An international civil and not for profit organisation, Egalitarian Mission for Africa, has disclosed that its research has shown that a great number of government agencies in Nigeria do not observe the guidelines of the Code of Conduct Act as instructed by the law. 

The group alleged that most defaulters of the Act are political office holders, and therefore asked the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, to bring them to book.

This was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by the organisation in its reaction to issues relating to violations of asset declaration Act. The group alleged that many government workers as well as political office holders, including politicians seeking elections have failed to declare their assets through the filling of asset declaration form as expected by the provision of law in accordance with the Code of Conduct Act.

The organisation said that government workers, especially political office holders who have tried to comply are also not always truthful to the law in completing the declaration of assets form.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the organisation, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, in his reaction said, the group will be working in partnership with the Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure that the law of declaration of assets is strictly adhere to in government organisations.

“The Code of Conduct Tribunal is a constitutional body established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and duly empowered to try public officials for breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“The Tribunal is further empowered to impose any of the following punishments;

Vacation of office or seat in any Legislative house, as the case may be; disqualification from membership of a legislative house and from holding of any public office for a period not exceeding ten years; and seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office. 

“The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, is doing tremendous work and we are, in partnership with him, compiling the list of violators of this law and ready to publish it at the end of the process and will accordingly drag them before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) thereafter”, Ajulo said.

The group said it is the collective responsibility of every citizen to collaborate with the agencies of government to ensure smooth operation for the greater good of the country. It said citizens are expected to cooperate with the guiding rules and regulations which have been established to promote accountability for the betterment of the country and the people. 

“Declaration of assets at the CCB is no news to any public office holder. We all must play our parts in the development of this country. Nigeria will not develop with many violators of the law managing the affairs of government.

“Therefore, we are giving government workers, especially political office holders who are yet to declare their assets to choose the path of integrity and do that within the window of opportunity of the next seven days after which, we will publish the list of defaulters and serve them the necessary letters to face the CCT.

“It is right to say that any public office holder or politican seeking election who finds it hard to act in accordance with the rule of law cannot be a good representation of the people, and such person does not deserve to be in government, either by election or appointment”, the group emphasised. 

The organisation said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has less than a year in government hence, the need for the CCT to act now, saying it will be a guide for potential public officer holders in the next administration.

Ondo State Government has mandated the use of non-transferable reflective jackets for all commercial motorcycle operators across the state for easy identification.

The government also announced the resumption of registration for all motorcycle users in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking with Journalists yesterday in Akure, the state capital, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Special Duties & Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale, explained that the development  became imperative to further ensure the security of lives and properties of all residents in the state.

According to him, with this directive, it is now a criminal offence for any motorcycle operator to operate without valid form of identification in any part of the state, noting that such operator will be arrested and the motorcycle confiscated.

He noted that Governor Akeredolu is concerned about the safety of both motorcycle operators and their passengers, saying the development will be in the interest of all genuine okada riders and help identify criminals masquerading as motorcycle operators.

Dr. Odebowale said the Governor has graciously procured the reflective jackets for all the commerical motorcycle operators to be distributed to them free of charge, adding that the jackets have different colour code and numbers written on them according to their local government areas.

“You would recall that we brought the idea of registration in 2018, and what informed our decision to register Okada operators in Ondo state was a security situation we met on ground. Now, we must be thorough and insist on best practices at all times. We are desirous of saving the lives and properties of the poeple of Ondo State. We are commencing the registration of Okada operators in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

“The governor has approved the payment of N2, 500 across board for ID cards and other biometrics.  We are going to insist that anybody who wants to operate commercial motorcycle must put this jacket on.  We are giving these jackets out for free.

“As we did in 2018, now the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), has been mandated to take the biometrics of all Okada operators. Those who are qualified to approach SITA are the ones who have valid registration papers for their motorcycles”, he said

For the new operators, Dr Odebowale said everything about them including where they are coming from must be known and that nobody will be registered by proxy. He added that each operator must come with a genuine guarantor, and that any motorcycle operator without valid papers would not be allowed to operate in the state any longer.

