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Oyebanji Unveils Platform To Track Projects In Ekiti

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Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has inaugurated a Strategic Pillar Monitoring System, tagged Ekiti Dashboard, to enhance efficiency by providing seamless and real-time monitoring of government programmes and projects to ensure value for money.

Oyebanji said that the success of any administration depended on its ability to efficiently monitor and evaluate project implementation.

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The governor stated this in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while inaugurating the Dashboard.

He described the initiative as part of his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in public service.

READ ALSO: 2 Men To Die By Hanging For Armed Robbery In Ekiti

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He said, “The innovative platform will further enable this administration to identify challenges promptly, allocate resources effectively, improve service delivery and ensure timely completion of critical projects aligned with his six pillars of development.

“This dashboard is a cutting-edge tool designed to provide real-time information on the status, progress and impact of all government projects in Ekiti State. I am pleased to inform you that this innovative system is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it represents our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in public service”

Oyebanji lauded the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, led by Dr John Ekundayo, for the innovation in project monitoring and evaluation.

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The governor described the initiative as “a game changer that will further empower citizens to actively participate by providing them with tools to monitor and evaluate performances. The platform will also help track progress and monitor the execution of projects from inception to completion”.

READ ALSO: 2 Men To Die By Hanging For Armed Robbery In Ekiti

He said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here today to commission into use the strategic pillar monitoring system dashboard, an ICT infrastructure developed to ensure seamless and real-time monitoring of programmes and projects of the government.”

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The Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, John Ekundayo, said, “The initiative is to track the progress of projects across the state as encapsulated in the six pillars of the administration”.

Ekundayo said, “The SPMS is more than just a tool, it represents our commitment to transparency, efficiency and result-driven governance by harnessing the power of data, cutting-edge technology in revolutionising our approach to project management, enabling us to track progress, make informed decisions, depict transparency and ensure accountability.

READ ALSO: Pupils Relocated As Thunderstorm Fire Razes Ekiti School

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“The Dashboard is a testament to the Governor Oyebanji administration’s dedication to leveraging technology for good governance. As we kickstart the Ekiti Dashboard, the state has embarked on a new era of collaboration, innovation and excellence.

“I, therefore, urge all stakeholders to utilise this tool to drive positive change and populate the state Dashboard by sharing the link and ensuring the successful delivery of our projects in the trajectory towards the shared prosperity mantra of this administration.”

Among the top government functionaries at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo; members of the State Executive Council and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

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Poly Ibadan: Mixed Reactions Trail Renaming, Alumni Kick

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Mixed reactions have trailed Thursday’s renaming of The Polytechnic Ibadan, with the institution’s alumni largely calling for a review.

The respondents expressed their diverse views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, with members of the alumni frowning at the change of name.

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Recall that Gov. Seyi Makinde announced the institution’s renaming after the late ex-governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, during the deceased’s commendation service in Ibadan.

Mr Yomi Akande, an alumnus and the institute’s Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) leader, said many other alumni had been expressing dissatisfaction since the announcement.

“As an alumnus of The Polytechnic Ibadan, the name of the institution is a force to reckon with anywhere in the world.

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“So, taking away that name is somehow because of the prestige that comes with it.

“The governor needed to have considered other factors before making such a pronouncement.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Oyo Ex-governor, Olunloyo, Is Dead

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“The name of the late Dr Omololu Olunloyo is good, but what many people are against is the changing of the name, The Polytechnic Ibadan.

“It is not that the change of name will bring new development to the school,” he said.

Another alumnus, Mr Olaoluwa Olabode, said that the renaming would affect both past and current students negatively.

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According to him, he doesn’t see the move bringing any improvement to the educational institution, alleging that it was done with a political undertone.

What benefits would the change of name bring to the school?” Olabode queried.

In his opinion, another alumnus, Mr Sanmi Olatunde, said perhaps the government should have renamed a particular building in the school instead of the institution’s name.

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READ ALSO: Trade Volume Between Vietnam, Nigeria Surpasses $1bn – Envoy

This is the only polytechnic we have in Ibadan; it is not right that the name of the institution is changed,” Olatunde said.

Calling for a review, an Ibadan indigene and alumnus, Mr Tayo Olaleye, described the institution as the pride of the ancient city of Ibadan that should not be tampered with.

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According to him, it is not acceptable for the name to be changed at will.

Furthermore, Olaleye said the renaming would affect the students in easily securing favour and job opportunities with the alumni.

This is a prestigious institution whose name has been resounding in many spheres for decades, at home and abroad, so we do not welcome the sudden renaming,” Olaleye said.

