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Tag: Ogun State

Notable Politicians in Ogun Express Sadness Over Death of Ex-Minister

Notable politicians in Ogun State express sadness following the death of Nigerian ex-Minister of Commerce and grassroot politician, Jubril Martins-Kuye on Sunday.

The immediate past Governor of the State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and governorship candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade has sympathised with the family of the late former Minister, Sen Jubril Martins-Kuye.

In separate statements, Senator Amosun and Hon. Akinlade described the late grassroot politician as having left large footprints in the sands of time.

Describing Martins Kuye as a consummate politician, humanist bridgebuilder, Amosun said, “My family and entire stakeholders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District mourn the death, early today, of our leader and political mentor, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye.

File Photo: Senator Ibikunle Amosun

Amosun further expressed regret that the death of Martins-Kuye has further depleted the number of truly committed Nigerian patriots whose experience and dedication are needed at this critical time.

However, Amosun said he takes solace in the fact that the octogenarian lived a life worthy of emulation.

“Our sincere condolences to his wife, children and extended families; our people in Ago Iwoye; Ogun State stakeholders as a whole, and all loved ones left behind. We beseech Almighty Allah, swt, to forgive his sins and reward him with Aljanah Firdaus,” he said.

In his statement made available by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, Hon. Akinlade, expressed a deep sense of shock and immense sadness over Martins Kuye’s death, saying he died at a time his wealth of experience is being sought after.

According to Akinlade, Martins-Kuye was a grass root politician, scholar and community builder, whose immense devotion has contributed to the socio-political stability of his home town – Ago-Iwoye and Nigeria.

He said: “While he will be dearly missed, I implore the Almighty God to accept his return, grant him eternal rest and give his family, friends and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

January 17, 2021
COVID-19 Scare Triggers Suspension of Carnivals, Cross-over Gatherings in Ogun State

…orders workers to stay at home till January 4

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has called for restraint in celebrations during the Christmas and New Year festivities as he announced the suspension of street carnivals, crowded cross-over night service, parties and similar gatherings in the State, amidst an increase in COVID-19 infections across the nation.

The governor on Wednesday also directed all civil servants and other government workers in the State to proceed on Christmas and New Year holiday from Thursday, December 24.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Kunle Somorin, the directives were issued on Wednesday after a meeting between the state government and religious leaders from the League of Imams and the Christian Association of Nigeria as well as community leaders as part of the measures and guidelines for public health as the state prepares for a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Governor directed that all Schools in the State are to remain closed until January 18, 2021, while all bars, nightclubs, pubs and event centres, recreational centres in the state have also been closed down indefinitely.

The Governor further directed that markets are to open strictly between 8am and 4pm while maintaining social distancing and observing all COVID-19 protocols, including the use of face mask, provision of hand sanitizer and/or hand-washing equipment at every strategic point within their malls, shops and business premises.

Gov Abiodun further directed that religious and worship centres should not exceed 50 per cent of their capacity. All services must also be in compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.

In order to stem the spread of the second wave of the disease, Gov. Abiodun advised that “there should be no gatherings of more than 50 people at any event or ceremonies, such as conferences, congresses, office events, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, cross-over nights, end of year parties, weddings, naming, birthdays, anniversaries, street carnivals, etc until further notice”.

He also called on motorcycle (okada), tricycle, bus, car, taxi and other transport operators to not to carry passengers above 50 percent of their capacity, in compliance with social distancing rules.

While urging citizens to celebrate in moderation, Gov. Abiodun wished the people a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2021, saying they should take personal responsibilities and stay within their residences and not embark on travels within and outside the State to ensure they neither transmit nor contract the virus.

For religious centres, the League of Imams and the Christian leaders adopted the earlier positions taken in the wake of COVID-19 earlier in the year such as:

1. All worship activities must be observed by not more than 50percent of capacity

2. All congregants must wear their face masks appropriately (that is, No facemask, No entry)

3. There should be reliable sources of running water

4. Worship centres should be adequately cleaned and disinfected before and after services

5. Household bleach solution should be adequately prepared for disinfections

6. There should be adequate provision and supervision of multiple Veronica Buckets for handwashing (fully automated handwashing machines are preferable)

7. There should be provision of alcohol-based sanitiser which must be used before and at intervals of every 20 minutes as well as after service

