Category: General News

The Federal Government is set to commence the physical verification exercise of all employees of the Federal Government on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) who have completed their update on the online verification portal.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita made the disclosure on Friday, 13^th July, 2018 in Abuja at the Press Conference to kick start the IPPIS verification exercise.

The Head of Civil Service revealed that the physical verification exercise will commence on Monday, 16^th July, 2018. The exercise is geared towards achieving the implementation of the ‘Accelerate Roll-Out of the Human Resource Model of the IPPIS as outlined in the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan to reposition the Federal Civil Service. It is expected to be completed in two weeks.

She explained that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) is one of the initiatives of  Government which commenced in 2006 with a view to training transparency, accuracy and reliability in the management of personnel records in the Service while also curtailing avoidable excesses in personnel costs.

Reiterating the imperative of the exercise, the Head of Service said: “In fulfillment of one of the cardinal principles of the introduction of the IPPIS programme which is blocking loopholes and discouraging corruption in the administration of personnel records, it is important that the Human Resource Information on the IPPIS Portal be cleaned up with a view to having credible data for both payroll and personnel administration and analysis”.

Mrs. Oyo-Ita further said that the upcoming verification exercise is to authenticate the documents of the individual employees of the Federal Government and the procedure is that every employee will present themselves for screening and their document scanned into the system.

She stated that as at the end of June, 2018 the total number of 486 MDAs have been enrolled on IPPIS with over 330,820 employees being paid salaries through the IPPIS platform.

The Head of Service advised all concerned MDAs to cooperate with the verifiers by providing enabling environment for the successful conduct of the exercise according to the circulated time table.

She warned that failure of any eligible employee to partake in the verification exercise would have great consequence.  She said: “The consequence of non-compliance is having your data deleted from the Federal Government Employee Database.”

The online data update started in April 2017.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Sunday said the election of  Dr Kayode Fayemi in Saturday’s gubernatorial poll was a victory for the people.

Tinubu made the declaration in a congratulatatory message to Fayemi, the APC Candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

In a  statement signed by his media officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, entitled – “Ekiti Election: A Victory for the People”,
Tinubu urged Fayemi to avoid recriminations and run an all-inclusive government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi won the election after securing 197,459 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Prof. Kalapo Olusola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 178, 121 votes.

”Dr Fayemi must keep in remembrance that the people have placed their future in his safekeeping and he must justify their trust in him by doing all he can do to advance their welfare.

” I’m confident that Fayemi will keep faith with the programmes and policies of our party in order to improve the lives of the people of Ekiti.

”I know Fayemi will establish an all-inclusive government that involves all stakeholders in his administration and in the governance of the state, ” he said.

Tinubu said that the people of the state had voted to take a path different from the one on which they had been.

”In Ekiti, a chapter has closed and a new one has begun.  This was not done by contrivance or artifice, nor was it the product of intimidation or improper influence.

” This came about because it was the will of the people of Ekiti as expressed and manifested in the conduct of a free and fair election in that state. In voting as they did, the people thus voted for themselves.

” Here, we must congratulate Dr Kayode Fayemi and our party, the APC, for the successful campaign that was run and for the confidence the people of Ekiti have shown in transferring the mandate to govern them into our hands, ” he said.

Tinubu said there was much apprehension and concern leading to the election that the exercise would fall into disorder.

”In the end, the election took place as it should for democratic elections are- a peaceful contest of ideas and ideologies.

”In Ekiti, two clearly different perspectives of governance stood in contest for the people to decide and decide they did.

“I make no bones that I am glad that Dr Fayemi and the APC won this contest, ” he said.

Tinubu commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka for not resorting to violence to get his way.

”However, I would be remiss if I did not say a good word about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka.

”He conducted a tough and energetic campaign. He wanted this seat but, in the end, he did not resort to violence to get his way.

”He allowed the people to make their own decision and for his adherence to this democratic principle, he should be recognised, ” he said.