He added that those who did their registration in 2018 or 2020 before the suspension of the exercise would need to update their records to accommodate new addresses and other changes in their personal information.

The SSA noted that the reflective jackets are not transferable, and that jackets for a particular local government cannot be used in another local government areas of the state.

Also, the Chairman, Ondo State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbie, said all the 18 Local Government Chairmen are being partnered  in the exercise, adding that the local government offices would be used for the registration exercise.

At least 42 people were held today, Saturday, during the June edition of the monthly environmental sanitation excise in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The poeple were picked up by officials of Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), at various locations within Akure metropolis over various offences ranging from illegal dumping of refuse, dirty environment and roaming the streets while the exercise was going on.

The ODSWMA General Manager, Rev. (Mrs) Ayo Adeyemo  who disclosed this shortly after monitoring this month’s edition of the exercise, added that the offenders were charged to court for appropriate punishment.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere, also led other officials of the ministry to monitor the June edition of the monthly environmental sanitation excise across the state capital.

Rev Adeyemo said their arrest and subsequent arraignment in court would serve as deterrent to others, emphasising that the poeple must learn to show the right attitude towards their environment at all times.

She also encouraged all residents including owners of shopping malls across the state to make environmental sanitation a daily affair to ensure healthy living.

According to her, a dirty environment will cause epidemic and other health related diseases, noting that government will not allow that to happen in the Sunshine State.

She insisted that there will be no room for uncleanliness in whatever form.

The GM appealed to the people of the state to always support government and key into the sanitation excise for their own benefit and that of the society at large.

“Today environmental sanitation excise is fair, though there some residents who are still recalcitrant and refused to participate in the exercise. Like in Ilesha Motor Park, some food vendors were cooking, doing buying and selling in the park, and in few other places. 

“But generally, the compliance level is fair. We only need to keep encouraging our poeple to ensure they take the issue of cleanliness serious. They should not wait until they are forced to clean their environment. Environmental sanitation should be a daily affair to ensure healthy living”, she said.

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has commissioned the upgraded Millennium Eye Centre building at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure.

The health facility was renovated and upgraded by Lions Clubs International, Multiple District 404 Nigeria.

Commissioning the project on Friday, Governor Akeredolu expressed the appreciation of the state government and good people of the State to the Lions Clubs  International Foundation for what he called kind and uncommon gesture.

Akeredolu who explained that vision plays a critical role in every facet and stage of human lives, said it is surprising that out of sheer ignorance people take vision for granted, forgetting that  without vision, we struggle to learn, walk, read and participate in schooling activities as well as education and to work for a living.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and some members of the State Executive Council. Lion leaders at the event include Past Council Chair, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Okpere; PDG Adekunle Adedipe; In-coming District Governor, District 404A-1, Lion Anogwi Anyanwu; In-coming District Governor, District 404A-2, Lion Jide Bello; In-coming District Governor, District 404B-2, Lion Lekan Owolabi, in-coming First-Vice District Governor, Lion Dr Kofoworola Jegede, Cabinet Officers and Lion members across the Multiple District, 404 Nigeria.

While emphasising that government alone cannot effectively address all the socio-economic challenges calling for attention no matter the amount of revenue accruing to government, Governor Akeredolu used the occasion to call on other public-spirited corporate bodies and individuals with capacity to emulate the Lions Clubs and further intervene in bridging the gap in the public health institution in the State.

“It will be recalled that this is not the first completed project donated to the state by Lions Clubs in the last five years.  I personally want to appreciate the leadership of the Lions Clubs, particularly those directly involved in the planning and execution of these projects for accomplishing them in record time.  I convey my sincere gratitude to Lion Adedipe and his team for the Dialysis Centre and Lion Jegede and his team for the Eye Centre.

“It is important to note that the resources required to bridge the existing gap in our socio-economic needs are enormous.  If government is to commit the entire available resources to only the Eye/Vision/Sight health needs alone, there will still be gaps to be filled.  This is because the whole healthcare needs of the State and other essential obligations and services required by the people outside the health sector are enormous”, he added.