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Meanwhile, Comrade Tiamiyu Ademola, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Oyo State Chapter, said the renaming would not affect the institution’s reputation.

According to him, the institution’s reputation will stand provided its management maintains its standard.

He also urged the students not to allow the matter to lead to any form of protest.

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READ ALSO: Olunloyo: Goodnight, Voltaire

However, he noted that the decision could still be reversed with genuine arguments from alumni and other stakeholders of the institution.

We believe that Gov. Seyi Makinde is a listening governor; with the right approach, I believe the decision can still be reversed,” he said.

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However, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Moshood Olaleke, hailed Makinde for honouring Olunloyo with the gesture.

Olaleke said no honour would be too great for Olunloyo, whom he referred to as a great mathematician.

He described the three months Olunloyo spent as the executive governor of the old Oyo State before the military took over as remarkable.

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According to him, Olunloyo had already put in place a solid structure for good governance before the coup that terminated his tenure.

He said that Makinde should be commended for recognising the positive contributions of the late technocrat to the state.

Recall that Olunloyo died on April 6, a few days before April 14, when he would have turned 90 years old.
(NAN)

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Former Vice Governor Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Bribery

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A Chinese court on Thursday sentenced Zhang Zulin, former vice governor of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, to life imprisonment for accepting bribes.

According to the verdict of the Intermediate People’s Court of Chongqing Municipality, Zhang will deprived of his political rights for life; his personal property will be confiscated, and his illegal gains from bribery will be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Gospel Singer Sentenced To Death For Killing Girlfriend

The court found that Zhang had taken advantage of his positions in Yunnan between 2001 and 2023 to assist individuals and organisations in matters related to real estate development, project contracting, project approval, and obtaining loans.

The court stated that he accepted money and valuables worth more than 122 million yuan (approximately $ 17.03 million) in return.

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Zhang’s case was presented to the court in an open trial on April 10.

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Strike: NLC To Shutdown FCT After Tinubu’s Project Inaugurations Labour

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The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says it is mobilising to shut down the territory after President Bola Tinubu concludes his projects’ inauguration on July 3.

The Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

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Knabayi explained that the move was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to address the area council workers’ lingering strike.

NAN reports that primary health care centres were under lock and key, primary school teachers had been at home while the six area councils’ secretariat were abandoned by the workers for months.

Primary school teachers and other area council workers embarked on a series of strikes over non-payment of minimum wage and 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

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READ ALSO:Sealing Spree: FCTA Sledge Hammer Hits FIRS Office, Bank, Fuel Station, Others

Other unresolved issues included the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.

The NLC chair, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, said that the area council chairmen left the union with no option but to shut down the FCT.

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He recalled that the union had on June 13, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the teachers, health workers and other area council workers.

He explained that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the NUT, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the National Association of Health Workers Union.

He noted that the ultimatum had expired on June 20 and the NLC was yet to take any action.

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READ ALSO:Tinubu Orders 14-day Grace Period For FCT Ground Rent Defaulters

Knabayi explained that the union backpedalled to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete the inauguration of projects executed by the FCT Administration, as part of activities to celebrate his second year in office.

“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT executed project.

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“Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations, hopefully on July 3.

“We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” he said.

He added that the NLC had already informed the FCT Administration and security agencies of the planned protest to shut down the territory as the last resort to press home their demands.

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He said it was very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare cities in the area councils.

READ ALSO:FCT Doctors Begin Warning Strike Over Sack Of Health Workers

He noted that although the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage began across the six area councils in May, it was stopped the following month with no explanation to the workers.

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“Like you know, strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other opinion.

“We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful,” he said.

Knabayi alleged that the area council chairmen were spending huge resources in preparations for the 2016 February FCT Area Councils’ Election.

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According to him, the funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers’ outstanding entitlements.

He called on the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to take a more decisive action to compel the area council chairmen to settle the council workers welfare concerns.

READ ALSO:FCT Unveils Committee To Monitor Influx Of Almajiri, Others

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Recall that Wike had made several efforts to resolve the crisis, including the recent release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to support the payment of minimum wage to the workers.

The minister had explained several times that primary school teachers and primary health care workers were under the purview of the area councils and not FCT Administration.

The NUT Chairman in FCT, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest on April 24, acknowledged Wike’s intervention to resolve the lingering strike, including the release of the N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

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On their part, the chairmen of the area councils had in a press conference on May 13, urged the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike.

Mr John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, who addressed the journalists, particularly appealed to the primary school teachers to return to the classrooms.

Gabaya said that the appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.
(NAN)

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