8. Worship centres should provide adequate toilet facilities with water

9. It is paramount for Muslims to perform ablution at home and go to Mosque with their personal praying mats

10. Qualified Medical Practitioners or trained personnels should check the temperature of worshippers with infrared thermometer before allowing them to enter worship centres

11..There should be adequate medical support for sick persons

12. All services on Friday/Sunday and other week days must adhere strictly to COVID-19 Guidelines

13. There should be pre-designated standing position/sitting points to ensure not less than 2 meter distancing

14. The duration of religious services should not be more than one hour. In addition, same duration must be observed at intervals, where there are multiple services

15. The use of Air-conditioners should be discouraged while worship centres should be well ventilated with the use of fans

16. There should not be any handshake/hugs by worshippers

17. Proper awareness of the susceptibility of the aged and people with signs of ill-health should be adequately created among worshippers at all times

18. Constant sensitisation of COVID-19 and its dangers should be included in sermon and goodwill messages

19. Provision of isolation rooms is mandatory in all worship centres or facilities

20. Religious services and events should be recorded with digital camera for record purposes

21. Government will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions (including, but not limited to lockdown) on any Worship Centre that fails to comply with the laid down guidelines

22. No social gathering should exceed 50 people while 2 meters social distancing must be observed in such gatherings

23. Disposable elements should be used during Holy Communion instead of sharing cups

December 23, 2020
Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway Ready By Christmas 2020 – Ogun Governor

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, weekend, declared that the 14.7km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway would be ready for use by Christmas 2020.

Governor Abiodun said: “The contractors have assured me that they will intensify work on this road. I have insisted because we have Christmas approaching, and so, they must complete one segment of this road – one lane all the way to Ijebu-Ode.

“They, in turn assured me that in the next 10 days, they would have completed about eight to nine kilometres of one lane, and promised to ensure that by Christmas, the entire stretch going all the way from Epe to Ijebu-Ode is completed.

“Furthermore, we’ve just awarded the interchange flyover contract that will allow for ease of traffic from this road into Ijebu-Ode and onto the expressway, so that we do not have a situation where people are speeding on this road and they run onto Sagamu-Ore Expressway and then we begin to have accidents like we’ve seen in other interchanges or intersections.

“It is going to be a loop, that has been awarded. The contractor has started to mobilise and get ready to begin that loop.”

Abiodun added that the opening of the road would further open up the corridor for more industrial activity, while noting that the road when completed would also increase the efficiency of travel and longevity of road.

The governor pointed out that the road, when completed, would not only connect Ogun State to Lagos State, but connect the mid-western states of the country to the eastern part.

He noted that the road would also help to reduce the burden of traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“This road connects not just Ogun State to Lagos State. It connects the rest of the mid-western Nigeria to the eastern part of the country, so by doing this road, we are increasing the efficiency of travel, and longevity of the road itself.

“This stretch will now be open to more industrial activity as Lagos is expanding along Lekki corridor: this is where you have the Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery. Industrial expansion is in this area, so we are opening up this road to increased economic activity,” he said.

Abiodun said his administration has awarded the construction of Molipa Expressway, while noting that construction work would soon commence as the contractors have already been mobilised.

In their separate remarks, some residents, Oluwaseun Odumade and Oluwatoyin Omotayo, appreciated the Abiodun administration for the quality and network of road construction in Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Imowo-Ibadan and Awujale Palace-Stadium roads.

They noted that the roads when completed would aid the economic development of Ijebu-Ode in particular, and Ogun State in general.

Idowu Sowunmi

November 15, 2020
Ogun State Governor Positions Adire Fabric as National Heritage in NIgeria

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on the Federal Government to adopt one of the state’s local fabric popularly called Adire as an attire for national events and as a cultural symbol in the nation’s foreign missions, to further promote the rich culture of Nigeria to the world.

Speaking at the official launch of Ogun Adire Digital Market Place at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta, Abiodun advocated the making of ceremonial dress from Adire for the nation’s athletes taking part in international sporting activities.

To demonstrably walk his talk, the governor declared that starting from next year adire fabric would become official school uniform in all public schools in Ogun State.

According to him, “I want to call on all stakeholders in the information, culture and tourism sectors to partner with us in promoting this national heritage.

“I want to particularly call on our Honourable Minister of Information and Culture to help promote Adire at the national level. For example, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top government functionaries can adopt and adorn Adire for national events.

