Oyo Renaissance Forum – a Socio-cultural group in Oyo State, has advanced reasons why Ibadan Mogajis, Baales, market men and women, Chiefs, and others are happy with Governor Seyi Makinde over a planned move to reform the Oyo State Chiefs Law.

They believed that once the bill becomes law, it would allow for the wearing of beaded crowns by Senior chiefs in the State especially Olubadan In-Council and some notable Baales of ancient towns and villages.

The Convener of the group, Chief Adeola Areago, an Ibadan indigene, historian, and scholar, based in the United Kingdom applauded the move by the State Governor, saying the move was long overdue.

Areago in a statement on Monday made available to reporters via electronic mail, noted that the news of the planned review of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State is already being lauded by all stakeholders including Mogajis in Ibadan, Baales, traders, and others.

‘As a potential beneficiary including other Mogajis, Senior Chiefs, and Olubadan-in-Council members, everybody is happy with the Governor. The planned review of the law to allow for the wearing of beaded crowns by several qualified chiefs shows the Governor of the State as a responsible and responsive leader committed to ensuring a better Oyo State and Ibadan in particular.

‘Many of our senior citizens; the elites whose legendary Baales in ancient communities deserve beaded crowns to become more respected in the comity of other monarchs across the State, are also happy with His Excellency.

‘The State lawmakers should also be commended for their move to fast track the passage of this bill. Their names would be etched out in history alongside His Excellency for making the long-awaited dream a reality.’

He said the government must show more commitment to the executive bill on the matter currently before the State House of Assembly and ensure timely passage of the same to make the long-awaited reform of the State Chiefs Law a reality.

‘ I have seen various statements supporting the proposed amendment of Chiefs law by the Governor. This is highly commendable.

‘The governor should go ahead with his action for now. He should ignore critics. It is normal. Once it becomes law. Law is Supreme. And everybody would just have to re-adjust to the new reality in Ibadan and Oyo State in general.

‘It is therefore a thing of joy that the new law would give the Governor the power to be the prescribing authority on all chieftaincy matters.

“Not only that,” another source who is in the known of Obaship issues, explained, “this bill if passed into law, empowers the Governor as the sole appointing authority for Obas and Chiefs without any recourse to the Council of Obas – thereby removing all checks and balances.

Mega Icon Magazine recalled that the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo disclosed that many of the requests to the state governor by traditional leaders known as Baales to wear beaded crowns at different domains across the state have remained pending for so long because of the inability of the council of Chiefs to meet.

He explained that the absence of the state Council of Chiefs which ought to interface with the governor before granting approvals for such requests has not also been able to sit for necessary deliberation over a long period.

The Attorney General added that these factors necessitated the proposal by the state executive council headed by Governor Makinde to amend section 28 of Oyo State Chiefs Law to further improve the process.

He said, the proposed amendment, when fully effective, will empower the state Governor as the sole authority without consultations with the Chiefs to grant approvals for the wearing of beaded crowns.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while shedding more light on the proposed amendment bill said, “The state executive council deliberated on section 28 subsection 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo state.

“The law as it is today is that the Governor can only approve an application for the beaded crown after consultations with the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs but we all know that Council has not met for a very long time now and we have a lot of applications for approval of beaded crowns.

“So, that section 28 of the law has now been amended to give the governor sole authority to approve an application for the beaded crown in Oyo state without consultations.”

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Also, the government stated that the annual collection of tax, especially among traders, markets and artisans takes immediate effect.

The government made the disclosure, on Tuesday through the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Internal Revenue Service, Aremo John Adeleke during a sensitisation tour and meeting of market leaders from 14 major markets across Ibadan at the Ogunpa market, Ibadan North West Local Government, Ogunpa, Ibadan.

Some of the markets whose leaders were present at the meeting include, Eleyele, Ifeleyele market, Dugbe market, Agbaje market amongst others.

Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, Adeleke said the meeting is imperative in view of the need to encourage traders, artisans, shop owners, market men and women, among others to continue to be awake to their civic responsibilities as a way of supporting the government.

