Dwindling Oil Revenue: Oyo Lawmakers Donate 30-percent Monthly Income to Civil Servants' Salaries

As COVID-19 pandemic bites harder on the global economy leading to drastic drop in oil price, national revenue and subsequently about 60 percent drop in federal allocation to States, the Oyo state House of Assembly has agreed to a 30 per cent slash in their monthly allocation effective from April.

The 30 percent deduction includes both the lawmakers' salaries and other monthly allowances entitled to them as State honourables.

This sacrifice will be made by political office holders in Oyo State to ensure the regular payment of civil servants' salaries is not affected  irrespective of the economic situation of the State.

The agreement was reached when Governor Seyi Makinde met with the state’s lawmakers at government house, at the weekend.

At the meeting, Governor Makinde explained that the pandemic had resulted in about 60 per cent drop in the federal allocation and it is taking toll on the state’s economy.

Chairman, Oyo House Committee on Information and Media, Honorable Kazeem Olayanju said the lawmakers agreed to the slash in the interest of the smooth running of the state.

“Our income has been slashed by 30 per cent as our support towards COVID-19. The governor brought the idea and we agreed that effective this month, there should be the 30 per cent deduction.

“We were made to understand that the pandemic had greatly affected the economy of the country and the state as well as that the Federal Government has reduced allocation by 60 per cent.

“This situation could have affected regular payment of salary of Oyo State civil servants but the governor maintained that irrespective the economic situation of Oyo state, the salary of civil servants must not be affected. Hence, we agreed that political office holders should make sacrifices,” Olayanju said.

BREAKING: Court Restrains Sacked Oyo LG Chairmen, AGF, IGP From Forceful Takeover Of LG Councils

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the State capital, on Tuesday restrained the 68 sacked council chairmen and chairmen of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the forceful and illegal takeover of the council offices across the state.

The Court, presided over by Honourable Justice Moshud A.A. Abass, granted the four reliefs sought by the lead counsel to the Oyo State Government, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN, including an order of interim injunction restraining the sacked chairmen from forcefully taking over the Local Government Councils or taking steps capable of causing breach of peace in the State.

The orders of interim injunction, which were granted by the Oyo State High Court followed an ex-parte motion filed by the State Government in Suit No: I/78/2020.
Also restrained were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr. Shina Olukolu, and the Oyo State APC chairman, Mr. Akin Oke.

The parties and their agents were restrained from taking any step that could tamper with the pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

According to the Court, the sacked chairmen, as well as the four other defendants, their officers, agents, privies or otherwise, were restrained from taking steps that would cause a breach of peace by embarking on self-help to give effect to a letter dated 14th January 2020 with reference number HAGF/OYO/2020/VOL.I/1 issued by the Attorney General of the Federation to the sacked chairmen and the Inspector General of Police pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

LG crisis: We will prosecute those who vandalized LGs properties -Oyo govt

…Says sacked chairmen’s destruction of councils criminal

’Govt’ll await Appeal Court judgment’

 

The government of Oyo State declared on Monday that it will bring the full weight of the law to bear on the criminal and violent takeover of some Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas' secretariats by the dissolved illegal chairmen loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports from different parts of Oyo State confirmed on Monday that the sacked chairmen resorted to break-ins and vandalisation of government properties, leading some imposters to seize offices of council Chairmen.

The State Government, in a statement by Honourable Babatunde Oduyoye, the Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, maintained that the action of the sacked chairmen amounted to criminality and unwarranted provocation.

It condemned what it called unwarranted lawlessness and motor-park-like brigandage perpetrated by the sacked chairmen on Monday.

According to the State Government, the imposters broke into council offices, vandalising gates, doors, windows and other properties at the respective local council secretariats.

The government, however, appealed to the teeming people of the State to remain calm, law-abiding and patient, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on the matter slated for 19 February 2020.

It promised that  "a drastic measure “will be taken on the reports of destruction and violence which characterised the actions of the sacked chairmen on Monday.

Hon Oduyoye said: "We have received reports of vandalisation of government property. We have received reports of wanton destruction of doors, windows, and others, and I can tell you that the governor will not sit down and watch while some people decide to be lawless. This is criminal and the government will pursue it to a logical conclusion. 

"So, pending the determination of the cases at the Court of Appeal, I think it is only appropriate for these chairmen to be law-abiding because we had said earlier that it is sub judice and we cannot do anything until these cases are determined in the court. 