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“Our Foreign Missions could also adopt Adire fabric as a cultural symbol that will further project our rich culture to the world. Same thing could also be done by our Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports by making the ceremonial dress of our athletes from local fabrics such as our Adire.

“This will go a long way in promoting the local contents and give expression to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s ‘produce what we use’ and ‘grow what we eat’ policies.”

Abiodun explained that Ogun Adire Digital Market Place designed to provide a global platform for the marketing and distribution of Adire fabric and its entire value-chain to the global markets and serve as a melting-pot for all participants in the entire system, by providing opportunities for a wider coverage of the market for people to reach out to vendors and transact businesses by logging into Adire Digital Mall.

He said plans have reached an advanced stage to make Adire an important aspect of every day life, as all top government functionaries in Ogun State now wear Adire on Fridays, just as plans are underway to make Adire part of school uniform, saying it would empower more people and further stimulate Adire economy.

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The governor called on investors to take advantage of the new Adire Ogun Digital Market Place by partnering and intensifying their collaboration with Ogun State in the development of arts, culture and tourism.

In his remarks at the event, Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, applauded Ogun State for making efforts to showcase Adire in the international arena, noting that the action was in line with the Federal Government’s diversification policy.

Minister of Information and Culture in Nigeria, Lai Mohammed speaks at the Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta the Ogun State Capital.

He said Adire Ogun Digital Market Place would serve as a veritable platform to marketing local fabrics, create employment and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, calling stake to make the best of the opportunity.

Also speaking at the event, the Wife of the Governor Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun, described the digital market place as a consolidation of centuries of creativity and enterprise which would benefit more women when exposed to national and international market, calling on producers to always think about the environment, by disposing used chemicals properly.

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To Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oludotun Gbadebo, Adire is a veritable foreign exchange earner. He charged all producers to properly handle chemicals used in producing adire, as it was dangerous and harmful to health.

Paramount Traditional Monarch of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwatosin Taiwo, in his part, said the state was blessed with world class tourism potentials that would generate foreign exchange.

He added that the history of Abeokuta would not be complete without Adire. He noted that depite influx of foreign fabrics, Adire continues to make huge impact in Ogun State and beyond.

Idowu Sowunmi

November 13, 2020
Truck Crushes Woman in Front of Father’s Hotel in Ogun

A truck has crushed a middle-aged woman at Onihale area, near Owode-Ijako, Ogun State on Thursday, the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has said.

According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Owode-Ijako Unit Commander of TRACE, Mrs Temitope Oseni, who spoke on behalf of the Corps Commander, Seni Ogunyemi, confirmed that the incident happened at about 8.23 am.

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Narrating the ugly incident, Oseni recounted how a FAW truck, marked BHN 1353, inbound Onihale area had lost control due to brake failure and rammed into a motorcyclist and a woman who was about to alight in front of her father’s hotel.

Two boxer motorcycles and four persons were involved in the accident, with a man sustaining injury, Oseni said.

The TRACE unit commander said that the corpse of the deceased had been released to the family for burial, while the injured was taken to Famous Hospital at Iyana-Ilogbo, Ogun, for treatment.

Oseni also commiserated with the family of the victim and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

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To ensure free flow of traffic on the road, the truck and two motorcycles involved in the accident had been removed.

It is however advised that to avert loss of life, truck drivers and owners are to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before putting them on the road.

October 29, 2020
COVID-19: Ogun Orders Full Reopening of Churches, Mosque, Hotels

Ogun State, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, has announced the reopening of all hotels and other establishments providing accommodation for tourists such as guest houses, motels, including restaurants, eateries, fast food, lounges and bars. Also to reopen for business are entertainment centres- cinemas, viewing centres, marquees and event centres.

In a statement announcing the development by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the Governor was said to be pleased with the drop of COVID-19 infections.

According to Somorin, while businesses can now fully reopen after a long period of lockdown restrictions occasioned by the dreaded virus, the hospitality establishments are to scrupulously adhere to a set of guidelines in order to keep up with the protocols aimed at further flattening the curve of COVID-19.

“Government is aware of the excruciating implications of COVID-19 lockdown but we have emplaced measures and improved on testing to stem the tide. Empirical field research indicates that we have managed to stem community spread and treatment of the virus very well. We are convinced that opening of schools and entertainment centres would not harm our people. We would continue to monitor the development,” Somorin quoted Governor Abiodun.