Tinubu also commended Gov. Ayo Fayose for not crossing the line by trying to subvert the will of the people through violent means.

“The same must be said of Gov. Ayo Fayose. He tried his utmost to bring his candidate to victory but he did not cross the line by trying to subvert the will of the people through violent means.

”Dr Fayemi is a man of integrity and his government will not be one of recrimination.  It is a government of the people and as such will focus its attention on helping the people, not suppressing yesterday’s political opponents.

”I urge Gov. Fayose and Prof. Kolapo Eleka, as prominent citizens and leaders of Ekiti, to move forward in that same spirit. Let there be an orderly transition from the outgoing to the incoming government.

”Last and most importantly, let us commend the people of Ekiti.  Casting aside all the dire predictions, they conducted themselves with the patience, sobriety and collective wisdom befitting the moment.

”Instead of turning things upside down, they turned to peace and mutual respect for each other as well as respect for the democratic process.

”Above all else, the election was your election and yesterday was your day!  With the choice that you have made, may tomorrow also be your best future, ” he said. (NAN)

The outcome of 2018 governorship poll in Ekiti has shown that the electorate, not political parties nor leaders’ clout determines victory in fair contest, says Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum.

This was said on Sunday in a statement signed by Akin Malaolu, Secretary-General of the group after the declaration of result by Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Chief Returning Officer for the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Prof.Kolapo Olusola Eleka, candidate of  the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP) polled 178, 121 votes  to lose  to Dr.Kayode Fayemi of  the All Progressives Congress(APC), who scored  197,459 votes in the election of July 14.

According to Malaolu,scribe of the socio-cultural group, the result should be a lesson to every political party on the need to serve the people and not feasting on prevalence economic hardship.

“This loss to APC by PDP and its rascally Governor must stand as a lesson to their National body, that the people and not the leaders are the clearest interpreter in all political contest. The brigandage and gangster behaviour that happened in 2014 Governorship election under Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan when both cash and other abuses were brought thrown at the electorates had been clearly replaced by honest conduct by the APC as a progressive party in this election adjudged free and fair by almost everyone.

“ Governor Ayodele Fayose must look back and review why his candidate failed at the polls.

“His candidate’s defeat came easily due to the fact they lost altogether the true meaning to democratic governance, their reign shortchanged the people of Ekiti State,”the group said.

Yoruba Ronu commended INEC for consistent success in its conduct of elections since 2015, urging the body to build on the record.

“The clamour for free and fair election in the country had been upgraded by INEC and no where do we find this if not under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“ Ekiti governorship poll witnessed by foreign and local observers had been adjudged to satisfy one common desire from all observers and that is, the use of clean and fair democratic weapons in a democratic contest.

“Similar free and fair elections were held with little or no legal rifts in Ondo State, Anambra and later in Osun State when the States had their governorship and senatorial elections.

“It is on record that two of those three elections were won by opposition parties, without use of federal`might to’influence  the result.

“Anyone or political party crying foul over Ekiti governorship election that just took place should not only be ignored, it must be rejected altogether.

“PDP national leaders must ask themselves if democracy was in Ekiti between 2014 and 2018. Everyone in Yoruba land knew the type of leader on the throne as Governor,”he said.

However, the group called on Fayemi to ensure that people of the state caught up with other progressive states like Lagos and more through implementation of people-oriented programmes.

“ Fayemi must clearly recognise, that Ekiti people having joined the progressives fold, they must be made to enjoy the full dividends of democracy which must translate into happiness, justice and wealth for all.

“He must pay quick attention to the sufferings of pensioners, civil servants, artisans and our unemployed youths so that poverty class can be highly decimated while the middle class blossoms,”he said.

Malaolu commended the All Progressives Congress  for ensuring a decent fight for victory.

“ APC has proven itself as a progressive party in this election that was adjudged free and fair by almost everyone including domestic and foreign observers.

