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Oyo Speaker Inaugurates Youth Parliament
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo Wednesday inaugurated the 3rd Assembly of the Oyo State Youth Parliament.
According to Speaker, the effort is meant to encourage the youths in the decision making process in the state.
The inauguration ceremony which took place at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan had many youths across the state in attendance.
In his welcome address, Olagunju said based on the provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, role of the youths in the decision making process, support of government’s policies as well as promotion of people-oriented and good governance can not be over emphasized.
He described the parliament as a powerful institution that champions the course of the people, adding that Youth Parliament is a replica of the representative function of the House of Assembly members in the state, where interests and demands of the constituents are canvassed and debated.
While commending the initiative of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development for keying into youth’s development policy, Hon Olagunju stressed that youths, having bulk of total population in the country must always be at the fore front in engaging political leaders on critical issues of national interest.
The Speaker, who was accompanied to the occasion by the Minority Leader of the House, Honourable Akeem Ige and the Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports, Honourable Fatai Adesina enjoined the newly inaugurated parliamentarians to be good ambassadors of the state by always promoting the pace setter status which the state is known for in all their engagements.
He also implored the youths to shun every unethical behavior such as thugerry as witnessed in the recently concluded general elections, where issues of electoral violence such as ballot boxes snatching and other electoral vices were perpetrated by the youths.
In his message at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barrister Abayomi Oke who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Youth and Sports, Mr Afeez Bolaji disclosed that the present administration led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi has in the last eight years given proper recognition to the youth as principal stakeholders and foremost drivers of the nation’s growth and development.
He pointed out programmes like Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O), Oyo Ajumose Business Leadership and Entrepreneur (Oyo-Able) Scheme, OYO NISE, OYO LEKO as major strategic and systematic youth empowerment programmes embarked upon by the state government to ensure that youths are sufficiently equipped to compete with their counterparts at the larger World.
He commended the Federal Government initiative for approving the laudable youth programmes which enabled them the opportunity to contribute their quotas in the decision making process both at the State and Federal levels.
During the first plenary of the newly inaugurated Youth Parliament, two Principal Officers were elected to be in charge of the newly inaugurated parliament.
The two Principal Officers are Honourable Adegoke Abayomi from Ogbomoso South State Constituency who was elected as the Honourable Speaker while Honourable Taoheed Adebayo from Irepo State Constituency was elected as the Honourable Deputy Speaker.
The two Principal Officers and other thirty Parliamentarians were later sworn-in by the imaginary Clerk of the Youth Parliament.
The thirty two members of the Oyo State Youth Parliament who were selected from the thirty three Local Government Areas of the state are between the ages of 15 and 35 years old while the new Speaker is an Electrical Engineering Graduate of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
Among important dignitaries that graced the colourful ceremony are the Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Alhaja Iswat Ameringun,the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Alhaja Ololade Agboola as well as the Acting Clerk and Permanent Secretary, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs Foluke Oyediran.
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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