While reinstating the need to rebuild the economy, the State government maintained that it was irrevocably committed to the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda and as such would do everything possible to ensure that the people have increased prosperity that would place the State on a sound footing towards continued development.

The statement said that government would not hesitate to do selective lockdown should there be any flagrant disobedience to the set COVID-19 protocols.

These conditions set for the reopening of the entertainment centres are:

i. Observance of temperature checks at all entry points.

ii. Compulsory use of face masks within the premises/facilities.

iii. Maintenance of two-metre social distancing by marking the floor to guide their customers on physical distancing.

iv. Owners of business premises are required to offer only 50% of their space capacity to guests.

v. Maintenance of physical distancing with a maximum of four persons per table, while Buffet services are not allowed.

vi. Prior to holding any event, licence and safety clearance must be obtained from the Government.

vii. the operation of all cinemas must not exceed 10pm.

The statement added that all centres are to provide noise-proof equipment in the various facilities to ensure that they do not disturb the serenity of the neighbourhoods where they operate.

While calling on owners of these facilities to cooperate with the State Government, Governor Abiodun warned that facilities that defy these guidelines would be sanctioned.

“Let me say that our Task Force is already on the ground and is moving about to ensure compliance.

“And, if perchance we discover that any of our centres is not complying or adhering to the laid down protocols, we will not hesitate to close down the centre,” he warned.

Violation of these conditions, the statement concluded, would attract severe sanctions including, but not limited to fine and closure of premises.

October 28, 2020
#EndSARS Protest in Ogun: Governor Abiodun Calls for Dialogue

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has again called on the Nigerian youth to call off their protest and engage government in a meaningful dialogue to find amicable solutions to their demands.

Governor Abiodun who made the call when he hosted representatives of students of higher institutions in the State in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said it was time to halt the protest before it degenerated into an wholesome situation that could cause choas in the country.

“Please wind down the protest; you have spoken and the whole world has heard you. Where your freedom stops, is where that of others starts. Don’t allow this protest to degenerate into a situation where people will begin to attack each other.

“It is time to dialogue so that we can find solutions to the problems you have highlighted. The National Economic Council has mandated us to handle the situation and here in Ogun State, we have inaugurated a panel to handle cases of brutality by security agencies with a view to ensure that appropriate punishment are meted out to those found wanting”, he explained.

Prince Abiodun who said he identified with the protest, noted that Nigerians, like citizens of other free countries of the world, have the right to protest. He, however, observed that the Nigerian youth have finally demonstrated that they are resilient and could rise up to be counted when the occasion arises.

He acknowledged the peaceful conduct of the students in the State since he assumed office, saying it was a demonstration of the qualities associated with people of the State and what they stand for.

“I want to appreciate you for being disciplined. You have behaved well since I assumed office. Ogun State students have not been reported to have behaved irresponsibly. Keep it up. It is the way you conduct yourselves today that determine how far you go tomorrow”, the Governor said.

The Governor said his administration has fashioned out ways of addressing the numerous challenges facing higher Institutions particularly in the area of electricity, transportation, provision of laboratories and workshops.

He informed the students leaders that access roads on their campuses are currently under rehabilitation, while government was working out a Public Private Partnership arrangements to build hostels and address transportation issues.

He said Goverrnment would reactivate their faulty transformers to improve power supply in their institutions.

Government, he maintained, would look into bursary and scholarship, assuring the students that those who excel would be rewarded to serve as inspiration to others.

Speaking earlier, the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State, Comrade Tomiwa Bamgbose, while reeling out the challenges confronting the students, lauded the Governor for intervening in the Tai Solarin College of Education crisis and giving automatic employment to best graduating students in many polytechnics and universities in the State.

The President, National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOS), Comrade Gbemileke Okuronbi, appreciated the Governor for his strides in the education sector, pleading for the payment of bursary to ameliorate the suffering of the students.

October 20, 2020
Gov Abiodun Gives House, Cash Rewards to Mark Teachers Day in Ogun

As the world marked Teachers’ Day on Monday, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun appreciated award-winning teachers in the State with cash prizes and a house.

The Governor offered Mr Odegbola Ayodele, a Junior Secondary School teacher from Abeokuta Grammar school, who also won the overall Best Teacher in the State, a two-bedroom bungalow in the State owned Princes Court.

Mr. Adewale Abayomi, from Odua Comprehensive High School, Imoru, who was the Best Teacher in the Senior Secondary category was given the sum of N2.5m and Mrs. Mary Adeyemi from St. Paul’s School II, Sagamu, who was the best Primary School Teacher went home with a cash gift of N2m from the Governor.

