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JUST IN: Buhari Throws Weight Behind Giadom as APC Ag. National Chairman

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

…Buhari to attend NEC meeting Thursday

President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown his weight on the Victor Giadom-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also approved the partyā€™s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting summoned by the Giadom.

The President made his position known through a press statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement reads:

President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman.

Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.

We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.

In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our Governors and the leaders of the National Assembly.

Donā€™t Witch-hunt Opposition Parties with your Anti-Corruption War – SPN tells Makinde

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

The Oyo State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has toldĀ Ā Governor Seyi Makinde not to witch-hunt members of opposition parties with his soon-to-be inaugurated Oyo State Anti-Graft Agency. The party also said anti-corruption war is beyond mere probes of the past administrations in the state.

SPN in a statement made available to Pacesetter News on Wednesday by its State Secretary, Com. Ayodeji Adigun noted the media reports on the current move by Engr. Seyi Makinde-led government to review various projects and contracts signed from 2017 to 2019 in the State.

According to the state’s commissioner for information, culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the report of a committee set up by the State government few months ago to review past contracts and projects signed between 2017 to 2019 had been submitted and adopted by the Engr Seyi Makinde led government. He added that the report would help the about-to-be-inaugurated State anti-corruption agency to bring to book individuals involved in acts inimical to the economic growth of the State.

SPN supports the probe and establishment of an anti-corruption agency. However, the party believes that to curb the corrupt practices often perpetrated around contracts and projects in Oyo State requires more radical measure than just mere reviews of the past contracts and projects.

Part of the statement reads: ā€œThe contract system itself is aĀ  fraudulent way through which politicians and their friends who masquerades as contractorsĀ  steal public fund and thereby throw the State into a needless debt crisis of billions of naira. Therefore, to curb corruption in this regard is to totally abolish this costly and corrupt contract system and replace it with a public work programmeā€.

ā€œThis will entail thatĀ  the Ministry of Works will be furnished with adequate equipment , expertise and manpower to undertake mass public works like mass building of schools, hospitals, roads, mass housing, water-works and mass electrification among other developmental projects in the State. Also, all state projects should be subjected to the monitoring and supervision under theĀ  elected representatives of the community people where such project is to be situated and an elected representatives of relevant workers organizationsā€

ā€œThe regime must also complement this with immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals and organisations found to be involved in corrupt contract practices now and in the past with a view to also retrieving all public funds mismanaged and misappropriated by them. The retrieved funds must be declared publicly and invested on the areas of need of the people. SPN equally believes that the membership of such an anti-corruption agencyĀ  should include elected representatives of workers unions like NLC TUC, ULC and ASUU, professional bodies like NBA, NMA and credible civil society organisations for the purpose of transparencyā€

ā€œAlso, their scope of work should not be limited to the projects and contracts signed by the past Ajimobi/APC administration alone. Otherwise, such an exercise will amount toĀ  a ploy by Engr Seyi Makinde-led to attack the discredited regime of Senator Abiola Ajimobi while he covers up the corrupt practices in his own government except if it involves an official who has fallen out of favourā€.

ā€œBesides, the probe couldĀ  just be another propaganda tool for the usual grandstanding approach of the Engr Seyi Makinde-led administration instead of truly fighting corruption.Ā  The fact is that Makinde-led regime just like Buhari-led federal government or any other capitalist governments cannot curbĀ  all forms of corrupt practices often perpetrated by pro-capitalist politicians and their acolytes under the contract system and neoliberal policy like public private partnerships, PPPā€.

ā€œTherefore, if Engr. Seyi Makinde-led government is truly ready to move against corrupt practicesĀ  and preserve public funds for judicious use we of the SPN believe that the regime mustĀ  scrap the huge security votes often withdrawn by the Governor without audit from the purportedly limited fund of the State and also ensure that all the public funds and resources at the disposal of the State are subjectedĀ  to democratic control of an elected committee of workers and ordinary people.ā€

ā€œIt is in the light of this, we of the SPN demand thatĀ  the entire resources at the disposal of the state which include monthly allocation received from the federal government and Internally generated revenue, IGR are subjected to a democratic controlĀ  of a committee or board that is made of elected representatives of workers organizations like NLC, TUC, ASUU, representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, community organizations and religious bodiesā€ the statement concluded.