"For the records, the state government, in a statement yesterday, did say that we are going to ensure we do not allow a breakdown of law and order. As we speak, there are two cases in the Court of Appeal and the cases are coming up on February 19th. I do not know why the Attorney-General of the Federation wrote such a letter that is now being used as excuse by some to act recklessly. We will recall that he did a similar thing on the issue of Amotekun.”

The Special Adviser added that as a law-abiding and peace-loving Government, the 68 caretaker chairmen appointed by Governor Makinde were directed to stay away from the secretariats in order to forestall an outbreak of violence, noting, however, that the chairmen have been charged with keeping peace and order in their respective local councils.

He added: “We in Oyo State are law-abiding citizens. The government directed the chairmen to maintain peace. We have just finished a meeting now and workers in the state under the umbrella of NULGE are on strike, and you now begin to ask why the sacked APC council chairmen went to the local government councils. 

“The issue is, there is industrial action by NULGE. I think they are justified by the level of reports we have received of people macheting PDP members they found around the local government councils’ premises, destroying government properties, forcing doors open and all that. NULGE was right to have taken such a decision. We do not begrudge them for doing that but we have told our people to be law-abiding. We have told the chairmen too to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order within the local government areas.”

Speaking on the situation that led to the current imbroglio, Oduyoye maintained that the Court should be allowed to take its decision on who is right or wrong on the matter on ground, insisting, however, that the government, under the leadership of Governor Makinde, would not sit down and watch some desperate elements destroy the state and create fear in the minds of the people.

"Whether one is right or the other is wrong, it is not for me to decide. The court will decide.  This is a very simple matter. An election was held when there was an injunction. Second, elections took place in LCDAs not recognised by the Constitution. These are matters before the court.

“As I said, the court will decide if you can conduct elections in areas not recognized by the constitution and, if you can go ahead to conduct an election when there was a pending injunction, these are matters for the Court of Appeal to decide upon.

Pending that time, we have appealed to the good people of Oyo State to be calm, law-abiding and we will ensure we do something about the report sent to us on those who have destroyed government property,” Oduyoye said.

Signed

Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye

Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters

January 27, 2020.

"Attorney General has no legitimate power to use police meddle in Oyo State politics" -Ibadan Advancement Group

Open Letter to IG of Police, Muhammed Adamu on Oyo LG chairmen composition and related matters

It is with utmost sense of responsibility that we wish to appreciate your intervention on the lingering contention in the composition of executive councils in local government authorities in our dear Oyo State. We believe that your interest in the matters of local government administration in the state is in line with your duty to ensure maintenance law and order in the state and everywhere else in Nigeria.

While we assure you of being in support of your desire for the promotion of peace in Oyo State, we would like to raise some objections to your recent instruction to the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State ordering him to ensure the reinstatement of local government chairmen who are currently under suspension by the state government.

Without a slightest intention of undermining your office, we want to put it on record that it is not within the contemplation of the police to give enforcement orders on a matter that is yet before the courts. It will be stating the obvious that any such instruction to the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to meddle into a matter of political nature would give the Nigeria Police a wrong representation as having a partisan interest in the matter. Such political bias would deprive the police of its legitimacy as an impartial agent of law enforcement. And that, for sure, will not be a pleasant description of the police authority under your able watch.

Let us also state that any signal of partisanship by the police in the matter could breach the balance of peace in Oyo State with untoward consequences.

We are not unawares of the fact that your instruction to Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu came on the heels of a letter written by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami asking the Oyo State government to dissolve all local government caretaker committee chairmen in the state and to reinstall the suspended chairmen.

It would be appropriate to draw your attention to the response by the Oyo State Commission of Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo and widely published in Nigerian newspapers and blogs. The state government  aversion to the directive from the AGF Malami is also premised on the fact that the federal government has no business to order instructions on a matter which determination is still pending before the court.

In the rejoinder entitled “RE: ALLEGED UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF DISSOLUTION OF ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS AND APPOINTMENT OF CARETAKER COMMITTEES: THE URGENT NEED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH EXTANT JUDICIAL DECISIONS,” Professor Oyewo said: “I wish to note that your letter Ref. No, HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.1/1 of 14th January, 2020 dealing with the above subject matter was never served on us, but we read about it and had to secure a copy from the social media.

“I must note that under Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which you referred to in your letter, it is the Law of the State Government that is to ensure the existence of the system of Local Government by democratically elected Local Government Council by providing for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils and not a Federal Law/Act.

“It is therefore not clear under what Act of the National Assembly the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice was acting in writing the letter under reference.

