population.
“It is inconceivable that a young governor like Engr. Makinde could hold the esteemed Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so lowly that he hardly exchange communication with the Presidency over many matters of importance. When the Oyo state governor is not calling out the person of Mr. President, he must have someone in the Presidency to ridicule all in the name of belonging to the PDP and not the APC.
“Empirically, the only agencies of the federal government in the good book of Gov. Makinde are perhaps INEC and the Ministry of Finance for obvious reasons. The whole mess started on his inauguration day when the governor called the bluff of the Supreme Court and went against a celebrated verdict which restrains state helmsmen and the Houses of Assembly from dissolving elected local government officials.
“Gov. Makinde later followed it up when he brazenly discountenanced the letters drawing his attention to the violation of the Apex Court verdict written to him by the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice as well as the Inspector-General of Police at different occasions. With this kind of reckless display of disrespect to constituted authorities, he (Makinde) convinced the whole of the stuff he was made of and up till today, he would not allow democratically elected officials to function at the local government level in the state.
“As if this was not enough, the same governor took the Constitutionally revered Justices of the Appellate Court to the cleaners during a live radio and television interview last year when he claimed a verdict they against him, on account of his gubernatorial mandate, was influenced by interested parties he did not mention. Another issues was that of his cold war with the federal Ministry of Works over plans to duplicate efforts on the reconstruction of the Iwo Road, Ibadan interchange at a whopping cost of N8 billion without any engineering design.
“Recently, news filtered in that the governor was ready for a battle with the Nigerian Railway Corporation over issues of rights to some landed properties in Samonda, Bodija and parts of Ibadan at a time tongues were still wagging on the controversies surrounding the donation of 1,800 bags of rice by the Nigerian Customs Service and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Abuja to serve as palliative to the masses of the state in view the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Oyo state government is not ready to come clean on its management of the Coronavirus pandemic as the present administration has not demonstrated basic understanding of the danger locking around the corner. Rather than cooperate with the federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan among others to stem the tide of the virus in the state, Gov. Makinde is more interested in unnecessary muscle flexing and this is quite unfortunate as the trend, if not checked, would literarily remove our dear from the national map with dire consequences, ” APC stated.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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