Politics
Oyo: Democratically elected LGs will emerge in 2020 – Makinde declares
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Tuesday declared that he was set to institutionalise the democratically elected local government system at the grassroots in line with the dictates of 1999 Constitution, adding that his government would turn local governments to real centres of development.
The governor stated this while inaugurating the boards of the Local Government Commission, the Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB).
Makinde noted that to institutionalise democratically elected Government at the grassroots, his government would conduct free, fair and credible local government elections in 2020.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as saying that, “the Local Government Service Commission is to drive our bid to turn the councils to real centres of development, rather than glorified power centres they have been turned to in the years past.
“In line with the dictates of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), we are determined to institutionalise democratic governance at the grassroots levels, using the imminent local government election in 2020 as a test case.”
Governor Makinde also informed that his administration was determined to ensure the quick and positive turnaround in the state’s education sector through its free education policy.
According to the state gaffer, “Our aim is to ensure that our students restore the lost glory of education in Oyo State and make our schools the envy of our neighbours and others across the country. We are set to reverse the poor records of our schools in public examinations especially the WAEC, NECO, and JAMB, something that has given us huge heartaches in recent years. With me at the helm of affairs in this state, you can be assured the
state of education here will improve.”
He also said that the state would focus on infrastructure of the schools in view of the influx from private schools due to the free education policy of the state.
“There is no doubting the fact that the three commissions hit directly at the people, whom we crave to serve diligently. Education is one of
the four key pillars of our service delivery agenda and you will agree with me that action or inaction of TESCOM and SUBEB have implications for our successes in the area of Education, where we have since declared a free and qualitative education policy”, he added.
The Governor assured that his administration will continue to provide qualitative and free education to the people of the State so as to liberate them from poverty and make them be self-reliance.
“I have stated it elsewhere that there is no going back on our policy of free and qualitative education. We have no reason to look back on this policy because as I have stated before now, education is a sure way to liberate people from poverty and lack. By giving education to our younger ones, we are not just giving them the fish, we are teaching them how to fish by themselves.
“As you will soon be confronted, the schools are in need of more teachers and more infrastructure. I have given the nod for the recruitment of more teachers and we are distributing thousands of chairs in the schools already”, the governor submitted.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.
In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.
Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.
The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.
“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.
“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”
The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.
“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.
The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.
“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.
The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.
Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.
The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.
The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.
The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.
Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.
Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.
He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.
In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.
While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.
The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.
The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.
The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.
All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.
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