BREAKING: Another Governorship Aspirant Steps Down for Obaseki

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

Another top aspirant in the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary elections in Edo State, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide Ihama, has stepped down, declaring support for Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Hon Omoregie Ogbeide is a serving member of House of rpresentatives, representing Oredo Federal constituency.Ā 

The lawmaker also promised to withdraw the court case he filed over the matter today.

The News Carrier Nigeria understands that all the partyā€™s governorshipĀ 

aspirants, including Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, have agreed to settle out of court.

UCH denies receiving N118m from Oyo govt to fight Covid-19Ā 

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Adams Akorede

The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on Wednesday denied receiving any money from the Oyo State government to fight Covid-19.Ā 

The hospital in a statement signed by its PRO, Toye Akinrinlola on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Toye Otegbayo said “our attention has been drawn to the content of a press release from the Oyo State Government that the sum of N118 million was given to the hospital to fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.”

The press release quoted the Oyo State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Akinola Ojo as saying the said amount was released to UCH.

We contacted some officials of Oyo State for a clarification on this, but it seems there is a misunderstanding in the difference between the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital Ibadan. It therefore behoves the Management of the UCH to put the record straight.

“We hereby state emphatically that the University College Hospital, Ibadan did not and has not received any monetary donation from the Oyo State Government.

“The Chief Medical Director of the UCH is a member of the Oyo State COVID 19 task force.

“He should know if any money was given to UCH outside the 250 pieces of the PPE given to the hospital.

“All other services rendered to Oyo State by UCH have been strictly humanitarian and no financial benefits have accrued to the hospital.

“The UCH has been able to cope with the rigours of pandemic through donations from the NCDC (an organ of the Federal Government), some corporate bodies, well meaning Nigerians, Alumni associations of the hospital, staff and students of the hospital.

I therefore wish to say once again that the UCH is not in receipt of any N118m as claimed by the Oyo State Government.

Oyo Covid-19 Cases Hit 1,055 as State Maintains Top Four

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

Oyo State recorded 67 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 1,055. Despite the spike, the state maintains 4th position on the national COVID-19 log.

The new active cases were revealed in the routine update released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late Tuesday.

The Pacesetter News understands that No. of Cases on admission in Oyo COVID-19 facilities are 755; Number of Discharged patients are 291 and Number of Deaths recorded stands at 9.

On the 22nd of June 2020, 452 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigerian. Having carried out 117,569 tests, 21,371Ā  cases have been confirmed, 7,338 cases have been discharged and 533 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory

The 452 new cases are reported from 14 states- Lagos-209, Oyo-67, Delta-37, Ogun-36, FCT-22, Abia-20, Enugu-16, Bauchi-15, Kaduna-8, Ondo-8, Osun-7, Imo-3, Benue-3, Borno-1

We’ve so far Spent N2.7b to fight COVID-19 ā€” OYSG

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

Oyo State Government declared it has spent over N2.7 billion in the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the State.

The State Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Akinola Ojo, made this disclosure on Tuesday after the State Executive Council meeting.

According to Hon. Ojo, “Oyo State has so far received a sum of N1.177 billion in donations to support the fight against COVID-19. And since 20th March, the state has spent N2.7 billion.

As at Monday 22nd of June, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the stands at 988. This brings the state to 4th position on the national COVID-19 log.

SCHOOLS REOPENING: Oyo Govt Reverses Decision, Students Resume on July 6

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

Oyo State government has finally bowed to pressures to suspend its decision to reopen public schools on June 29. It announces July 6 as a new resumption date for Primary six, Junior Secondary School III and Senior Secondary School III students in the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, confirmed that the Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye and experts from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) had been going round the schools to determine compliance with the COVID-19 prevention protocols put in place by the schools.

The statement added that the team has since discovered that a space of one week was needed to enable the schools test-run the facilities, especially the hand washing points and the security measures.

