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Tag: Makinde

  • How we’ll recover, spend looted funds in Oyo – Makinde

    How we’ll recover, spend looted funds in Oyo – Makinde

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has wooed banks’ executives to assist the government in ensuring that all looted funds in the state were recovered and used for the overall development of the state.

    He also vowed to recovered every bit of looted funds in the state, while such recovered loot should be kept in a special bank account for the use of the state.

    The governor made this revelation while playing host to the management of the Unity Bank Plc at Agodi governor’s office.

    According to him, the account will be made open to everybody to avoid the recovered money being looted again.”

    “We want to recover the money in a very transparent manner and for people to see what the present administration has done with the money recovered.

    ”People should know how money belonging to them is being spent. The state money seized from individuals by EFCC will be returned to the account,” he said.

    Makinde had on assumption of office discovered N1.2 billion being state money seized from a certain government official.

    He had since approached the EFCC to refund same to the state government; to support his administrative drive to reposition the alleged comatose education sector.

    While assuring that the state’s account with the bank would be used to save the looted money recovered from ‘wrong hands and accounts’, the governor charged the bank to also hold the state accountable because the government should not compromise the trust reposed in it by the people.

    He said that his administration was ready to foster a partnership with bankers, processors, agriculture and business experts to develop the state.

    ”Agriculture is one of the pillars that this administration rested on and that is the tool that is intended to be used to expand the economy, Making said.

    He assured the bank management that the government would not discriminate against it because it was not among the first big banks but would give equal opportunity to all partners of the government.

    Earlier, Mrs. Toyin Somefun, the Managing Director of the bank said that the purpose of the visit was to request for partnership with the new administration under Makinde.

    Somefun said the bank wanted to partner with the state in the area of infrastructure, education, and agriculture where it had significant milestones.

    She said that the bank was number one in Anchored Borrower Scheme, with the Central Bank of Nigeria, “with an exposure of over N60 billion intervention fund with CBN.”

    Somefun said that the bank had financed more than 500 farmers across various commodities such as rice, wheat, cotton, soya, and ginger.

  • CCB commences Makinde’s N48b assets’ verification

    CCB commences Makinde’s N48b assets’ verification

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has begun verification of the N48 billion assets declared by Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde to the bureau.

    The Director of the bureau in the state, Mr. Bisi Atolagbe, disclosed this at the weekend in an interview with reporters during a meeting of Southwest state directors of the bureau with the member representing the region on the CCB Board of Directors, Prof. Samuel Ogundare, in Ibadan.

    Makinde had caused a storm in the media in July when he made details of his declared assets public. While many Nigerians were shocked about the huge amount of his assets, others wondered if the content of the declaration was not anticipatory.

    Contacted at the time, Atolagbe revealed that his office had forwarded the asset estimates to the bureau’s headquarters in Abuja, stressing that the Oyo State office was awaiting a directive to start verification of Makinde’s claims.

    When asked about the verification, Atolagbe said the exercise had already begun, but added that the process might not be concluded so quickly, given the technical parts of the verification.

    The CCB boss said the verification of Makinde’s assets is nothing special because it is part of the routine work undertaken by the bureau.

    He said: “Work has started in the verification of the content of declaration submitted by Governor Makinde. At the right time, the report will be available. It is not about noise making, but technically doing the work to ascertain the assets declared. However, I must point out that the process is not a public exercise. The governor has not committed any crime by declaring his assets. It is just to ascertain what he has declared, to check if they are not anticipatory. I can assure you that a thorough job is being done, without being stampeded. We are not in a hurry over it because we are not doing it just to be seen. It will take a while to be completed.”

    Giving a report on assets declaration by political office holders and top civil servants in the region, Prof. Ogundare said there has been a near 100 per cent compliance to CCB regulations by current and former public office holders in the Southwest.

    He said the newly sworn-in political office holders and those whose tenure ended on May 29 across the region had made their pre-service and post-service asset declarations.

    Ogundare said former governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State) and their deputies have declared their assets within the stipulated period.