“It should be borne in mind that our Constitution has established a Federal system of government whereby the state government is not under the command of the Federal Government, neither are we under Military Era when the Federal Government could give a binding order to the State Government by mere proclamation and at will. We are now in a civilian dispensation and the position of every officer whether at the Federal or State level is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and relevant law.”

Similarly, Governor Seyi Makinde in a press statement from his office noted that the statement credited to Malami was, "uncalled for, misguided and lacking in merit, as far as the constitution of Nigeria is concerned."

According to the statement, the issue of local government dissolution in Oyo state is a subject of stay/appeal that is pending before the Court of Appeal in two cases including Governor of Oyo State Vs Basorun Bosun Ajuwon, Appeal no CA/IB/300/2019 and Basorun Majeed Bosun Ajuwon Vs Governor of Oyo State CA/IB/362/2019.

The statement notes further that, "It is also instructive to note that parties have filed their respective briefs of argument and the appeals have now been fixed for the 19th of February, 2020."

The Government called on Malami to rise above partisan politics and advise parties to await judgment of the court in the various appeals.

It is, therefore, on this note that we too call on you to absolve your esteemed office and the police institution from being manipulated by politicians in the opposition APC in Oyo State in such a way that will bring ridicule to the Nigeria Police and, worse still, compromise the current atmosphere of peace and security enjoyed in Oyo State.

We have it on good authority that some unscrupulous elements from the opposition party are angling to use the dispute on the composition of local government executive committee in the state to stir crisis and breakdown of law and order. We would wish that the police do not become a tool in the hands of these enemies of peace.

On a final note, we would humbly request that you reverse your order to Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu and consequently allow the police to maintain its status as an impartial agent of law enforcement until the court dispenses with applications seeking redress on the contentious issue.

 

Your's Sincerely:

Chief Ramoni Alebiosu

President, Ibadan Advancement Group

You can't dabble in Oyo LG dissolution matter pending before Appeal Court—Oyo AG replies Malami

...says AGF lacked adequate information on matter

... Malami's letter not served on us—Oyo AG

The Government of Oyo State has rejected the purported intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) & Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) in the raging controversy over local government dissolution in the state.

The Attorney-General of Oyo State, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, in a four-page response to a letter by the AGF, said that though the AGF did not submit the said letter to his office, he had to source the same from the social media in view of the weighty nature of the issues.

According to Prof. Oyewo, the AGF has no business dabbling into the matter of local government dissolution in Oyo State which is pending before the Court of Appeal.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa indicated on Thursday, that the statement credited to Malami was uncalled for, misguided and lacking in merit, as far as the constitution of Nigeria is concerned.

 The Government of Oyo State maintained that Malami’s letter dated 14 January, 2020, was written without adequate information and knowledge of the current position of the subject matter of dissolution of local government in the State.

According to the statement, the issue of local government dissolution in Oyo state is a subject of stay/appeal that is pending before the Court of Appeal in two cases including Governor of Oyo State Vs Basorun Bosun Ajuwon, Appeal no CA/IB/300/2019 and Basorun Majeed Bosun Ajuwon Vs Governor of Oyo State CA/IB/362/2019.

“It is also instructive to note that parties have filed their respective briefs of argument and the appeals have now been fixed for the 19th of February, 2020,” the statement read. 

 The Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Oyo State equally declared that only the court and not the AGF could pronounce an order on the matter, which was sub judice.

The Government called on Malami to rise above partisan politics and advise parties to await judgment of the court in the various appeals.

The Government added that the Constitution of the country had empowered States to ensure the existence and functioning of local governments, noting that it was not aware of any Act of the National Assembly that empowered the AGF to write the letter in which he purportedly barked orders at the State Government.   

In the rejoinder entitled "RE: ALLEGED UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF DISSOLUTION OF ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS AND APPOINTMENT OF CARETAKER COMMITTEES: THE URGENT NEED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH EXTANT JUDICIAL DECISIONS," Professor Oyewo said: "I wish to note that your letter Ref. No, HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.1/1 of 14th January, 2020 dealing with the above subject matter was never served on us, but we read about it and had to secure a copy from the social media.

"I must note that under Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which you referred to in your letter, it is the Law of the State Government that is to ensure the existence of the system of Local Government by democratically elected Local Government Council by providing for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils and not a Federal Law/Act.

"It is therefore not clear under what Act of the National Assembly the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice was acting in writing the letter under reference.

"It should be borne in mind that our Constitution has established a Federal system of government whereby the state government is not under the command of the Federal Government, neither are we under Military Era when the Federal Government could give a binding order to the State Government by mere proclamation and at will. We are now in a civilian dispensation and the position of every officer whether at the Federal or State level is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and relevant law.”