The statement read: ā€œBy the new arrangement, Teachers are to resume to the schools on Monday June 29, 2020, while students in critical classes including Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 will resume a week later on July 6, 2020.

ā€œAs of Monday, June 22, no fewer than 372 Heads of Schools have been trained by the EOC on the management of the COVID-19 containment procedures, while each of the schools is to appoint an Incident Manager, who will ensure compliance with the approved COVID-19 protocol.

ā€œEach student is expected to wear face masks, while the schools are to prepare well laid out hand washing spots to guarantee regular washing of hands by the students and teachers.

ā€œThe Task Force also resolved that by July 15, the state government would have reviewed the situation with the schools and come to a conclusion whether the remaining classes would be able to resume or whether the students would have to wait to resume the new session in September 2020.ā€

The statement also added that the community testing embarked upon by the state government has ensured that close to 8,000 tests have been conducted on residents.

The community testing is currently going on in 10 locations, across the state, while testing would be regularly conducted from the secondary health centres located in the seven administrative zones of the state after the ongoing massive community testing exercise.

The Task Force urged residents of the state to remain calm and to continue to observe the COVID-19 precautionary guidelines, as according to it, the rising number of positive cases in the state has to do with the ongoing massive community testing.

ā€œThe treatment protocols already put in place by our medical experts have ensured that those infected are being discharged in record time,ā€ the statement read.

BREAKING: We Didnā€™t Seal Off APC National Secretariat- Police

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

The Nigeria Police Force has debunked the report that it has sealed off the National Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.

This contained in a press statement released by the force headquarters.

The statement reads: ā€œPersonnel of the Nigeria Police Force have been deployed to the National Secretariat of the All Progressive Congress, located at Blantyre Crescent, Wuse II, Abujaā€.

ā€œThe deployment is a proactive move by the Force to maintain peace and ensure there is no breakdown of law and order at the Secretariatā€

ā€œThe presence of police personnel at the Secretariat is not to seal-up the Complex as has been reported in some quarters but rather to prevent any untoward situation within and around the APC National Secretariatā€

ā€œMembers of the APC as well staff of the Secretariat are therefore at liberty to conduct their legitimate businesses, in and around the Secretariat as alwaysā€

PROBE: Oyo NUJ uncovers discrepancies in union’s 3 bank accounts, issues 7-day ultimatum to Faniran

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By Adams Akorede
The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday alleged the former Chairman of the union, Adewumi Faniran of holding on to the Union’s property, six months after his tenure expired.Ā 
The current executive which was empowered by the congress of the Union in February this year, to demand return of all Union property in Faniran’s care, had in March hired an auditing firm in Ibadan to look into the accounts of the union in the last three years.
Among the accounts he (Faniran) failed to handover are the union’s account FCMB (4512024018), ACCESS BANK (0033402424) and UBA (1016639383), which monies realised in three years through the Union’s investments; NUJ Guest House, Pen Group of Schools and rent payable by the tenants, have not been accounted for till date.
The union also said that all transactions made on the above mentioned accounts after December 18 are fraudulent transactions.
A statement issued by the Secretary of Oyo NUJ, Sola Oladapo on behalf of the Ademola Babalola-led executive stated as follows:
“We write to inform Mr Adewunmi Faniran, the immediate past Chairman of the council to handover all union properties in the next seven days.
“The union lamented Mr Faniran’s refusal to handover union properties including accounts, six months after the expiration of his three-year term.
“Faniran’s three-year term which commenced in December 2016, ended in December 2019 after the union’s election held on December 18, 2019 and overwhelmingly won by Ademola Babalola and others.
“We wish to state that the union will take further actions on this matter if the properties are not properly handed over in seven days.
“The union said that it had in February sent letters to Faniran and other members of his cabinet to return the union properties including accounts of the union.
“The letters were also copied to their employers and security agencies in the state, but only the immediate past Secretary has returned some of the properties in his custody.
“We, however observed that Mr Faniran’s refusal to handover the union accounts was an orchestrated plan to cover up some financial improprieties of his administration, which we already identified.