    Said he: “Our governors in the Southwest have shown good examples in compliance. They have done what the constitution requires them to do before and after occupying office. Since the governors and their deputies showed good examples, almost all state lawmakers and appointees have also complied.”

    At the meeting were the bureau’s directors in the six Southwest states: Messrs. Bisi Atolagbe (Oyo), Akinfolarin Feyisola (Ekiti), Olusegun Adeburueje (Ondo), Adeniyi Olufadeji (Osun), Olusegun Rabiu (Ogun) and Ezekiel Olusoji (Lagos).

  • Oyo: Makinde inaugurates panel to probe Ajimobi’s contracts

    Oyo: Makinde inaugurates panel to probe Ajimobi’s contracts

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated a committee to probe contracts awarded by the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
    The inaugurated 10-man committee, headed by the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Oyo State chapter, Mr. Damola Falade-Fatila, is to review contracts and projects awarded by the Ajimobi’s government between 2017 and 2019.
    The committee has a four weeks duration to carry out the assignment.
    Makinde conducted the inauguration at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat in the company of top government functionaries, including, the Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, the Head of Service, Mrs. Amidat Agboola, Director General, Due Process Ms Tara Adefowope, Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Mojeed Ajibola, Executive Assistance (Admin) Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe, Special Adviser (Legislative Matters) Mr. Ademola Adejumobi, Special Adviser (Media) Mr. Jide Ajani, Chief Press Secretary Mr. Taiwo Adisa, among others.
    Conducting the inauguration, the governor said the committee was meant to examine the status of some of the ongoing contracts to ascertain if they were justifiably tied to the socio-economic development of the state.
    Makinde, who noted that some contractors were making claims on ongoing projects, added that the committee was to examine if the costs of contracts awarded were appropriate, and examine if the contractors were capable enough to deliver the contract in terms of quality and scheduled time.
    Falade-Fatila assured the governor that the committee will not disappoint the people of the state.
    The members of the committee include Mr. Seun Adelore, Dr. Idowu Oyeleke, Mr. F. O Omokemi (Cabinet Governor’s Office) and Mr. A. Popoola (Ministry of Finance and Budget).
    Others are Mrs. M. Adeshina (Office of the Head of Service), Mr. A Olabiyi (Ministry of Justice), Mr. S. Ogunjimi (Bureau of Public Procurement), Mr. T. Oduniyi (Office of the Auditor-General for State) and Mr. O. Popoola (Office of the Head of Service).

  • South West Govs to launch new security architecture in August – Makinde

    South West Govs to launch new security architecture in August – Makinde

    As part of effort to tackle the insecurity in the Southwest zone of the country, the governors in the six Southwest states will launch a new security architecture in August.
    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, disclosed this on Sunday at a special thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan.
    A statement by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, indicated that the thanksgiving was in honour of Madam Abigail Makinde, the mother of the governor.
    The governor said he and his counterparts in the region have met and agreed to launch the new security architecture to nip the menace of insecurity in the bud.
    He also made it known that Oyo state would equally launch its state-own security system before his 100 days in office.
    The statement further quoted Makinde as saying that the governors of South West states have been meeting to find lasting solutions to the security challenges in the region.
    ”I and other governors of the South West, have met on how to launch a new security architecture before the end of August 2019.
    ” The first 100 days of this government will be on the 5th of September and before the 5th of September, we will launch a new security architecture for the state, he disclosed.
    Makinde further reiterated the commitment of his administration towards the four key pillars of his administration, which were Security, Health, Education and Economy.
    He said his government would strengthen supervision and monitoring of the implementation of health and education policies.
    According to him, the government would also direct energy in the way of job creation to ensure that the teeming population of jobless youths are taken care of.
    Makinde stated that having cancelled the N3,000 education levy imposed on students by the immediate past administration, his government would ensure strict monitoring of the improved monthly subvention, which will soon be provided for the schools.
    He posited that his administration decided to cancel the levies hitherto imposed on students of public schools to allow many indigent students have access to free education.
    ”The government is intent on ensuring the smooth running of schools but will also put in place a monitoring system that would ensure efficiency,” he said.
    According to governor, what he met on ground as regard health sector, was ”more of window dressing.
    ”I have visited Adeoye Hospital Ibadan and what I saw at Adeoyo was more of window dressing, the radiography machine has never worked since it was installed.
    Makinde alleged that the past administration spent some money in some sectors, especially health without monitoring its effectiveness.
    Earlier, Samuel Osungbeju, in his sermon, called for love and tolerance among Nigerians, adding that people should always show love to other fellow human beings.
    Osungbeju noted that no nation or state can prosper and develop without love among its people.
    He condemned the incessant maiming and killing of innocent citizens across the country and called for concerted prayers and divine intervention.