The Oyo AG referred the AGF to two cases including Attorney-General Lagos Vs Attorney-General Federation (2004) 18 N.W.LR (PT.S 904)II and Attorney General Abia Vs Attorney-General Federation(2002) 6 N.W.L.R (PT. 763)264.

The letter continued: “We are of the firm belief that your letter under reference was written without adequate information and knowledge of the current position with respect to the subject matter of Local Government Dissolution in Oyo State. A careful diligent search would have shown that the issue of Dissolution of Local Government in Oyo is presently a subject matter of stay/appeal and pending at the Court of Appeal in the following cases; a.) Governor of Oyo State vs Basorun Bosun Ajuwon Appeal NO CA/IB/300/2019 and b.) Basorun Majeed Bosun Ajuwon vs Governor of Oyo State CA/IB/362/2019.”

The Government of Oyo State, however, took exception to perceived threats by Malami, especially his directive to some federal agencies to “ensure compliance,” noting that until the constitutional right of appeal, which is guaranteed in the country’s adjudicatory system, is exhausted, Malami had no right to dabble in the matter of the local government dissolution or threaten the State.

 “We, therefore, want to advise the Attorney-General of the Federation to rise above partisan politics and advise parties to await judgment of the court in the various appeals. To do otherwise is to foist a fait accompli on the court. As a law-abiding Government, we are prepared to abide by the decision of the court when eventually delivered. We are, however, unperturbed by the subtle threat in your letter and your directives to take steps to ensure compliance of a cited judgment in which Oyo State was never a party and on a live matter in which an appeal is pending.

"For the avoidance of doubt, please note further that in Oyo State, the issue of Local Government administration is presently before the court of competent jurisdiction and by our adjudicatory system, whoever is aggrieved by the decision of a court has the constitutional right of appeal. Until such right is exhausted, the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice cannot dabble into such matter. We are aware of the provisions of Section 174 (1) to (3) of the CFRN, 1999 (as amended) but they only relate to criminal proceedings and not civil matters as in this case. The action of the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice is therefore uncalled for with respect to a matter that is sub judice. It is only a court of law that can given such an order and not the office of the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice. All the cases referred to in your letter mentioned above are not on all fours with the present cases involving Oyo State because the facts are not the same. A case is an authority for what it decides.

"It will therefore be in interest of justice to allow the rule of law to prevail by letting the pending cases involving Oyo State on the dissolution of Local Governments in Oyo State to run their full course in the law courts.”

Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo -Oyo State Attorney General. 

Oyelowo Oyewo is a Professor of Public Law at the University of Lagos before appointment as Attorney General. A legal consultant with over 30 years’ experience in constitutional, administrative, environmental, business transactions, governance and development law. He has worked in several public and private institutions including the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Oyo govt embark on inspection of fire fighting vehicles in eastern europe

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is reportedly undergoing inspection tour of an east European country putting finishing touches to the purchase of fire-fighting equipment for the state.

The inspection tour it was learnt, that Governor Makinde and a few top government functionaries  were in Turkey on Tueday to ensure modern fire fighting machinery be bought for Oyo State fire services. The importation of the equipment would take the Turkish auto company close to 6 months before delivering them to the state, Oyo Insight reported.

The governor was in company of Mr. Dare Adeleke,  chairman of the Pacesetters Transport Service, PTS; Mogaji Akin Fagbemi who is the chairman of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, OYRTMA and others.

Makinde, it would be recalled, had during his visit to victims of the inferno in Akesan Market, Oyo, promised his administration’s bid to buy 10 fire-fighting trucks. This development is taking less than 20 days since the incidence.

The State’s Commissioner for Infrastructure, Transportation and Public Works, Professor Raphael Afonja, who made the disclosure while undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of the fire-ravaged Akesan Market, (Oja Akesan) in Oyo town, had said that the process that would lead to the acquisition of the equipment would start days after the incidence.

This was after he revealed that the Makinde administration inherited a Fire Service Department with weakened capacity as a result of obsolete equipment.

Prince Afonja further then revealed that the incumbent administration had flagged off a process of rehabilitating the serviceable fire-fighting trucks so as to provide immediate service to the people.

Stating  that the process of rehabilitating the inherited trucks was still ongoing when the outbreak of fire incidents occurred repeatedly, the Commissioner said: “The last time fire-fighting equipment was procured in the state was in 2006. The present government has, however, kick-started the rehabilitation of the few serviceable fire-fighting trucks. The one that was vandalised in Oyo was just repaired the day before when it developed gear problems after returning from an assignment.

