Nation
Oyo Owes Me N1.2bn, Olubadan Insists
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, yesterday faulted the Oyo State government’s claim that it does not owe the Olubadan-in-council over N1.2 billion salary arrears.
Oba Obulana insisted that he is being owed N1.2 billion.
The money, which, he said, covers January 2008 till May, this year, represents five percent due to the council from the 11 local government areas that make up Ibadan.
In an August 10 letter to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Hosea Agboola, which was signed by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye, Oba Odulana said by the virtue of circular issued on January 6, 1997, the five per cent ought to the council on which he presides as chairman.
He said the experience in recent times is that the government only pays any amount it deemed fit after making some deductions.
The Olubadan insisted that the payment of any amount other than the five per cent of the gross allocation to the councils violates the law.
He said the council was owed N978,022,000 last year. This is besides, the N246,584, it is owed from January till May , this year, bringing the total amount to N1.244 billion.
The letter reads: “The experience in Ibadan is that from the time of the previous civilian governors and the present governor, the traditional councils in Ibadanland are only paid any amount left after a lot of deductions have been made by the state government.
“The payment of any amount other than the five per cent of the gross allocation to the local government council violates the directives of circular FGHMFCT of No. 619 on 6th January 1997 and adopted with circular CB211/Vol.IV/362 on 8th February 1999.”
Oba Odulana challenged Agboola to tell the people whether the local government councils in Ibadanland have fulfilled the law.
He said the councils have been the custodians of the traditional council’s accounts, contrary to the directive that the Olubadan should be the accounting officer.
“It is also necessary to state that the accounts of the traditional council in Ibadanland are kept by the local government, contrary to the directitve that the Royal Majesty should be accounting officer.”
“As at the moment, the Kabiyesi does not have information as to how the account of the traditional councils are kept, the balances in the account and the amount paid into the account from the Federation Allocation.”
“In the circumstances, the Kabiyesi and/or his acting chairman have no knowledge of the traditional accounts of the 11 local government traditional councils,” the letter said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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