  • Emulate Makinde's open asset declaration example, SERAP tells governors

    Emulate Makinde's open asset declaration example, SERAP tells governors

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged 35 state governors in Nigeria to “emulate the shining example of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who recently openly declared his assets, by publishing without further delay the full details of their asset declarations submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
    SERAP said: “Nigerians ought to know the worth of their state governors. The publication of asset declarations by state governors will improve transparency, accountability and good governance and assure the public that neither fraud nor illicit enrichment is concealed. Knowing the worth of state governors before and after taking offices would also prevent rumours, half-truths or innuendo regarding asset declarations.”
    According to the assets declaration form marked OYSE/2019/001, and submitted to the CCB and made public this month, Mr Makinde’s worth is put at about N50 billion – his firms are worth up to N48.1 billion; shares, cash and portfolios make up the rest.
    In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Public officials cannot lay claim to absolute privacy in matters of asset declarations. There is an overriding public interest in the disclosure of information on the assets of public officials, including state governors, who are trustees of Nigeria’s wealth and resources. There is nothing inherently private in the affairs of governors, and we will consider appropriate legal action if state governors continue to fail or refuse to publish their asset declarations.”
    SERAP said: “Continuing failure or reluctance by many state governors to publish their asset declarations submitted to the CCB may lead to public perception that the governors are attempting to hide something from the citizens regarding those declarations, especially given the fact that many of the public officials being tried for or convicted of corruption are found to have made a false declaration of their assets.”
    The organization also urged the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to “use his leadership position and good offices to encourage all the members of NGF who have not yet done so to declare their assets and to publish their declarations submitted to the CCB without delay. The NGF can play a positive role in encouraging greater transparency in asset declarations by governors.”
    The statement read in part: “As fiduciaries and trustees of the public weal, state governors are under an inescapable obligation to serve the public with highest fidelity and openness. In discharging the duties of their office, they are required to display good faith, honesty and integrity. They must be impervious to corrupting influences and they must transact their business frankly and openly in the light of public scrutiny so that the public may know and be able to judge them and their work fairly.”
    “Transparency in asset declarations is needed to check against corruption and to hold the governors accountable to the governed. Publishing the asset declarations by governors would help address the high level of public distrust and dissatisfaction with spending of security votes by state governors, enable closer relations between state governors and the public, and secure the confidence of the citizens in their governments.”
    “The prevailing distrust of bureaucracy and government officials has given Nigerians the desire to keep a tight rein on public officials. Openness is a necessary condition of popular democratic power, a predicate for effective representative government, and an indispensable part of the everyday life of the free individual.”
    “Under Article 10 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a state party, governments should take necessary measures to increase transparency in public administrations and to publish information periodically.”
    “SERAP notes that a fundamental objective of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) is to prevent corruption and abuse of office particularly through its provisions on the declaration of assets by public officials. Provisions on the declaration of assets by all public officials including state governors are entrenched in the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.”
    “Every public official is required to declare his/her assets immediately after taking office and thereafter, at the end of his/her term of office, by submitting to the CCB a written declaration of his/her properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”
    “The asset declaration form also requires a public official to declare the assets and liabilities of his/her spouse. Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorised in that behalf to verify it is deemed to be a breach of the Code of Conduct.”
    “Similarly, any property or asset acquired by a public official after the declaration which is not fairly attributable to income, gift or loan approved by the Code of Conduct is deemed to have been acquired in breach of the Code unless the contrary is proved.”
    “The late President Umaru Yar’Adua publicly declared his assets in 2007. Kayode Fayemi also publicly declared his assets in his first tenure as Ekiti governor. Both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo tersely made public their asset declarations.”

