![Akeredolu assigns portfolios to new commissioners in Ondo [Full List]](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Rotimi-Akeredolu.jpg)
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has assigned portfolios to the newly sworn in commissioners.
The governor disclosed the development while meeting with the 18 commissioners and 10 Special Advisers.
See table below for names and portfolios of the new commissioners
Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegu Mimiko has reacted to the claim by his successor, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on the state of finances inherited, where he [Akeredolu] alleged that the former governor left a debt legacy worth N220bn.
Mimiko who reacted to Akeredolu’s indictment in a statement signed by his former Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade noted that he feels obliged to put the records straight.
…Says we’ll make the abductors give up their arms
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondo State said on Sunday that his government did not pay a dime to the abductors of the Lagos school boys before securing their release.
The governor also said he would work to ensure that the abductors dropped their arms.
He also confirmed that he promised the kidnappers of inclusion in the Federal Government amnesty programme.
The governor spoke in an interview on an Ibadan-based radio, Fresh FM at the weekend.
Akeredolu explained that as soon as the Federal Government hinted him that the children were hidden somewhere in the creeks of Ondo State, he assigned his deputy, who hailed from a riverine area of the state, to find means of opening discussions with the abductors.
On successfully establishing contact with them after risking his life, the governor recalled that he joined in the discussion to know the motive of the abductors.
According to him, the militants complained that they were excluded in the amnesty programme launched for all militants in the Niger Delta.
Akeredolu said he promised them that he would intimate the Federal Government of the need to include them in the programme. He said the government did not pay ransom to secure their release.
The governor said he, however, made them realise the danger of criminality.
He said the militants expressed trust in his administration to right the wrongs of the past.
“My deputy did a yeoman’s job and started a discussion with the abductors. We made them realise that they may have their problem with the government but we told them that we will report that to the Federal Government. People repose a lot of trust in our government. They have implicit trust in us. The young boys (kidnappers) have trust in us. We promised them we would persuade the Federal Government to include them in the amnesty programme. We did not pay any ransom. We will work with the Federal Government to make them surrender their arms,” Akeredolu said.
Akeredolu also acknowledged that there is division in the All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing out that the party is so big that all members can not always agree. He stressed that it is part of the beauty of democracy.
He also denied working as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s boys in Southwest, saying he is not a boy to anybody.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, of Ondo State has sent a list of nominees for commissioners to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.
The nominees were drawn from the 18 Local Government Area of the State, which after being confirmed by the Assembly will become members of his cabinet.
The Governor in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun said the list is in accordance with section 192 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The names are : Hon Toafiq Abdulsalam (Akoko North-East) Rasheed Badmus (Akoko North-West) Prince Solagbade Amodeni (Akoko South-East) Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South-West) Saka Yusuf Ogunleye (Akure North) Mrs. Omowumi Olatunji-Edet (Akure South)
Others are Ojogo Donald (Ese-Odo) Yemi Olowolabi (Idanre) Dr. Wahab Adegbenro (Ifedore) Funso Esan (Ilaje) Wale Akinterinwa (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo) Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan (Irele) Alhaji Olurimisi Ismaila (Odigbo) Femi Agagu (Okitipupa) Prof. Bayonle Ademodi (Ondo East) Lola Fagbemi (Ondo West) Otunba Timilehin Adelegbe (Ose) Kola Olawoye Esq (Owo).
The Ondo State government on Thursday confirmed the receipt of N7 billion as its share of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Segun Ajiboye, said in a statement in Akure on Thursday that 32.68 per cent of the sum would be allocated to local government councils while the state government would keep 67.32 percent as its share.
“It is also important to note that according to the agreement reached between the states of the federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance, 75 percent of the share received by the state is devoted to payment of salaries and pensions while 25 percent is devoted to capital projects.
“As a responsive government, the administration of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is committed to using the funds for the purposes they are meant to be used for.
“The governor continues to seek the support of the workers and the people of the state in his desire to lay a solid foundation for a prosperous state,” Ajiboye added.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun had on Monday commenced the payment of the second tranche of payment to states after Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo gave the approval on May 4.
The Ondo State Government has presented a staff of office and instrument of appointment to the Maporure Agerige of Aheriland, Oba Richard Adubi-lge Kudehinbu.
The event, which took place on Tuesday in Akure, was to fill the stool of Maporure which had been vacant for over 28 years.
The vacuum followed the demise of the late monarch, Oba Marcus Akinjopo Gbose, on Jan. 28, 1989, and the protracted litigation which stalled the process of selecting and appointing a successor.
Presenting the staff of office to Kudehinbu, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, congratulated the new traditional ruler on his appointment.
Ajayi also felicitated with indigenes of the community, saying their desire to have a monarch had come to reality.
He, however, urged the monarch to employ the principle of equity and fairness in his dealings with all his subjects.
The deputy governor also enjoined him to exercise restraint in the use of the powers conferred on him with the instrument of office.
Ajayi further appealed to all the indigenes of the community to cooperate with the monarch for his reign to be memorable.
In his acceptance speech, the traditional ruler expressed gratitude to the state government on the presentation of staff of office.
The monarch, who spoke through the former Head of Service, Mr Ajose Kudehinbu, appealed to the state government for the upgrade of the Maporure title.
NAN
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has met with security chiefs in the state over the kidnap of the Permanent Secretary of the state Hospital Management Board (HMB) Dr. Niran Ikuomola.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Dr. Ikuomola and his driver were abducted by unknown gunmen along the Lokoja/Abuja expressway on Sunday evening.
The Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Roland Arohunmolase, who broke the news to Journalists in Akure, the state capital disclosed that the abductors have contacted the doctor’s family, demanding N70million ransome.
Addressing reporters after the state security council meeting, Akeredolu said the meeting was to deliberate on steps being taken to get the kidnapped Permanent Secretary released from his abductors.
The governor said the government was deeply concerned about the development and assured that efforts were being coordinated at ensuring early reunion of Dr Ikuomola with his family members.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs Hilda Harrison-Ibifuro reiterated efforts of all securities agencies in the state at ensuring early release of the two kidnapped victims.
The meeting which had Heads of Army, Navy, Customs, Prisons, Prisons ,Immigration,Road Safety Corps and Police in attendance also agreed that the Permanent Secretary kidnap was a security threat and that Ondo State would never be made comfortable for criminals.
While promising adequate security for lives and property in the state, Mrs Harrison-Ibifuro said that the Ondo State Government has directed regular clearance of bushes across the three major roads linking the state with other neighbouring states.
Mrs Hilda Harrison-Ibifuro listed the affected roads to include Ilesha-Akure; Isę-Isua to Kogi and Ore to Ogun States.
The Commissioner called on traditional rulers, caretaker chairmen and other citizens to heed the directive, insisting that clearing of the bushes would prevent criminals and hoodlums who usually use the road verges for their nefarious activities.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has advised civil servants in the state to fit into the information technology age as part of the expected change in his administration or opt out for people who can.
Akeredolu said his administration would not tolerate computer illiteracy in the state civil service, saying it would better for the service if all the workers were computer literate. He, therefore, asked any worker that is not ready to comply with the use of computer to resign.
Akeredolu stated this during the inauguration of the Ondo State Integrated Financial Management Information System project in Akure, the state capital.
The event, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office, had the state’s top senior civil servants in attendance.
The governor, who commended the resilience and willingness of the civil servants to work for the good of the state, regardless of the challenges, explained that the SIFMIS project would improve the productivity of the workers.
He said, “We are starting a change with you because you are the engine room of the government and this government is determined to perform.
“This project is about being computer literate; it is not to take away your jobs but you must be computer literate to make it effective. If you cannot cope, you can resign; we are not going back again.”
According to the governor, the SIFMIS project would assist the state in generating more revenue internally and enhance good governance through the application of technology.
“SIFMIS will support capacity building efforts aimed at erecting an institutional framework for the public service in compliance with international best global practice,” Akeredolu said.
He urged the civil servants in the state to support and cooperate with the consultant that would train them on the implementation of the SIFMIS project.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. Laolu Akindolire, explained that SIFMIS would facilitate complete and timely exchange of data and information among ministries, departments and agencies.
“In order to strengthen the workforce and bring about efficient service delivery, the state government, with the support of the World Bank, embarked on carrying out the public sector reform programmes.
“SIFMIS is one of the sub-components of the Ondo State Public Sector Governance Reform Project. As the name implies, it is the warehouse of data for all government business processes.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, on Sunday appointed caretaker chairmen for the 18 local councils, according to Mr Olusegun Ajiboye, his Chief Press Secretary.
Sixteen of the appointees are men and two women.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that a High Court in Akure on Friday, annulled the election of the former chairmen of the councils on the grounds that the Peoples Redemption Party( PRP) and its logo were excluded from the election.
The sacked chairmen were elected in April 2016.
The caretaker chairmen are: Mr Aworetan Fayowole (Ilaje), Prince Odimayo Gbadebo (Irele), Mrs Morenike Alaka (Okitipupa), Prince George Adenikinju (Odigbo), Mr Temidayo Akinsuroju( Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo), and Mr Bekewe Olowu (Ese-Odo).
Others are: Mr Ebenezer Akinsulie (Ondo West), Mr Rafiu Akinkuolie (Ondo East), Mr Biyi Ayinnuola (Idanre), Mrs Atere Margaret (Akure South), Mr Segun Oluyede (Akure North), Mr Dipo Ajibola (Ifedore), Mr Gani Omoluka (Owo), Mr Agboola Ajike ( Ose) Mr Adeyemi Akinniyi ( Akoko South/East), Mr Augustine Oloruntogbe (Akoko South/West), Mr Rafiu Eniayewu (Akoko North/East), and Arc. Moradeyo Ajayi ( Akoko North/West) .
Ajiboye explained that the caretaker chairmen will be sworn in by the governor on Monday.
NAN
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated the newly sworn in governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu as the 6th democratically elected governor of the state.
He described the new governor as “a learned colleague whose dedication, commitment, determination and dogged spirit eventually earned him victory at the polls.”
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, Dogara also expressed confidence in Akeredolu’s ability to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Ondo State, and thanked the people for choosing APC at the polls.
“Governor Akeredolu is not just a thorough bred professional and respected senior advocate, he has always been genuinely passionate about the plight of the people, and I have good reason to believe that this will translate to fruitful and people oriented leadership.”
“Choosing APC at the polls is a wise step by the good people of Ondo as well as a vote of confidence on both the party’s ideology and policies, and the APC Federal Government, and I am confident that the governor will progressively justify this trust and support as the days go by”, the Speaker said.
He finally prayed the Almighty God to grant the Governor the wisdom of Solomon, strength of character and good health to excel in this onerous task.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Akeredolu was elected governor of the state on November 26, 2016 after defeating his closest rivals; Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy, AD.
TheNewsGuru.com also reports that all leading candidates (Akeredolu, Jedege and Oke) in the then November 26 governorship election are all from the legal profession.