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Oyo LG Polls: 4,900 Candidates To Vie For 384 Seats

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Over 4,900 candidates are set to vie for 33 chairmanship and 351 councillorship seats in the forthcoming local government elections in Oyo State.
   A total of 19 political parties are to participate in the elections scheduled for April 27 with parties like the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) having candidates spread across all local government areas.
Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mr Isiaka Olagunju made this known in a conversation with The Tide’s source, following the completion of screening of list of candidates.
Asked about petitions received by the commission thus far, Olagunju said it had received two petitions challenging the certificates of some candidates.
Meanwhile, the 19 parties contesting the election are upbeat about the chances of their candidates, with parties like Boot Party (BP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) stating that they fielded candidates only in places where they consider their strong areas.
While the major opposition, the APC, said it was going to put up a great fight against the PDP, the ruling party in the state said it was so popular that it would defeat even a coalition of the APC and other parties. Publicity Secretary, Oyo APC, Mr Olawale Sadare, said the party was contesting to change the status quo of the ruling party sweeping local government elections because of its concern to rescue the local government system, which it said had been bastardised by the PDP led government in the state.
Sadare said: “This is the first time a major opposition party will participate in local government election. Since we started this democratic dispensation since 1999, it has always been a one-sided thing, the major political party never participated.
“We are changing the status quo. We want to work for the people. It won’t be business as usual. PDP should be ready for a good fight. Their plan is to completely annihilate the third tier of government and we will not allow that to happen.
“We want to revamp, resuscitate the local government system in the state which has been bastardised by the current administration. We want to give people a choice to rescue the local government system in the state.”
But, the PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Micheal Ogunsina, expressed confidence that the election would be an easy ride for the PDP, saying it would defeat even a coalition of APC and other parties.
He hinged his confidence on what he described as the love and popularity of Governor Seyi Makinde in the State, adding that just like the PDP was massively supported in the governorship election, it would also get massive votes of people in the local government election. Ogunsina said, “I really think it will be an easy ride for the PDP. I don’t think the participation of the opposition parties will change anything. I don’t think they are that popular. I know they are not that interesting to people of Oyo State.
“PDP is the party to beat in Oyo State. If all the opposition come together to form a coalition against us in the forthcoming local government election, they will be defeated. We are that popular.
“The PDP in Oyo State is Seyi Makinde’s party. Seyi Makinde is the governor loved by the people and they will be willing to ensure that their representatives at the local government level are in sync with the state government. There is nothing to be scared of.”

 

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Reps Urge FG To Pay ASUU, NASU’s Withheld Salaries

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).
This followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Fulata said that the government must accede to the unions’ demands because they were genuine.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the President to direct the relevant bodies to come up with modalities for negotiation with both ASUU and NASU.
The House said this would enable them to come up with workable, implementable and final agreement to be signed by both parties.
The House urged the president to direct the Ministry of Finance, to ensure full implementation.
The House mandated its Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Federal Colleges of Education, Labour and Productivity, Finance, Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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Bill To Prescribe Salaries, Allowances Of Judicial Officers Pass 2nd Reading

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The bill seeking to prescribe salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of Judicial office holders in Nigeria has passed second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill, Ashiru said the bill, an executive bill, was forwarded to the two Chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, in accordance with provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He said the bill, in a nutshell, seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in order to nip in the bud, the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration.
This, he said was to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the time.
Ashiru said the bill intends to unify the salary structure, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial officers holders both in the Federal and at the State levels.
“This proposed legal framework, undoubtedly, will bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.”
He said that the intent of the bill was in conformity with the current administration’s resolve to strengthen the country’s Judiciary and the criminal justice system .
This, he said was to ensure its independence in the performance of its constitutional role, as the arbiter of the temple of justice.
He urged the senators to support the expeditious passage of the bill in view of its importance to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), who seconded the motion said it was necessary to ensure adequate remuneration of Judicial officers was in line with the current economic reality.
He said that there was the need to provide an adequate remuneration that would prevent judicial officials from being tempted for corruption.
Sen. Orji Kalu (APC- Abia ) commended the executive for presenting the bill to prescribe a remuneration for the judicial arm of government, saying that no right thinking Nigerian would want to oppose it.
He urged the officials to ensure that justice is dispensed rightly to Nigerians.
He also urged the government to improve remuneration of other sectors given the economic reality.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) said the President has done creditably well by presenting the bill for remuneration of the judicial officials.
He said the judicial officials had suffered in silence for as they were not disposed to speaking up on the issues, just like the labour unions.
He said it was cheery and commendable for President Tinubu to have brought the bill, which was designed to enhance the salary and welfare of the judicial officials.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio said presentation of the bill was a right step in the right direction by President Tinubu.
Akpabio, referred the bill to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks, after the bill was read for the second time.

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Court To Hear Suit Against Ganduje’s Suspension, May 28

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Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has fixed May 28 for hearing in the substantive application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Dr Ganduje is challenging his suspension from the party by factional ward executives led by one Basiru Nuhu Isa.
He was first suspended by APC Ganduje Ward executives led by one Haladu Gwanjo on April 15. Another faction emerged and also announced suspension of Dr Ganduje on April 20.
The Tide source reports that the secretary of the party in Kano, Zakari Sarina, said the suspension by the faction was another case of impersonation.
Dr Ganduje is seeking a declaration that his suspension from the party without giving him opportunity to defend himself amounts to violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
He is also seeking a declaration that his suspension by the faction was unlawful, null and void.
Counsel for the embattled APC chairman, Hadiza Ahmad, applied for service on the respondents by substituted means which the court granted.
Justice Liman adjourned to May 28 for hearing in the matter.

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