  • Gov Makinde visits Oyo CCB, declares assets worth over N48bn

    Gov Makinde visits Oyo CCB, declares assets worth over N48bn

    Following his promise to the people that he would make details of his assets public upon assumption of office, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday made public his asset, calling on any interested members of the public to verify the same with the Code of Conduct Bureau.
    The Governor, who visited the Oyo state office of the CCB in Ibadan to receive a copy of the asset declaration form he submitted earlier said that his decision to make the assets public was in fulfillment of a personal promise he made during the elections and also give them a basis to crosscheck after he might have finished serving them as the governor.
    Details of the assets as contained in the CCB 1 deposited with the bureau in the name Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, which was declared at the High Court of Oyo State, on May 28, 2019, indicated that the Governor is worth over N48billion in assets.
    The assets declaration form, marked OYSE/2019/001 contained details of cash at hand, in the bank, landed properties (developed and undeveloped), household items, share and bonds owed by the Governor, his wife, Omini Makinde as well as his companies.
    According to details of the asset form made public by the Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Governor of Oyo State had cash at hand and in the bank worth N234, 742,296.01, as at May 28, 2019.
    In dollar terms, the Governor has cash valued at $30,056.99 as at the same date.
    Properties, including the developed and undeveloped as well as household items indicated on the asset forms, showed that the Governor is worth N2, 624,800,500 (two billion, six hundred and twenty-four million, eight hundred thousand, five hundred Naira) as at the date of asset declaration.
    In Dollar terms, the Governor also declared properties, developed and undeveloped as well as household items valued at $4,400,000 (four million, four hundred thousand dollars only.
    In South African Rands, the Governor declared buildings and household items worth four Million, four hundred and fifty-seven thousand, five hundred and fifty-four and four South African Rands.
    The houses declared by the Governor include nine buildings in Nigeria, two in the United States of America and one in South Africa.
    One of the properties in the United States is described as “jointly owned.”
    The details showed the current value of Makinde’s companies stand at N48, 150,736,889 (forty-eight billion, one hundred and fifty million, seven hundred and thirty-six thousand, eight hundred and eighty-nine Naira), with 33,730,000 units of shares as at May 28, 2019.
    The Governor also has existing Bonds (Eurobond) worth $3,793, 500 as well as shares, debentures and other securities valued at N120,500,000 (One hundred and twenty million, five hundred thousand naira).
    The companies listed by the Governor include Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited; Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited; Makon Oil and Gas Limited; Makon Group Limited, Makon Construction Limited and Makon Power System Limited.
    The asset declaration form indicated that Governor Makinde’s four companies have additional assets denominated as loan notes including Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited (N1.7 billion); Makon Power System Limited (N148.4 million); Makon Oil and Gas Limited (N341 million); Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited (N1.159bn) totalling N3.389 billion.
    The Governor who was at the CCB said he visited to get his copy of the form duly signed as an attestation that anyone could assess the document through the freedom of information Act on details of his asset, just like he promised to do during the campaign period.
    Makinde said: “I came here to collect the photocopy of the form that I signed in fulfillment of my campaign promise to the people that I will declare my asset publicly and release the document to the public.
    “I will encourage all the members of my cabinet to do the same thing but in as much as they stay within the ambit of the law, I will encourage them to do the same.”

