News
Oyo declares war on potholes
THE Oyo State Government on Wednesday declared Zero tolerance for potholes across the state, noting that it wants to maximize this dry season to maintain its roads not minding whether it is trunk A, B or C.
Also, the government has appealed to the citizens to bear the discomfort when plying the roads currently being rehabilitated, assuring that the maintenance will be of high quality and it will be completed in due course as the staff of the state Public Works Department work day and night everyday including weekends.
Mr. Gbenga Akintola who is the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Infrastructure made the disclosure during a media briefing in Ibadan at the film Theatre, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, explaining that trunk A roads are Federal roads, Trunk B are state roads while Trunk C Are local roads.
The governor’s aide informed that the State Public Works department is carrying out routine maintenance on Command-Apata-Odo Ona-Dugbe-Mokola-Sango-UI-Ojoo-Moniya Road networks.
He added that other road networks undergoing maintenance include Molete-OkeAdo-OkeBola-Dugbe-Ekotedo Queen Cinema, Mokola-UCH-Gate with spur to parliament road, Secretariat-UI with spur to Government house, Custom, Awolowo, Osuntokun, Mary hill and Challenge -Molete-Beere-Oje-Gate Roads.
The Special Adviser hinted that the department has completed the routine maintenance of Asphaltic Improvement of Beere-Oranyan-Orita Aperin road; Asphaltic Rehabilitation of Ogbomoso High School – Baptist High School Road (Phase I); Reconstruction of failed existing double 3m x 3m x 11m Box culvert on Akoko stream along Ilero-Iganna Road and Provision of informatory Traffic Signs around the State High Court at Ring Road and Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Others are Asphaltic Rehabilitation of Oroki – Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo (Phase I); Asphaltic Rehabilitation and underpinning of eroded concrete base of existing culvert outlet near Heritage Bank Iyana Church and Oyeniyan B/Stop along Iwo Road, Olodo Road; Asphaltic rehabilitation of Ariyo Box culvert Approaches, Olorunsogo/Akanran road, Ibadan and Asphaltic Rehabilitation of Idi Arere-Popo Yemoja-Oke Ado with spur to Bode Market.
The completed road networks also included Asphaltic Improvement of Iyaganku – N.T.C Road; Asphaltic Improvement of Eleta – Odinjo-Muslim Overhead Bridge; Repair/Reinstatement of vandalised Steel Barricade under Mokola Flyover at Mokola, Ibadan; Asphaltic Construction of Ologuneru Junction – Abanla – Alafara Junction and Asphaltic Rehabilitation of Oje Ibadan – Mobil, Yemetu Junction with spur to Adeoyo Hospitral, Yemetu Road among others.
Akintola, however appealed to the citizens to bear the discomfort associated with the routine road maintenance, assuring that the department is working assiduously to ensure that the maintenances are completed in due course.
“We are very strategic about our work and we have injected feedback mechanisms. We get enquiry and treat same with the utmost urgency the enquiry might require. We are on the road to make our roads better and we know there will be discomfort during this period but the discomfort is time bound.
“We want to maximize this dry season to cover a lot of grounds and the routine maintenance will be carried out across the state. Where we cannot engage in routine maintenance, we might resolve to palliative measures. We appeal to our citizens to bear with us and get it touch with us in case our attention is needed,” he urged.
News
Ford Trims Workforce: 4,000 Jobs to Go in Europe
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.
News
Tinubu Dissolves UNIZIK Council, Sacks VC, Registrar, Otukpo Pro-Chancellor
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.
News
Ekiti Workers to Earn N70,000 Minimum Wage as Govt Signs MoU with Unions
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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