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Oyo Unveils Committee For Alaafin’s Coronation

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The Oyo State Government, on Monday, unveiled the committee set up for the coronation of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

A statement issued on Monday from the office of the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said that the inaugural meeting of the committee was presided over by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo.

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The committee members comprises four members of the Oyo State cabinet, including the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Musibau Babatunde; the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun; Ojo and Oyelade.

Other members are three House of Assembly members from Oyo Constituency, including Gbenga Oyekola from Atiba State Constituency; Rahman Olorunpoto from Oyo East/Oyo West Constituency and Oladeji Oparinde from Afijio Constituency.

According to the commissioner, Akeem Olukitibi the Chairman of Oyo West Local Government; Wahab Adetunji the Chairman Atiba Local Government; Sola Oluokun the Chairman of Oyo East Local Government and Olufemi Aikomo the Chairman of Afijio Local Government are also members.

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READ ALSO: From Oyo To Canada: Owoade’s Journey To Alaafin’s Throne

Also, seven family members of the new Alaafin of Oyo, religious leaders and other stakeholders are part of the committee.

According to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, arrangements have started in earnest to ensure a successful coronation in strict compliance with the tradition of Oyo people.

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The commissioner for information recalled that in the past five years, the ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration had crowned 10 kings and 40 baales.

Governor Seyi Makinde expects everyone involved in the coronation to be diligent and show maximum support for the success of the event,” Oyelade said.

On January 13, 2025, Oba Owoade officially received his appointment letter as the Alaafin-designate from the Oyo State governor following the approval of the governor.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Oyo Gets New Alaafin

The paper also reported that once officially recognised, the Alaafin-designate, Owoade would begin traditional rites that would lead to his coronation at a date to be announced by the state government.

The coronation proper will take place in four weeks, but today I will hand over the certificate and staff of office,” Makinde had said during the presentation of certificate to the Alaafin-designate, Oba Owoade.

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However, the PUNCH reported that traditional rites leading to the coronation of the new Alaafin of Oyo, had been put on hold.

According to a family source, Oba Owode 1 had to return to Canada shortly after receiving the appointment letter and Staff of Office, to disengage officially from his professional commitments and then wrap up necessary paperwork before taking on his monarchical duties as the Alaafin of Oyo.

The source said: “He (Owoade) is still in Canada. He has to resign from the places he works in Canada and perfect all those papers before returning to Oyo.”

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Why We Are Establishing A Sharia Panel In Oyo — Islamic Group

Owoade’s emergence as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo follows the transition of the late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III in April 2022. The late Oba Adeyemi ruled the Oyo Kingdom for 50 years.

The PUNCH had reported on Wednesday, January 29 that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, had ordered the immediate dissolution of an unauthorised coronation committee allegedly set up by a group of individuals without his approval.

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The dissolution order was conveyed In a statement titled, “Coronation Committee Setup in Oyo Town—Notice of Cease & Desist”, made available to the PUNCH. Oba Owode 1, had in the statement, cautioned that any committee or event related to his coronation must receive prior approval from his office, and that doing otherwise would be considered illegal.

Meanwhile, according to reports on Monday, February 3, the Oyo State Government has fixed Saturday, April 5 for the coronation of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1.

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NMA Gives FG 21 Days To Avert Doctors’ Strike

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The Nigerian Medical Association has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands to avert industrial action in the health sector.

The association, in a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, expressed disappointment and condemned the circular on the consequential adjustment of allowances under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria.

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A copy of the speech of the NMA President, Prof Bala Audu, made available to our correspondent, noted that the association rejected the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s circular (SWC/5/04/5.218/III/646), dated June 27, 2025, on the review of allowances for medical and dental officers in the Federal Public Service.

Prof Audu said the circular from the NSIWC violated previous Collective Bargaining Agreements with the government, adding that the recent development had worsened already existing tension among doctors who had remained committed to serving in Nigeria despite ongoing challenges.

READ ALSO:Parole Board Sensitizes Inmates In Benin, Urges Them To Key In

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“The Nigerian Medical Association expresses grave disappointment and unequivocally condemns the circular purportedly issued to address the consequential adjustment of allowances under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria.

“The circular is grossly inadequate, misleading and constitutes a flagrant violation of the spirit and letter of the agreements painstakingly reached during the collective bargaining process between the NMA and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“We want to bring this to the attention of Mr President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the National Assembly and the general public whom we are under oath to always protect and promote their well-being.

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“We reject this new circular in its entirety and demand a new circular that reflects previous agreements reached,” Audu said.

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He stressed that the principles of fairness and justice must guide the adjustment of allowances as previously agreed.

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He further noted that while the association had submitted the correct salary structure table as requested by the relevant government bodies, it was disappointed to find it was disregarded.

Our demands include but are not limited to the immediate withdrawal of the circular on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service dated 27th June 2025; immediate correction of consequential adjustments in line with the agreements of 2001, 2009, and 2014 CBAs; immediate correction of the relativity agreed between CONMESS and Consolidated Health Salary Structure and compliance with relativity in all professional allowances in accordance with the 2001 CBA, particularly regarding call duty allowances, and the payment of all accrued backlogs.