“We must congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, Adams Oshiomhole and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other leaders of APC who campaigned vigorously to ensure victory at the polls,” he said.

Malaolu also applauded Yoruba Ronu members in Ekiti for their efforts in sensitising voters on peaceful election, amidst danger to their lives. (NAN)

 

The Ekiti governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Sunday assured all the workers in the state that his administration would make their welfare a top priority and not pay lip service to it.

Fayemi gave the assurance at a news conference held at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.

He promised to pay all outstanding salaries and assured the civil servants that their subsequent salaries would be paid as and when due.

He also promised to turn around the fortunes of Ekiti and set a standard for other governors in the country to emulate.

The governor-elect said that in the past three and a half years, the civil servants in the state had been suffering to even feed their families not to talk of paying their children school fees.

“I want to assure Ekiti workers that I am going to pay all their outstanding salaries and make life comfortable for them and their families.

“My re-election as the governor-elect of ?Ekiti state was not accidental, but divine intervention from God.

“I want all the civil servants to note that my re-election was not to take vengeance, but to restore peace, transformation and development to the state?.

“I wish to appreciate all the party chieftains that supported my ambition to contest again for the governor of this state, I want to assure you that you will not regret your support to me.

“Also to the opposition party, I wish to advise ?Gov. Ayodele Fayose and his deputy; and the PDP candidate in the election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola; to accept defeat, just like I did four years ago.

“It is the Lord’s doing that I am re-elected as  the next governor of Ekiti State and I want them to equally see my victory in the governorship election held on Saturday as the Lord’s doing, “he said.

The governor-elect assured all Ekiti people of adequate security of lives and properties from any forms of attack from herdsmen or terrorists.

He promised never to fold his arms and allow terrorists to invade the state, saying that Ekiti people were peace loving, hardworking, intelligent and discipline.

He called on other opposition ?parties to join hands with him to develop and promote the cultural values of the state on assumption of office.

The news conference was attended by

The State Chairman of the party and his deputy, Chief Jide Awe and Mrs Kemi Olaleye as well as other chieftains of the party attended the press conference.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that many parts of the country were likely to experience flooding due to a shift in rainfall pattern caused by climate change.

The Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Sani Mashi, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Abuja.

Mashi said that distortions had occurred in the pattern of rainfall leading to variation in the amount of rain that was expected in the country.

He explained that in line with NiMet’s 2018 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), so much water would be made available on the surface between the last week of July and end of August.

According to him, once it rains, the ground cannot comfortably contain and absorb the water making it to runoff and resulting in so much water on the surface.

“Unless adequate provision is made to accommodate the amount of water that is running on the surface, definitely the likelihood of flood is going to be very high, especially in the areas that are adjoining the riverine locations.

“What it means is that, already, we are receiving a very large amount of rain within those locations and because there are rivers within those locations, the rivers are already conveying water towards those areas.

“The rivers are already bringing so much water and you are receiving high amount of rainfall within those particular areas.

“It means that when the two runoff waters combine, the spaces for the water to pass will be minimal and as a result of this, there is likelihood of flood across these areas,’’ he said.

Mashi said that the flash points of flooding had been identified and presented to the public by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the agency responsible for flood monitoring.

He explained that NiMet and NIHSA were working together to ensure that accurate flood information was made available to the public to minimise the impact of flood in the country.

NAN recalls that NIHSA had in its 2018 Annual Flood Outlook, announced that 380 Local Government Areas in 35 states would experience flooding this year.

According to NIHSA, flooding will be high in about 78 LGAs, although the situation will generally not be as severe as what the country experienced in 2012.

The Acting Director-General, NIHSA, Olayinka Ogunwale, during the presentation in May, stated that the government had been issuing warnings to residents in flood-prone areas to relocate from such locations.

“It is important to let those in flood-prone areas know that the country will experience flooding in 2018 and people in such locations should evacuate,’’ Ogunwale said. (NAN)