  • Oyo is technically bankrupt, says Makinde

    Oyo is technically bankrupt, says Makinde

    Makinde made the declaration while receiving in audience members of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, led by the Pro-Chancellor of the institution and Chairman of Council, Dr Waklek Mutka, who were on a courtesy visit to his office in Ibadan.
    He said, “When I came in, we were looking for ways to keep the government running because technically the government of Oyo State is bankrupt.
    “If I take it as a private entity, I won’t lend a dime to the government of Oyo State. I will ask them to start winding up proceedings. So, we have been looking for ways to keep the government running.
    “We have been beaming our searchlight on areas we can get money. The Bureau of Internal Revenue came to me and said they had issue of PAYE with the University of Ibadan.”
    He added, “At the governor’s forum, I saw a document where many of the states got huge refund from PAYE due to the federal institutions located in such states. I believe Ogun State got about N8bn; another state in the South West got N10bn; and Oyo State got only about N91m.
    “Then, I wondered what was going on here. They told me there was work in progress and that they had been talking but did not have cooperation from the University of Ibadan.
    “I can give you the assurance that this is something for the Federal Government to refund to us. All we need to do here is open the books and see what has gone on and have an agreement. I told the chairman of Bureau of Internal Revenue that he and I will meet with the University of Ibadan to get money. We will utilise such money immediately to do things that will lift our environment.”
    Makinde, however, stated his administration’s determination to collaborate with the university in the area of Public-Private Partnership to create a synergy between the institution and the government.
    “The university is a very important member of this community. We will like to collaborate with the university, especially in the area of Public-Private Partnership and for us, there should be a serious synergy between the academia and the government because majority of very good research outcomes stay on the shelf in the university. We want those to come out for us to work together to utilise those research outcomes to better the lives of our people,” he said.
    Earlier in his remark, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Waklek Mutka, expressed appreciation to the governor for donating N25m towards the rehabilitation of facilities in the institution destroyed by rainstorm on March 9 even as a governor-elect then.
    “Your magnanimity is unprecedented and we believe the university will continue to enjoy the full support of the government. It is hoped that your administration will ensure that we have an environment that will guarantee peace and stability,” he said.

  • Makinde: We inherited a minimum debt of N150 billion, threatens to expose Ajimobi

    Makinde: We inherited a minimum debt of N150 billion, threatens to expose Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that his administration inherited a minimum debt of N150 billion, adding that his administration was still checking the books to determine the actual total debt.

    He said: “We have confirmed N150b debt so far. We are still working to discover any other one. Some of them may be questionable. If you take bond, it is always tied to a particular project. If we want, we can do value-for-money audit.”

    Makinde said the figure represents the amount discovered so far, pointing out that some of the debts may be questionable.

    The governor made the revelation in a media chat on the state television on the occasion of his one month in office.

    The governor also threatened to expose his predecessor Abiola Ajimobi if he does not keep quiet about his (Makinde’s) administration.

  • BREAKING: Oyo Gov. Makinde appoints Adeosun as SSG

    BREAKING: Oyo Gov. Makinde appoints Adeosun as SSG

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday announced the Country Implementation Lead of the Shell Business Operations (SBO), Nigeria, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, while making the appointment public quoted the Governor as saying “we are proud to attract Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, a talented technocrat at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to support me to drive our transformation agenda in order to realise the vision of embedding prosperity in Oyo State.”

    The Governor said the choice of Adeosun as the first female SSG in the history of the state is in line with “his firm belief in women’s inclusiveness and diversity in government.”

    The statement further described Mrs. Adeosun as a licensed Pharmacist and a Chartered Human Resources Practitioner who obtained a degree in Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Benin in 1990 and 1997 respectively.

    According to Adisa’s statement, Adeosun will be bringing on board over 26 years of diverse multinational experience, which has seen her hold lead roles in SmithKline Beecham (GlaxoSmithKline) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    The statement reads in part, “Mrs Adeosun has held multiple roles with local and global remits in the organisations.

    “She hails from Ile Mato, Oranyan area in Ibadan North East Local Government of Oyo State.

    “The new Oyo SSG is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Nigeria and a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), United Kingdom.

    “She has also held various Lead HR Roles with specialisation in areas such as Business partnering, Talent Management, and Employee Relations.

    “As an active member of the CIPM, Mrs. Adeosun is involved in a foundation that is currently executing a programme for young leaders to imbibe leadership values of integrity, excellence, empathy & transformation.

    “The programme is targeted at leaving a leadership legacy in Africa by strengthening capabilities in today’s leaders and building a pipeline of ready future leaders by 2035.

    “Governor Makinde wished Mrs. Adeosun the best in her new assignment.”