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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”.
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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