Represented by the Director of Other Taxes, Mr Idowu Alao, the OYSIRS boss said the government has refused to increase the tax payable by the traders, market men and women, artisans, shop owners and all others operating in the informal sector because of its understanding of the current economic situation in the country.

He assured the traders that the government is doing a lot to ensure business prosperity and economic development in the state, noting that in no long time, the effects will translate to improved sales which will be felt by the traders.

In her brief remarks while educating the traders on the new modalities being deployed for the new tax collection regime, the state tax manager in charge of informal sector, Mrs Yetunde Awotona said the state government has not collected any tax from the traders since January, but have now perfected a means of well coordinated approach through the use of tax agents with the aid of tax collection application pre-installed on their mobile phones.

She explained that, the traders and people in the informal sector have been cooperative over the years in the payment of the taxes but that the OYSIRS deemed it fit to embark on the approach as a means of strengthening the bond of cooperation between the government and the operators in the informal sector.

Awotona added that the new modality would also entail the use of tax agent offices located inside the various markets across the state to make tax payment easier and more convenient for the traders.

She assured the traders that the technological innovations was introduced into the collection as an improvement on the initial complains of the people and have a better coordinated and seamless approach to ensure that all tax paid gets to government coffers.

In their separate remarks during the meeting, the traders appealed to Governor Makinde to give them a tax waiver for the remaining months of the current year.

They. however assured the government of their cooperation and support in the payment of taxes and environmental management.

Highpoint of the meeting was the display of the Point of Sales (POS) machines and other equipment that would be deployed for tax collection through the use of ATM cards

The traders also used the opportunity of the meeting to ask various questions to which the officials of the revenue service provided satisfactory responses.

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The State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Hon. Adebisi Adeniyi made this disclosure on Thursday when he visited these business complexes in his move to familiarize himself with the stakeholders and know their needs to improve the business environment.

Adebisi reiterated the readiness of the present administration to make the business environment conducive for the users and general public.

“We are here to see to the areas where government intervention is still needed. We have done so much within little period and we can still do many more, but with your cooperation. You have to pay your rents and other fees due to government for us to achieve our aim of providing you the best business environment with standard that will make you proud.

“It is in your interest to take care of the environment as you would be seen by your customer, the way you present yourself. Help the government to help you and the entire State grow our commerce and trade.”

The market leaders in the business complexes appreciated the government for what they called its uncommon stride to take the people out of poverty by providing good atmosphere for business to grow.

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No fewer than  one hundred shops with goods stored in them were destroyed beyond recognition.

Confirming the ugly incident, the Chairman of the Motor Spare Parts Association, Uwelu branch, Ibie Osaretin, said they got the fire alert around 11:00 pm on Monday.

Osaretin,  also disclosed that they were unable to salvage the situation early enough to recover goods from these shops.

He, however  appealed to the government and relevant bodies to come to the aid of the traders so that they can recover their loss and return to business.

Also reacting, the Vice-Chairman of the Egor Local Government Area where the market is situated assured the traders that the government would intervene in their predicament.

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Another batch of traders in Bodija and Oje markets of the city were also captured by the government to grow their socioeconomic activities across Nigeria as the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday led the government’s delegation to the two markets, where traders trooped out enmasse to appreciate the initiative.

In an interview with journalists, Monsurat Ajadi, a pepper seller in Bodija market who hailed the initiative described it as a laudable development. She disclosed that her family had been praying that she was chosen among the latest beneficiaries.

Also, another beneficiary, Mrs Romoke Aweni who promised to make judicious use of the gesture informed that the amount, though meager, but was capable of enhancing the fortunes of petty traders.

Addressing traders at the Oje market, Osinbajo reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to alleviate sufferings of the poor masses through the TraderMoni, being implemented under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

The Vice President further explained that the government was sincere about empowering two million traders for the scheme, assuring that more traders would be captured nationwide.

He added that the policy of the Federal Government is to support businesses through the scheme, not just big businesses but particularly small, medium-sized and micro businesses.

Osinbajo, however appealed to those yet to benefit to exercise patience, just as he admonished those who have benefited so far to use it judiciously.

The scheme is being managed and financed by the Bank of Industry on behalf of the Federal Government.

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