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Exclusive: Makinde rejects 2021 budget jerked up to N273.7b by Oyo Assembly
Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has withhold his signature from a N273.7billion increased budget recently sent to him by the Oyo State House of Assembly while he considers its effect on the state, Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered.
Mega Icon Magazine, reliably gathered that Governor Makinde , who expressed serious reservation over the whooping sum of N273.7billion, also expressed displeasure over the development, discribing it as outrageous and unacceptable.
Mega Icon Magazine checks revealed that the proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year, tagged: “Budget of Continued Consolidation,” which was a total of N266.6billion when presented recently by Governor Makinde was increased to the tune of N273.7 Billion by the States’ lawmakers.
Further checks also unearthed that the House of Assembly approved and passed the sum of N273.7billion, late night on Tuesday.
It was also gathered that the Chairman of the state Assembly Committee on Public account, finance and Appropriation, Hon. Akeem Mustapha, informed that the ammendment proposed that the sum of over N136billion was replaced with the sum of over N137billion for total recurrent expenditure.
While the Amendment proposed of over N130.3 billion was replaced with over N136.1 billion for total capital expenditures.
Justifying its claims, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, while speaking with journalists after the Tuesday’s plenary, noted that the recurrent and capital expenditure are so close because the State desire more infrastructural development in 2021.
According to the Speaker, “We pledged our renewed commitment to thoroughly scrutinize the bill and give it accelerated passage, when it was brought to us by the executive and we have done just that.
“We often stop at this. We will always ensure and promote budget performance through our constitutional oversight functions, because we cannot afford disappointing the good people of Oyo State”, he added.
Meanwhile, Mega Icon Magazine took up a legal luminary, Asiwaju Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo on this development.
The former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Ojo averred that it is within their powers (the lawmakers) to reduce or increase or leave the proposed budget as it is.
“The power of appropriation lies with the parliament as they are the representatives of the people”, Ojo said.
However, this development sounds like a litmus test for the lawmakers. The lawmakers are expected, again to review and re-pass the budget before proceeding on recess as directed by Governor Seyi Makinde, sources revealed.
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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