FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
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Our public conduct must at all time be a strong restatement of our connection with our people and our understanding of the realities they have to live with. This public service is a business whose core value is to deliver social service
•Hon. Bamgbola (sixth right) and the new appointees
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HAIRMAN, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area Hon Hakeem Bamgbola has urged the newly appointed Supervisors, Special Advisers and Secretary to the local government to be exemplary in their duties, guided by their integrity. The council chief spoke during the swearing-in ceremony of the new officers. Hon Bamgbola also inaugurated a revenue committee. He challenged them to exceed the achievements of the class of 20082011 even if the circumstances may be different. Bamgbola who spoke at the council secretariat after the Oaths of Office and Allegiance were administered on the nominees, said the team must resist the temptation to dwell on any successes of the last term. “We must see whatever we achieved as challenges to us to do better. That is the only way we can reward and appreciate the sacri-
Council chair urges appointees on integrity By Tajudeen Adebanjo
fice and service,” he said. “The expectation of our people is very high. It is very understandably so. They have seen their lives improve year after year from 1999 to 2011 under our great leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his worthy successor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the best man for the job. They will not settle for anything less. You and I are inheritors of a legacy of hard work dating back over 12 years. The early pioneers were giants who left big shoes that we must fill. In the last few years, the image of this council has blossomed, her prosperity has improved, hope has been restored, myths have been exploded and possibilities now seem limitless,” he noted. The council boss appealed to the
new appointees to show some sense of appreciation for the difficult conditions of the helpless members of the society He enjoined them to be moderate in their actions, moderate in public appearances and shun all sense of ostentation and waste that can be suggestive of insensibility on their part. “Our public conduct must at all time be a strong restatement of our connection with our people and our understanding of the realities they have to live with. This public service is a business whose core value is to deliver social service. It is funded by taxes from which your salaries and allowances will be paid. It may not be a spectacular pay but the opportunity for 15 persons is a rare privilege and a lifetime opportunity in a densely population,” he said.
“We must treat the tax payers with courtesy, they are our employers, our work in treating files, responding to their letters, listening to their complaints, answering their phone calls, granting them access to us as practical as it is possible to do so, these will make their sacrifice for us at the elections worthwhile. This is a social contract; we must fulfill our side of the bargain”, Bamgbola added. He appealed for the understanding of members of the public to be discerning and reasonable with their demands on their time so that they can apply that time to do the work that will bring value to the peoples’ lives. The council boss expressed appreciation to all the legislators for their people first and business-
‘Increase oil derivation fund to 50 per cent’
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•Students resuming at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja after the fuel subsidy strike
like approach during the last tenure. While responding on behalf of the new members of the Executive Council, the Secretary to the council (SLG), Olugbenga Oyebode pledged the unflinching loyalty of the members to the Chairman through selfless service and total dedication to the task of leading the people to prosperity. Oyebode expressed conviction that the members will assist the council chair in justifying the uncommon enthusiasm of the people of Itire-Ikate who voted massively for him in the October council elections. He thanked the Bamgbola and leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria for considering them worthy of the appointment.
ONSEQUENT upon the increased cost of petrol, a group in the oil-producing area of Ondo State has called for the review of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund to 50 per cent. The group, Ilaje/Ese-Odo Renaissance Group (IERG) in a statement signed by its chairman, Sunday Menukuro, said the call became imperative because of untold hardship being faced by its inhabitants. According to the statement “it is crystal clear that the 13 percent currently being paid to the oil producing states as derivation fund does not commensurate with the hazards in the coastal areas. “The untold hardship as a result of the exploitation and exploration of crude oil is unprecedented though the NDDC and ministry of Niger Delta are doing their best, but the level of destruction and losses in
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
the area is unimaginable. The group noted with concern various challenges like sea incursion, oil spillage and environmental pollution that are posing a serious threat to the people in the area. “We are pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to review the 13 percent derivation fund for the nine oil producing states especially now that oil subsidy has been completely removed,” the statement stressed. Menukuro noted that the step would assist in uplifting the area particularly in terms of infrastructural development and job creation. He stressed that an appreciable number of people in the Niger Delta are wallowing in abject poverty in spite of the natural gift in their terrain.