Akeredolu who revealed that the risk of inappropriate attention to eye problem is so grievous that it could result in blindness or visual impairment, particularly advised  people above 40 years of age to do routine eye evaluation so that the avoidable causes of vision impairment can be picked up and corrected before it becomes a problem.

“We are lucky in Ondo State to have integrated eye health into our health care system and this opportunity of the Lions Club gesture has further brightened our hope for a result-oriented solution in this regard”, the Governor said.

He equally commended all the medical personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all other allied health workers for their resilience at this trying time and for their passion and contributions to healthcare services in all the government hospitals in the State, assuring them that government is committed to their welfare and the development of healthcare facilities in the State. 

Earlier, the Grant Administrator of the Project who is a Past Council Chairman of Lions Clubs International, Multiple District 404 Nigeria, Lion Olumuyiwa Jegede, appreciated the all-round support provided by Governor Akeredolu and  other officials of his administration which cascaded into the successful completion of the project.

He specifically said all the inputs of the Governor into the architectural designs of the project kept all engineers and other workers on their toes throughout the project implementation.

Lion Jegede said it was not only that the  physical infrastructure of the Millennium Eye Centre has been completed but that the other three arms of the project, which include: Capacity Building of Staff; Injection of State of the Art Equipment;  and Organising Quarterly Outreaches in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State to take four years were on- going.

“The physical infrastructure upgrade was by no means an easy task, this being a renovation of a structure that had had an infestation of termites, leading to a near total collapse of same. Building from the scratch would have provided a better experience and faster in completion. However, the policy guideline of LCIF does not support such in Sight grants.

“As for Capacity Building, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Ophthalmic nurses and other categories of staff have been trained and continue to be trained. A couple of Doctors and Project team members would soon travel abroad in continuation of the training activities”, he said 

With the delivery of the project, the Grant Administrator assured that eye care services in the Sunshine State will henceforth wear a new look in terms of scope and capacity due to the nature of equipment in place in the specialised eye care facility to include the Laser Equipment.

“This is arguably the first time ever this kind of equipment is being domiciled in Ondo State, and it is the one that gives glaucoma patients some semblance of hope from their seeming condemnation to perpetual blindness. The objective of this type of intervention by Lions Clubs International Foundation is to take care of the less privileged members of the communities in terms of affordable health care. First it was the Dialysis Centre, now it’s the Millennium Eye Center”, he said.

Lion Jegede equally spoke on the computerisation of all Patient-Health Worker relationship in the facility towards eliminating physical card carrying system with the introduction of an EMR system right from the first interface with the patients to take their records to the stage of visiting the Consultants. 

Also, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka appreciated the Lions Clubs International for the delivery of the project and its unwavering partnership and collaboration with the State Government in the health sector to move the sector forward. 

The Chief Medical Director of University of Medical Sciences Teaching  Hospital, UNIMEDTH, Dr. Oluwole Ige lauded the Lions Clubs for its humanitarian gestures which he said have always been readily available in form of support to the Teaching

 Hospital.

On her part, the Multiple District Council Chairperson for Multiple District 404 Nigeria, MCC Idowu Omolola Anobili represented by PDG Taiwo Adewumi said the Lions Clubs International will continue to live by its slogan of providing needed supports wherever such supports are essentially needed. 

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has counseled affiliated institutions to always indicate their  institution’s name before they write in affiliation with Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko. 

Prof. Ige gave the advice in Akungba during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AAUA and Bayo Tijani College of Education, Lagos. The MoU permits the College to run Degree programmes in Education under the supervision of the University.

He reiterated that affiliation is a mutual partnership that is beneficial to both parties and the society in order to equalize access to quality education. 

Prof.  Ige also cautioned the afflicted institutions to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions guiding the relationship between them in order not to compromise the University’s academic excellence and the integrity of its certificates.