“Last month we engaged a company that will help us refurbish and salvage some of our existing trucks including the one that was vandalized in Oyo.

Credit: Oyo Insight 

Oyo State Infrastructure Dev Among Deals Worth Billions Signed At UK-Africa Investment Summit

 Deals worth billions signed at UK-Africa Investment Summit In London.

Following the UK-Africa Investment Summit held in London, Nigeria can boast of itch-free business relationship with Britain, who has sought to boost trade in view of UK's imminent exit from the European Union.  Among notable deals with Nigeria is Oyo State modern street-lighting infrastructure embarked upon by Governor Seyi Makinde. The summit has emphasised United Kingdom aim to be Africa's partner of choice for trade and investment, NUJ Europe reports.

The stance was made during the UK-Africa Investment Summit hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It was attended by Presidents and top government representatives of African nations. President Muhammadu Buhari has over the weekend pen-ultimate the summit visited Prince of Wales and also earlier  met with  some Nigerians in the diaspora, including the 2-time world Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

In the lead up to the Summit, £6.5 billion of commercial deals were signed by British companies and Africa to deliver jobs, growth and investment across the UK and Africa, with further deals worth billions made during the Summit.

The deals involved well-known British firms such as Matalan, who have announced a £25m investment into Egypt to launch 11 new shopping outlets; GSK who have committed a further £5m investment into Egypt; and Diageo who have announced a £167m investment into Kenya and East Africa to support the sustainability of breweries.

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma said:

 'We have much to offer African nations - UK aid is tackling climate change and supporting women entrepreneurs, our tech and digital expertise is helping Africa grow new industries and the City of London is channelling billions of private investment into Africa, boosting jobs and growth.

'This Summit is a major step in unlocking the UK’s unique offer, becoming Africa’s investment partner of choice and benefiting people and businesses across the UK and Africa."

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: 

'It’s great to see so many British firms paving the way in trading and investing in the region to drive growth, create jobs and boost vital infrastructure.

A summary of the deals

Deals between UK companies and their African partners include:

• Aggreko signed an £80m contact extension for energy provision in Cote D’Ivoire
• Airbus sold £80m of aircraft in Egypt
• Anglo-Tunisian Oil and Gas invest £26m in Tunisian gas assets.
• Aqua Africa win £26m export contract to supply solar powered water filtration systems in Ghana.
• Baker Hughes £306m export and investment of deep-sea equipment and scholarships in Mozambique
• BHM £80.3m work on the Tema-Aflao Road Project in Ghana.
• Bombardier’s £3,180m construction and operation of 2 monorail lines in Cairo.
• Contracta Construction UK win £120.5m export contract to upgrade Kumasi teaching hospital in Ghana.
• Contracta Construction UK win £40m export contract to develop Kumasi airport in Ghana.
• Tullow invest £1,200m in continued oil production in Kenya.
• Tyllium and Ellipse win an export contract worth £60m to provide 250 new beds for a general hospital in Koforidua in Ghana.
• Unatrac win a £1.5m export contract to supply machinery for Ugandan roads.
• Diageo invest £167m to improved sustainability of breweries in Kenya & East Africa.
• Globeleq invest £50m to help build of Malindi photovoltaic solar park in Kenya.
• GSK invest £5m in Egypt to upgrade two production lines.
• Kefi Minerals invest £224m in a new gold mine and to develop local infrastructure in Kenya.
• Lagan Group win a £185 export contract for the construction of Kampala Industrial Business Park in Uganda.
• Lloyds Register invest £0.76m to set up operations in Mozambique.
• Matalan invest £25m to open 13 new outlets in Egypt.
• Moy Park to export £12m of frozen chicken to Angola.
• Nexus Green export £80m of solar powered water pumping systems for irrigation in Uganda.
• NMS Infrastructure invest £222m in the construction of 6 hospitals in Côte D’Ivoire.
• Rolls Royce purchase £50m of aircraft engines in Egypt.

 Nigeria -UK signed deals 

• Low Energy Designs win an export contract to install street lighting for Oyo state in Nigeria.

• Trilliant to install £5m of Smart Metering to Abuja DisCo In Nigeria.
• Savannah invest £315m in the acquisition and investment of ingas assets in Nigeria. 
• Tex ATC to install 5 Airport control room towers worth £2m in Nigeria.

Put together by Lashley Oladigbolu, accredited Journalist of the World Bank Online Media Briefing Centre.