News
Lawmakers give Commissioner, Lagos monarch 7 days to remove traditional ruler
Lagos lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Muslim Folami, and a monarch, Oba Rafiu Salami, to revoke installation of a new traditional ruler in the state.
The call followed the adoption of the recommendations of a report on a chieftaincy petition presented by Mrs Funmilayo Tejuosho, Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Petition and LASIEC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition was titled: “Complaint against the Representation of One Mufutau Olamiji as the Baale of Okegun-Ladeseso, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.”
The House said that failure to comply with the recommendations would attract disciplinary action, saying Okegun-Ladeseso never existed in the area.
Presenting the committee’s report on the chieftaincy tussle between Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya of Okegun-Odofin and Olamiji of Okegun-Ladeseso, Tejuosho said that the committee’s recommendations were taken after thorough examinations.
“That the motive behind the creation and carving out of the newly created Okegun-Ladeseso out of Okegun-Odofin, mainly was to checkmate the influence of Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya, and this is absurd and unacceptable.
“Hence, the Baaleship of Mufutau Olamiji be rescinded in order to bring lasting peace to that community; accordingly, Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya remains the only Baale of Okegun-Odofin which also comprises the purported created Okegun-Ladeseso.
“That consequent upon (i) above, the Commissioner for the Local Government and Community Affairs should take appropriate action by revoking the gazette given to Mufutau Olamiji as Baale of Okegun-Ladeseso who was maliciously installed after the coronation of Ogunkoya by Oba Salami himself.
“That the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami and other top officials in the ministry observe due diligence and try not to subvert the system in the course of their duties.
“That all unlawful and reckless land transactions at Okegun-Odofin by Oba Salami and Mufutau Olamiji should stop forthwith.
“That all the Obas or Baales that have been nominated under such anomaly and wrongly endorsed by the tribunal be reversed and sent back to the Ibeju-Lekki LG Chieftaincy Committee for fresh processing,” she said.
The House, which maintained that Okegun-Ladeseso was unknown in the original layout of Ibeju-Lekki, directed the commissioner to revoke the gazette within seven days.
Tejuoso had maintained that the Onibeju of Ibeju-Lekki, Oba Salami, maliciously installed Olamiji, who was his Personal Assistant, as Baale to override that of Ogunkoya, who was seen as not being submissive to Onibeju.
The Chairman also disclosed that the commissioner connived with Onibeju to install Olamiji to bypass Committee for Chieftaincy Affairs.
She added that Folami had also proceeded to the tribunal while the House committee was conducting its findings despite given the order to take rescind.
The lawmakers took turns to condemn the procedure of the ministry in installing traditional rulers, saying that most times due process was not followed.
Mr Yinka Ogundimu, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said that the activities of the commissioner should be looked into by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.
Also speaking, Mr Bisi Yusuff, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Local) said: “It is not enough for the governor to look into the activities of the commissioner, but also expedient for the House to pass a vote-of-no confidence in him.”
The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, told the lawmakers that failure of both Folami and the Onibeju to adhere to the recommendations of the House within a week would determine the next action.
“We will give them (Commissioner and Onibeju) the opportunity to rescind. We will use this as a test case and I am sure they will comply. They should ensure sanity in Okegun,’’ he said.
The House said that there was a need to review the law on chieftaincy titles and the remuneration in order to regulate the way and manner Obas and Bales emerge in every nook and cranny in Lagos State. (Source: NAN)
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
Tinubu The Audacity To Hope – Two Years After
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Flags off Free to Shine Campaign Against HIV/AIDS, other STDs in Enugu
The Intellectual Sins of June 12: A Reckoning with Nigeria’s Democratic Conscience
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