“The immediate settlement of all outstanding arrears of 25/35 per cent CONMESS, clinical duty and accoutrement allowances owed to medical and dental practitioners; the immediate payment of Medical Residency Training Fund for 2025, and review of the MRTF to reflect prevailing economic realities; the immediate convocation of the long-overdue Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations on CONMESS; the immediate release of the circular on clinical duty and other allowances for honorary consultants as agreed in January 2024.”

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The association also demanded the implementation of scarce skills allowances for medical consultants; approval of specialist allowances for all doctors; approval of excess workload allowances for all doctors; and adoption of relativity in all professional allowances in accordance with the 2001 CBA, particularly regarding call duty allowances; compliance with CBA of 2021 on hazard allowances; implementation of subsisting CONMESS circular of 2024 for house officers; and universal application of the CONMESS across all federal and state Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to combat internal brain drain.

The doctors also demanded the immediate reversal of the appointment of other healthcare professionals as consultants in hospitals, citing patient safety and the need to maintain medical care standards.

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The NMA President stressed that the association had consistently engaged in dialogue with relevant government agencies and the Federal Ministry of Health in good faith, and remained committed to continued dialogue as long as their rightful entitlements were appropriately addressed.

READ ALSO:FG Places N5m Bounty On Fleeing Inmates Of Ilesa Prison

As a responsible and responsive association that understands and respects values, we have painstakingly and repeatedly engaged in dialogue with the relevant agencies of government and the Federal Ministry of Health.

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“We have exhibited so much goodwill and intend to continue the same as long as we get our appropriate and timely dues.

“We hereby expect that attention will be given to our demands within the next 21 days to avert disruption in the health services rendered to the Nigerian people,” he concluded.

 

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Lagos Suspends BRT Lane Enforcement On Eko Bridge, Odo Iya-Alaro

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The Lagos State Government has temporarily suspended enforcement of the Bus Rapid Transit lane along the Eko Bridge and Odo Iya-Alaro corridor to ease growing traffic congestion.

This gridlock is a result of the ongoing structural rehabilitation on the Ogudu-Ifako Bridge expansion joint.

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Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa announced the suspension on Wednesday, describing it as a strategic move to tackle gridlock in affected parts of the city.

This remedial measure, conceived as a palliative response to mitigate commuter hardship, aligns with the Lagos State Government’s forward-thinking and adaptive transportation strategy under the THEMES Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, particularly within the framework of sustainable traffic management and infrastructure modernisation,” Giwa said.

READ ALSO:Lagos Monarch Dethrones Six Chiefs For ‘Impersonating’ Him At Labour Party Campaign

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He explained that the temporary suspension is a transitional and conditional measure aimed at absorbing the anticipated vehicular overflow caused by the partial closure of the Ifako-bound carriageway of the Third Mainland corridor.

We are fully cognizant of the immense strain currently imposed on key ingress routes into the Lagos Mainland. Consequently, this tactical suspension of BRT lane enforcement is a calculated response designed to deliver immediate relief, reduce commuting time, and preserve the fluidity of vehicular movement throughout the duration of the bridge repairs,” he added.

According to him, the directive takes immediate effect and allows general vehicular access to previously restricted BRT corridors on Eko Bridge and Odo Iya-Alaro, particularly during peak travel periods.

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He said this move is expected to expand available road capacity and ease traffic along critical routes.

READ ALSO:Lagos Opens Teacher Recruitment Portal For Two Weeks

Giwa, however, stressed that commercial buses and articulated vehicles must remain in compliance with existing safety rules and loading guidelines to avoid worsening traffic conditions or compromising public safety.

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He also disclosed that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has been mobilised to strengthen its presence along the affected corridors.

Enhanced personnel deployment and traffic equipment are now in place to ensure orderly conduct, prevent exploitation of the temporary suspension, and respond promptly to any emergent traffic disturbances,” Giwa stated.

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Lagos Opens Teacher Recruitment Portal For Two Weeks

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The Lagos State Government has announced the reactivation of its teaching job recruitment portal to allow qualified individuals to apply for entry-level teaching positions.

In a notice issued by the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission on Tuesday, the portal will be open for applications from Tuesday, July 1 to Monday, July 14, 2025.

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The Lagos State Teaching Service Commission is set to reactivate its Recruitment Portal as a bold step towards improving access to employment opportunities, equity, and fairness.

READ ALSO:FG Gives Overstaying Foreigners Ultimatum To Regularise Visa

The job portal, which will be accessible for two weeks (Tuesday, July 1st 2025, to Monday, July 14th, 2025), is intended to provide a centralised platform where individuals can apply for State Teaching jobs at the entry level (GL 08) in their relevant fields,” the notice read.

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The move, according to the Commission, is aimed at improving access to employment opportunities in the education sector while ensuring equity and fairness.

TESCOM urged interested applicants with a degree in Education or other relevant qualifications to visit the official portal https://tescomjobs.lagosstate.gov.ng and apply for teaching roles at Grade Level 08.

The notice was signed by the Chairman of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission.

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