FG to Makinde: Your Plan to Re-open Schools is insensitive

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

The Federal Government has described Oyo State governmentā€™s plan to reopen public schools on 29th of June as is insensitive. It warned that such a decision could raise COVID-19 infection figures in the state.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba made the FGā€™s position known on Monday during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 Control in Abuja.

Nwajiuba, who said the Federal Ministry of Education did not give out any guideline to the state government to reopen schools, noted that governors have as their primary responsibility to secure the lives of their citizens, in the face of a pandemic.

He added that like all other sub-nationals, governors were under the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Stressing why government cannot reopen schools at this time, the minister noted that reopening of schools could lead to the exposure of teachers, pupils, drivers, cooks, vendors, their family members and friends to the dreaded virus.

The minister said: ā€œOut of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, there are actually few local governments with a lot of this burden and therefore it is easy to get the perception around the edges of the country that some things are not happening because they are not happening within our immediate locality.

ā€œBut we must appreciate that the primary purpose of governors is the security of his citizens. Public health is key and primary and in that primary security delivery, they (governors), are always extremely cautious in making any pronouncements around this because the education sector holds the largest number of infrastructure in the country; a good 138,000 primary schools around the country.

ā€œThere are clearly 600 all kinds of institutions awarding certificates all around Nigeria there are just lots of it. And at any given time in Nigeria, there are two million people attaining one form of education or the other.

ā€œFor you to even begin to decide to unleash this in the public in the face of a pandemic is to be a very bit insensitive.

ā€œThe least we can do at the moment is to keep our children, our most priced assets, the future of Nigeria under lock and key first. When we are sure that itā€™s safe to release them, gladly we will.ā€

Nwajiuba also said the ministry was in discussion with examination bodies on how final year students could sit for their exams.

He said similar meeting was held in the Gambia on Monday to decide the fate of students waiting to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

The minister also said the students would be expected to reconvene for a revision session ahead of the final decisions on WAEC.

He said: ā€œWe have finished meeting with WAEC; they are communicating in Gambia at the moment. When we get feedback from them we are struggling to see how we can bring the exit year children briefly to come to a revision session ahead if whatever these assembles have agreed.

ā€œParents should be rest assured that we will do this with utmost care and only in places where we can be able to institutionalise and be able to use the facilities to be able to help these children.ā€

On the outcry by parents on payment of school fees in private schools, the minister appealed to school proprietors to desist from doing so.

He urged them to approach the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for salary support.

COVID-19: Oyo Records 76 Fresh Cases, Moves to 4th Position

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

Oyo State, on Monday, recorded 76 fresh cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 988. The state now moves to 4th position on the national COVID-19 log.

The new active cases were revealed in the routine update released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late Monday.

The Pacesetter News understands that No. of Cases on admission in Oyo COVID-19 facilities are 688; Number of Discharged patients are 291 and Number of Deaths recorded stands at 9.

On the 22nd of June 2020, 675 new confirmed cases and 7 deaths were recorded in Nigerian. Having carried out 115,760 tests, 20919 cases have been confirmed, 7109 cases have been discharged and 525 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory

The 675 new cases are reported from 21 states- Lagos(288), Oyo(76), Rivers(56), Delta(31), Ebonyi(30), Gombe(28), Ondo(20), Kaduna(20), Kwara(20), Ogun(17), FCT(16), Edo(13), Abia(10), Nasarawa(9), Imo(9),Bayelsa(8), Borno(8), Katsina(8), Sokoto(3), Bauchi(3), Plateau(2)

Resumption: Oyo Head of Service Asks Civil Servants to Comply with Covid-19 Guidelines

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

The Oyo State Head of Service Mrs. Ololade Agboola has charged Civil Servants across the State to comply strictly with Covid-19 guidelines as they are resuming to their various offices.

In a statement issued and signed in Ibadan, the State Capital, the Head of Service admonished Civil Servants to adhere strictly to the guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19. Part of this includeĀ the use of facemasks, regular washing of hands/use of sanitizers, observation of social distancing and prevention of movement from one office to another except for very important official purposes.

It would be recalled that on Thursday, 26th March, 2020, Oyo State Government directed all Civil Servants to stay at home to avoid the spread of Covid-19 in the State. A month after, the directive was relaxed and Staff from Grade Levels 13 and above were asked to return to work under strict Covid-19 protocol.

