NEWS
The President condemned taking politics as a full time profession adding that everybody should have an occupation while politics should be seen or taken as an opportunity to serve the people. Chief Obasanjo remarked that it was abnormal to remain unemployed in the face of the abundant agricultural endowments in the country saying the resources should be made use of. He hinted that 350,000 tonnes of cassava flour was needed in the country annually adding that all hands should be on deck in order to produce it.
The President charged the Yoruba nation to discover themselves among other nationalities saying each nationalities must identify, protect and ensure that its interest was guaranteed in the context of Nigerian politics.
Governor Ayodele Fayose was among the South West Governors that welcomed President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Akure Airport on his arrivak. Other Governors present included Dr. Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, Chief Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, Senator Rasheed ladoja of Oyo State as well as the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko and his Oyo and Ondo State counterparts, Chief Bayo Alao-Akala and Otunba Omolade Oluwateru respectively.
FAYOSE ADVISES PARENTS ON EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose has urged parents to intensify efforts at improving the quality of education of their children. The Governor gave the charged at Ikere-Ekiti while speaking with market women at the Oja-Oba.
Dr. Fayose who remarked that the success of their children and wards was a function of the quality of education and training given them when they were young. The Chief Executive advised against children hawking after school hours and urged parents to enroll their children evening classes in order to improve their academic performance.
He hinted that the results of students at NECO and WAEC examinations have improved considerably saying, Ekiti State has moved from its previous 35th position to 17th position.
The Governor assured that his Government would not relent efforts at ensuring that Ekiti State regained its pride of place as the fountain of knowledge. Dr. Fayose promised to influence and support the Chairman, Ikere Local Government, Hon. Banji Aluko in ensuring that the market stalls and shops under construction at the Oja-Oba market were completed without delay. He noted that work was in progress on the Ikere/Igbaraodo road as well as Ikere/Ise/Emure road adding that they would be completed soon.
The Governor who opined that the roads would enhance socio-economic activities of the people in the areas added that the two (2) poultry sites in Ikere-Ekiti would also provide employment for the unemployed as well as boost their protein intake.
Assuring that he would not relent efforts at improving social infrastructures in order to improve their standard of living, Governor Fayose solicited for a continued support for his Government to enable them enjoy more dividends of democracy.
The Chief Executive commended the Minister for his visit to the State with a view of developing the tourist potentials in order to generate more revenue. Earlier, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuequ marveled at the mystery of nature in Ikogosi which he said was unique and remarked that the warm and cold springs were a blessing to the people of the State. The Minister particularly wondered at two different species of trees, a palm and another three entirely, sharing the same root beside the meeting point of the warm and the cold springs adding that the vegetation of the area was still in its original natural form without being tampered with inspite of its long history of existence.
Amb. Ogbuewu who stressed the need for the Federal Government to work in conjunction with the State Government to develop the spring affirmed that the retention of the originality of the spring’s environment will make it acceptable and attractive to the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which, he said, its attention would be drawn to the spring for development to international standard.
He promised that a team from the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism would arrive Ekiti State next week to study the spring and its history with a view to making recommendations for the development of the cold and warm springs. The Minister who has earlier been conducted round some of the project sited of the Fayose administration in Ado-Ekiti, the State Capital, commended Governor Fayose for his genuine interest and love in the welfare of the Ekiti people and the development of the entire State.Sites visited included the on-going preparatory work on the dualization of the Ado-Ekiti township road at Okesha, the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, the Onigari-Spotless-GRA road, the Ajilosun-Palmgrove-Odo Ado road and Omisanjana road as well as the Ajilosun shopping complex among others.
The Special Adviser on political matters, Chief Kayode Osadare and other Senior officials of the State Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Tourism including Prince Kayode Oni and Mr Idowu Adebiyi were present during the tour.
NUT CHAIRMAN DEFENDS EKITI EDUCATIONAL POLICY.The Chairman of the Ekiti State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Joseph Arogundade has reacted to the criticism of the Fayose administration’s policy on education by the former Governor of the old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua. Comrade Arogundade described the allegation that the State Government has cancelled free education, as unfortunate and a misrepresentation of fact. The NUT Chairman made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing in the Governor’s Office after a meeting of the Head-Teachers with the Governor.
Comrade Arogundade affirmed that free education was still in place as no primary school pupil was any tuition fee adding that the N500 development levy being paid by the secondary school students was to ensure a more qualitative education in the State. The union leader recalled that education system was in shambles before Governor Fayose assumed office adding that the aftermath of the Education Summit organised by his administration last year has yielded positive results in the section. He cited the result of the common entrance as an example of improvement being witnessed in the sector saying despite the increment of the cut off mark from the old 40% to 45% level this year, the number of students who passed has increased from 3,000 to 12,000.
The Chairman expressed optimism that the forthcoming result of WAEC and NECO examinations would show a considerable improvement on the poor performance of the past.
Comrade Arogundade noted that the system which was characterized by mass failure of students, lack of instructional materials and dilapidated school structures has been reversed by the Fayose administration.
He affirmed that 50% of the development levy was retained in schools for the provision of instructional materials adding that imprest was now being given to Head teachers and Principals of Schools.
Comrade Arogundade commended Governor Fayose for his efforts at revamping and restoring cooperation with his administration.
GOVERNOR FAYOSE CHARGES BIR CHAIRMAN ON IGR
Chairman of Board of Internal revenue (BIR) in the thirty six states of the federation and the federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been charged to exploit all available avenue to generate more fund internally.
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose gave the charge in Ado-Ekiti while addressing the Conference gave the chairman of Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) who paid him a courtesy visit. Speaking through his Deputy, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, Governor Fayose described the BIR as the tripod on which the economy of the states and the nation stands. He noted that the meager amount being generated by many states as IGR was too small to sustain any meaningful development in event of a short fall in allocation to states from the federation accounts.
The Governor however commend the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue for performing creditably well in the last one year by increasing the state IGR from N30 million per month at the inception of the administration to the present figure of N105 million. Governor Fayose explained that funds generated was being judiciously spent on projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people. In a related development, Governor Fayose has urged the JIB to look critically into nation’s tax laws with a view to removing areas that are not in consonance with modern trends.
Dr. Fayose gave the charge while declaring open the 108th Joint Tax Board (JIB) meeting of the Federation in Ado-Ekiti. He charged the body to prefer solutions to the problem of multiple taxation in the country.
The Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui explained that the JTB as a statutory body consisting of the Federal Board of Internal Revenue and the thirty six states Board of Internal revenue meets regularly to appraise the performance of members with a view to development of the entire tax various challenges for the improvement of the entire tax administration system.
She thanked the state government for hosting the meeting and promised that the body would propound solutions that will improve the economy of the nation.
The Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Elder Samuel Kayode who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oluwole Ariyo charged the JTB to ensure the potency of the nation’s tax laws in all fronts and accord the laws its pride of place.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Board of Internal revenue, Mr. Charles Ajiboye lauded the state government for fulfilling its promise to the Board, assuring that the Board would live up expectation.
Directorate of Information Technology, Ekiti State, Nigeria.