Gov. Abiodun said the State government has formally instituted a yearly Best Teachers Awards in this category to appreciate outstanding teachers in the State and those who have distinguished themselves in the course of carrying out their duties.

Prince Dapo Abiodun disclosed this while addressing executive members of the Nigerian Union of be Teachers (NUT), Academic Staff Union Secondary Schools (ASUSS) and All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), to mark this year’s World Teachers Day in his office at Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Gov Abiodun said to encourage teachers for efficient service delivery, it is imperative to celebrate those who have shown creativity, dedication and hard work in the course of imparting knowledge to our younger ones.

He noted that this would spur them to put in more efforts in educating the nation’s future Leaders.

According to the Governor: “We will continue to celebrate innovation. We will encourage consistency. Our administration will continue to make the welfare of our teachers our priority. Our teacher’s reward will not be in heaven, but here on earth”, he stated.

Prince Abiodun used the occasion to call on parents to be more involved in caring for their children instead of shifting the responsibility to teachers as the development process of a child would not be complete without the involvement of their parents.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that our children now spend the larger part of their days with teachers. It is alarming to see that in the pursuit of economic fulfilment, many parents have now have left their parental roles to teachers.

“While I call for a rethink by such parents, but in the meantime, I will call on our teachers to help the situation by inculcating in the children, positive attitudes, ideals and virtues. Help us to protect the rights of our children”, Prince Abiodun pleaded.

He said the commemoration of the World’s Teachers Day is significant because it draws attention to the noble role of the teaching profession in nation-building in line with a standard-setting instrument that addresses the status and situations of teachers around the world.

The Governor noted that this year’s World Teachers Day, would identify the challenges teachers face in the practice of their noble profession, especially at this period of the global emergency of the CCOVID-1, adding that event was to appreciate teachers and also assess their importance as educators of the world so as to improve on their service for the humanity.

Prince Abiodun also said the occasion would provide an opportunity to consider issues relating to teachers and teaching profession, honour and recognize of their contributions to the development of the education sector and the socio-economic development of Nigeria as a whole.

While describing teachers as partners in building the State, the Governor said his administration would continue to appreciate them for their individual and collective roles in creating new learning environment for the children of Ogun State through the Ogun digiClass and other platforms, especially during the covid-19 lockdown.

He enjoined them to be innovative and painstaking in the discharge of their duties, as they owe the State and the country, the responsibility of ensuring that children are adequately cater for the physically, mentally and socially to meet future challenges.

The Governor said that the process for the recruitment of 1, 655 Graduate teachers to fill some of the vacancies existing in Public Secondary Schools in the State was at an advanced stage just as approval for career elongation of Primary School teachers to Grade Level 15 has been approved, while Principals-General and Headmasters-General from the four Geo-Political Zones of our dear State have been appointed and sworn into office.

In his remark, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Titilope Adebajo, while describing teachers as risk takers and mind moulders, called for the introduction of Education Trust Fund to enable government address many challenges facing the education sector.

State Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, called for the review of the free education policy to enable participation of parents and corporate entities in fund the sector.

In an interview, this year’s best teacher awardee, Mr. Ayodele attributed his emergence as the overall best teacher in the State to hardwork. He called on other teachers to be committed and remain steadfast in the discharge of their duties, “as there is always a pay day ahead for hard workers”.

October 5, 2020
Ogun Declares Oct 5 Public Holiday for World Teachers Day

In commemoration of 2020 World Teachers Day, the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government has declared Monday, October 5 as public holiday.

To this end, the state government said schools would not be opened to the students on that day.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Primary and Secondary Education, Ronke Soyombo, explained that the government would not allow teaching activities on October 5 in order to celebrate the World Teachers Day.

The Abiodun administration enjoined students to stay at home on the said date, adding that teaching and learning activities would resume on Tuesday, October 6.

Idowu Sowunmi

October 3, 2020
Abiodun Tasks Ogun Labour Unions to Return to Negotiation Table

The Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government Thursday charged the representatives of the organised labour unions in the state to return to the negotiation table to resolve the grey areas over the demands for better welfare for the workers in the interest of the generality of the people of the state.

The Abiodun administration described the abrupt withdrawal of the labour team from negotiation and unilateral declaration of one-week strike as unfair, indecorous and violation of the principles of collective bargaining.