The Head of Service said that the present administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde (FNSE) had been paying salaries to all Civil/Public Servants up till the resumption dateĀ  despite the fact that the workers had been at home for the past three months.

Mrs. Agboola also stated that the State Government had decontaminated all offices in the State Secretariat and other Government Agencies outside the Secretariat with provision of hand sanitizers, Liquid Hand Wash Soaps, Face Masks for all levels of Officers and Hand Washing Machine for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State.

She then urged all and sundry to support the State Government in the fight against Corona Virus pandemic by following all Covid-19 protocols in the State.

Where is Rt. Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola? |Sunday Adepoju

By
Peter Ayoade
-

I just felt I should express my candid opinion on the state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbomoso, on the one hand and, Oyo State, on the other hand. I began to ruminate on the 2019 Abuja struggle during the intraparty stage and subsequently the journey to Agodi.

For those who may want to question my position, whether as a politician or a journalist. Well, I joined the PDP in 2002 (18 years ago) when the followers and supporters of the great Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala crossed the All Peoples Party (APP) carpet to the PDP. Yes, we all moved to the fold through a group, Ogbomoso Unity Forum (OUF). Why this story? I narrated the history so that those who have just spent a year or two in the party, but who are beneftting, will know the narration. Well, I congratulate those who have benefitted, whether immensely or meagerly, from this administration.

Without going to the nitty-gritty of the role played by Akande-Adeola and others in the zone before and during the general election, may I still congratulate Akande-Adeola, in thin or in thick. Nobody will deny the fact that she’s a heroine of the party in Ogbomoso and at the national party politics, without deleting her role in state level. Akande-Adeola represented Ogbomoso South/Ogbomoso North/Oriire Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Abuja. She also held the respected position of the Majority Leader in the 7th National Assembly. We all knew what transpired in the house and her performance! Of course, the role played by the present Executive Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) who was then the Director of Communication and Strategy to the Seyi Makinde Campaign Organisation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, was unquantifiable. Some others joined the train weeks to the election and played their role, though minimally. Today, the arm-akimbo and distance of Akande-Adeola to the system, I will say, has seriously affected the party faithful in the zone.

Why this expression of opinion? It is intended to correct the errors that have divided the house that was united before the 2019 elections . Those who are now benefitting from the system today, how many of them voted on election day? How many of our commissioners from Ogbomoso voted during the elections ? How many of the beneficiaries were on the land of Oyo State on the elections days? Apart from the role of Akande-Adeola, will anybody feign ignorance of the contribution of Prince Oyelade as the mouthpiece of the struggle?

Ogbomoso PDP, a house united, divided?

I’m particular about Ogbomoso, our home. I have decided to express this opinion of mine owing to my understanding of the terrain and atmosphere. I wish to state unequivocally that the challenges that lie for the ruling PDP in the state, particularly Ogbomoso, is enormous and requires a strategic approach form the leader of the party at the state level. If there is anybody from Ogbomoso who does not want Akande-Adeola and the governor United is an enemy of progress, no apology. However, she alone does not represent the party. But I must say that she is a brand in the politics of the land of Ajilete. To call a spade a spade, all is not well in the party and it requires the proactive antidote which is reconciliation. A lot went into the selection of the councils’ caretaker committees. Some names crept in before the dawn. The Fela Anikulapo track, “Suffering and smiling” describes the party faithful’s plight. If I was among the leaders of the party in the zone, I will not hesitate to sue for peace, beyond my personal gains.

The strength of the opposition

The leaders of the PDP in the state will agree that the All Progressives Congress and the ADP in the zone are waxing day by day. In Ogbomoso, the opposition parties have on their side: Chief Alao-Akala, Senator Fatai Buhari, Senator Ayaode Adesun, minister of youth and sports development – Mr Sunday Dare, Hon Segun Odebunmi Bunvic, Captain Ajao, and a host of other grassroots leaders who undertook the so called politicking training. And to add, some of these grassroots politicians are well grounded in local politics. The PDP must wake up from its slumber and it is high time the leader of the party in the state strategised to mend the walls of the party so that the division will not sweep it off track. This is not the best of time for the real leaders to fold their arms and watch their pride reduced to a total ruin. Those who are benefitting from the division will not want unity between the party’s leader and Akande-Adeola…. But in the interest of the progress of the state, I’m hopeful that the reconciliation committee inaugurated by Gov Makinde will look into some of these issues as it affects each of the five zones making up the state.