He said, “Adekunle Ajasin University has become known for excellence and the quality of its graduates, and we will do our utmost to protect that reputation. Therefore, we will not hesitate to terminate the agreement between us and any affiliated college once it is ascertaied that our hard-earned integrity is being compromised. We shall continue to pay unscheduled inspections to ensure that the agreement between us is being kept.

He added that agreement should not be interpreted to mean that Adekunle Ajasin University has moved to Lagos. 

In his reaction,  the Acting Director of the University’s Institute of Education, Dr. Olusegun Owolewa, explained that the College was recommended for the affiliation following several visits to ascertain it’s readiness. 

Speaking earlier, the Provost of the College, Dr. (Mrs.) Matilda Amaechi, had thanked the University for approving the affiliation. She disclosed that the College decided on AAUA for the affiliation because of the giant status of the University and its fine reputation.

She said that the readiness of the College to run degree programmes under the supervision of the University was underscored by the fact that relevant government regulatory bodies have assessed the human and structural facilities of the College and declared them as suitable.

Present at the event were the University Registrar, Mr. Gbenga Arajulu; Dean of Education, Prof. Moshood Hassan; the College Registrar, Mrs Lateefat Usman; and the Director of Studies, Mr. Lawal Bello; among others.

The seemingly riotous video that circulated a few weeks back where a guy was seen throwing missiles and rendering some blasphemy at the person of the Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Honourable Wole Ogunmolasuyi has been attributed to a moment of stupor and a misguided, miscalculated action to seek an immediate attention from the lawmaker in question.

The ringleader and chief perpetrator of the ill-sponsored scene, Mr. Bamidele Adekunle (alias Jelenke), has come out to narrate what transpired that day and seized the opportunity to apologize to Hon.  Ogunmolasuyi for allowing himself to be used by the agents of destabilization against a benevolent benefactor of the Youths in Iloro quarters and the entire Owo  Constituency 1.

Adekunle who could be seen in a new video which has gone viral on social media denouncing his action that day while blaming the root cause of their unruly behaviour on a member of the opposition in the area who wanted to contest for the State House of Assembly position under the Peoples Democratic Party. 

According to Jelenke, in the process of him trying to gain the attention of the  Majority Leader, who was in the area to carry out one of his numerous empowerment programs, he became unruly when it became clear to him that he was not attracting the attention of Hon. West and the PDP miscreants lurking around the scene took advantage and started throwing  sachet water at the camp of the honourable.

He went on further to say that the lawmaker, however, showed a lot of maturity by preventing his aides including the armed security guard at the scene from retaliating which would have led to a loss of lives that day.

According to him,  he is aware that Honourable West, whom everybody loves and cherishes in Iloro and beyond, is not what anybody can mess up with without repercussion. 

To appease the teeming supporters of the Assembly member in Iloro and beyond, he has no choice but to seek police protection by giving himself up at the police station as that has also given him the opportunity to explain himself, as well as seek forgiveness from Honourable Ogunmolasuyi, the man of the people.

He concluded by requesting the Majority Leader to find a place in his large heart to forgive him.

 “To err is human but to forgive is divine,” Jelenke pleaded for forgiveness for his action.

The Ondo State Government on Tuesday honoured the state Correspondent of TVC News, Ayodeji Moradeyo, as the Most Supportive Media Reporter of the year, 2021.

Moradeyo, is among several other people who bagged awards  for their contributions towards the growth and development of agriculture and agribusiness in the state.

The event held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure, was attended by farmers and other stakeholders in the agric and agribusiness.

Speaking at event, the Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, congratulated Moradeyo and other awardees for distinguishing themselves in their chosen endeavours.

The Governor said: “There is need to move the agriculture sector to the next gear in order to compete with nations across the world. It is an incontrovertible fact that agriculture holds the future of Ondo State and my administration will continue to see it as a priority”.

Akeredolu also said he has directed that 350 personnel should be employed into the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’.

He noted that the crop of Amotekun Corps will be deployed to the forests and bushes to provide security for farmers and their farmlands.

Akeredolu said more operational vehicles and motorcycles will be purchased to aid Amotekun operations in the state.