The government added that it was a surprise that labour would take the step even when the negotiation process was still ongoing.

Abiodun, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, said government was taken aback as “labour manifested brinkmanship, where instead of labour input into the Pension Reform Bill as agreed, they issued a notice of Trade Dispute with demands that transcended the Pension Reform Bill.”

The statement traced the genesis of the crisis to the Pension Reform Bill passed by Ogun State House of Assembly which labour noted did not seek their opinion and inputs.

Talabi said the government after due apology for the lapses set up a team to liaise with the Assembly and representatives of labour union to trash out areas of concerns.

The secretary said on receipt of Trade Dispute Notice, government mandated its team to engage the labour union leaders with the first meeting held on September 14 progressing to September 15, where issues were narrowed down to specific towards amicable resolutions.

But surprisingly, he said, instead of notifying government of the outcome of the meeting, the labour union leaders took excuse to attend to their members in order to conclude the negotiation, only to proceed to declare the meeting deadlock and announced the commencement of warning strike the next day (September 16).

“This is most unfortunate and a negation of civility and expected ethos that should underpin negotiations between government (particularly one that has demonstrated in many ways its commitment to staff welfare) and organised labour who are presumed partners in the task of developing the state and catering for the welfare and wellbeing of all citizens and residents.

“This behaviour lends credence to insinuations that labour may be acting out a script,” he said.

Talabi gave the breakdown of the inherited outstanding personnel liabilities from the last administration: Gratuity of exited (retired) personnel: state personnel accumulated from 2014-2019 – N18.5 billion; Local Government and SUBEB 2011-2019 – N32.5 billion; Sub-total Gratuity – N51.0 billion; Leave Bonus from 2015-2019 – N9.2 billion; Contributory Pension Liabilities (state government) – N20.1 billion; Local Government and SUBEB – N26.4 billion; Sub-total Contributory Pension Liabilities – N46.5 billion; Promotion Arrears – N217 Million; totalling N106.9 billion.

According to him, the past administration only remitted the deductions from staff salary for check off dues and cooperative deductions in the twilight of its exit, leaving out accumulated Contributory Pensions.

On the financial implications of labour unions’ demands, the Abiodun administration said it was jointly agreed that a committee be set up to fashion out an appropriate pension system for the state, look into the implementation of New Minimum Wage which would increase the monthly wage bill by N1.04 billion and address the payment of Leave Bonus.

But the statement said labour unions wanted an immediate payment of three-year arrears, amounting to approximately N9.2 billion, while on payment of gratuity, labour leaders demanded immediate payment of three years arrears which is approximately N24 billion and they wanted additional payment of about N1.2 billion for the underpayment by the last administration to some categories of retired personnel.

The government added that labour unions demanded for Gross Salary Payment, regular remittance of deductions from staff salaries as appropriate, noting that government has already commenced regular remittance of these deductions and would continue to do so.

Other demands according to the statement were the outstanding three-year promotion (2018-2020), putting the summary of these demands by labour unions to about N32.5 billion for immediate disbursement and subsequent additional N2 billion monthly on top of the current wage bill.

The secretary noted that when government signed the agreement with labour unions for the implementation of the new minimum wage, “no one envisaged COVID-19 and its debilitating socio-economic impact that has constrained the Internally Generated Revenue of the state and the unplanned expenditures in the wake of the pandemic.

“This has forced Ogun State like most states in the country to review our 2020 budget down from approximately N450 billion to N280 billion, about 38 per cent downward review.

“A cursory look at the financial implications of the demands of labour in comparison to the budget size will see a glaring demonstration of the government to be as accommodating of the demands as possible, even in the face of manifest COVID-19 induced constraints and uncertainty,” he explained.

On the labour unions’ demand for the payment of the new minimum wage, which has been seen as a priority, the statement said government has agreed to the implementation of the new minimum wage for all categories of workers, commencing from November, 2020, while government would also continue to ensure regular remittance of deductions from staff salary to avoid addition to the backlog and gradually clear any outstanding arrears.

The statement, however, added: “The remaining demands will be subjects of further joint reviews, the first of which will be in March 2021.”

The government said: “As an administration, we remain committed to the welfare of Ogun State workers as we are to the fulfilment of our electoral promises to the generality of Ogun State citizens and residents.”

Idowu Sowunmi

September 17, 2020