Author: Sunday Adepoju

No Cause for Alarm on Schools Re-Opening on June 29 – Oyo SUBEB Chairman

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Oluwakemi IsholaĀ 

….Commences Training of teachers
ā€¦distributes nose-masks to non-teaching & teaching staffs

The Oyo State Government has commenced training for teachers from all Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities, ahead of June 29 resumption for Pry 6, JSS3 and SS3 students on the basic procedures for the handling COVID-19 in schools.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran revealed that the training on ā€˜Reopening of Schoolsā€™ is part of the State Governmentā€™s pre-opening mandate.
He added that the training is targeted at getting participants prepared ahead of any possible identification of coronavirus case, with a view to ensuring that teachers and pupils remain safe while in schools.

ā€œThe workshop is expected to equip participants with necessary knowledge on Covid-19 and how to manage it during these trying times among pupils. Let me add that the workshop has representation from each zone in the State and is aimed at ensuring the safety of children and teachers in the Stateā€, he said.

Adeniran further said, ā€œasking only Pry 6 pupils to return to school is strategic. Each school is spacious enough to contain all Primary 6 pupils in the State. So, there is actually no cause for alarmā€.

He also added that OyoSUBEB would look into constituting an Advisory Board to complement the efforts of the State Government in combating COVID-19, while every school has been mandated to adhere to all precautionary measures during this period.

Dr. Adeniran said that with the threat of coronavirus pandemic and the need for pupils to return to schools, it was imperative for the State Government to train teachers who would be in regular touch with the pupils on how to interact, while they also ensure their safety.

ā€œTo contain the spread of the disease in schools, Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has deployed trainers who would train teachers. These trained teachers would in turn train their colleagues on precautionary measures and how to manage each pupil after the long stay at homeā€, Adeniran said.

Futhermore, Dr. Adeniran said that the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board has distributed facemasks to all non-teaching and teaching staffs across all Local Government Universal Basic Education Authority in the State.

This, he said is part of the Boardā€™s precautionary measures taken to prepare every staff member for the task ahead. He added that each school would provide wash hand basins, and alcohol based hand sanitizers.

Covid-19: Group Laments Death of Members, Seeks Makinde’s Intervention

By
Peter Ayoade
-

Debo Adeoye, Ibadan

The Musical Instrument Owners and Hiring Association of Nigeria (MIOHAN), Oyo State Chapter has appealed to the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to rally support for the association to end untimely death among its members.

The statement was contained in a release signed by the chairman, Oyo state chapter of the association, Mr. Rasheed Babatunde and secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Ayesoro and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.

The association narrated how precautionary measures put in place by the government to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic affected businesses of its members.

“Though, decision of the state government to ban public and social gathering is commendable, at least reduces the spread of the virus; but our association remains the only professional body without any escaping route to carry out its business activities. We deal with sound, its resonance spread like wildfire.

“We means of livelihood is from hiring out of musical instruments to musicians, club houses, events organizers and to individuals for parties. Unfortunately, government has banned all forms of gathering with more than twenty people. How do we get patronage?

We are grossly affected, in actual fact, we are the most affected professional, our families are the most affected. We couldn’t provide food for our families, our children are suffering starvation. We couldn’t afford medical bills, that has caused lives.

“Our members that died were not affected directly by the coronavirus but inability to purchase drugs and pay for medical treatment of different health challenges responsible for their death. Now, some of our members are down with different sicknesses and we wouldn’t want to lose anyone again, that’s what forced us out of our shells.

“We have written earlier through the state house of assembly, no response yet. We sent another letter to the people’s governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde a week ago. We pray that the governor grant our request to safe our lives and that of those depending on us. We pray for more successes for governor Makinde’s administration,” the group concluded.

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