Earlier, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor on Agric and Agribusiness, Mr Akin Olotu, said the award presentation is an initiative of the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC) to deserving people who have distinguished themselves in their chosen endeavours.

He specifically described Moradeyo as a Journalist who has distinguished himself in propagating the activities of agribusiness in the State.

Responding, Mr Ayodeji Moradeyo, thanked the the state government and OSAEC for the special recognition.

“This award, I must say, is a motivation and it would definitely spur me to do more. My continuous specialized reports in Agribusiness was motivated by my passion for Agriculture and Journalism”, he added.

No fewer than 39 poeple were arrested today Saturday for violating environmental laws.

The General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), Rev. (Mrs) Ayo Adeyemo who disclosed this at the end of this month’s edition of the monthly environmental sanitation excise, also added that each of the environmental offenders was given appropriate fines based on the severity of the offence committed.

The sanitation law offenders were arrested at different locations within Akure metropolis during the April edition of the exercise which was also monitored by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere; the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Olumide Asere and other top officials of ODSWMA.

The GM who appealed to all residents across the state to always cooperate and make cleanliness of their environment a daily affair to ward off all forms of diseases, further said anybody who violates environmental laws would be appropriately sanctioned.

Some of the areas monitored include, Oyemekun road, Oja Oba, (Adedeji Market); Adegbola, Ilesha Motor Park/business centre, among others.

At Ilesha motor park, Rev. Adeyemo  encouraged the leadership of the motor park to procure approved waste bins to keep their environment clean at all times and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

She equally advised other traders operating within the premises and other parts of the state to always make cleanliness their watchword and desist from all forms of unhealthy practices as the rainy season set in.

“This period is very sensitive because it is a rainy season. So, people should not be encouraged to dispose of their refuse indiscriminately, or litter the environment. We should not dump our waste into drainages. Drainages are meant for free flow of water.

“And by the time we dump our waste into drainages we expect the drainage system to be filled up, and you know this can lead to flooding. We pray nobody will be a victim of flooding”, the GM stressed.

Earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere, called for synergy among relevant stakeholders to ensure cleaner and safer environment, saying government alone cannot do it.

He said the present administration in the state led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has procured two additional Swamp Buggies for channelization of rivers and other waterways across the three Senatorial Districts of the state to prevent flooding in the rainy season.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Chief Olugbenga Ale, has been presented with an Award of Excellence by the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), for his contributions to women development.

The award, according to NCWS, was in recognition of the laudable, selfless and humanitarian gesture to NCWS in Nigeria. 

The prestigious award was presented to the Chief of Staff in his office on Tuesday by the state chairman of NCWS, Dr Jumoke Aborede, on behalf of the National President, Lami Lau.

Speaking after receiving the award, Chief Olugbenga Ale appreciated the national leadership of NCWS for counting him worthy for the award which he dedicated to his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

He challenged women to be actively involved in politics using their numerical strength to drive home their pressing demands.

Ale while commending the positive roles of women in the state and the nation at large, also said Governor Akeredolu is gender sensitive and would continue to give more women in the state political appointments for a better society.

Earlier, the chairman, NCWS, Ondo state chapter Dr Jumoke Aborede commended governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his unbiased  leadership qualities and for appointing women into key political offices in his government.

The National Universities Commission, NUC, has given full accreditation status to five programmes of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State.

A correspondence to the University from the Director of Accreditation, Dr. Maryam Sali, has the programmes listed: Fisheries and Aquaculture, Performing Arts, Mathematics, Microbiology, and Mass Communication.

It will be recalled that NUC carries out periodic accreditation exercise of programmes on offer in all Nigerian universities.

Responding to the development, the Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, appreciated the efforts of the nation’s universities regulatory body at ensuring quality and high standard of programmes in Nigerian universities. 

Prof. Ige thanked the Visitor to the University and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for giving special support to the accreditation exercise which was held between October and November, 2021.  

The VC who appreciated the staff for their commitment and steadfastness, also noted that the University would continue to maintain the high standard of all its programmes.