Financial Autonomy To Local Governments Will Accelerate Rural Development — Oyo NUJ

In its bid to ensure that the local governments contribute fruitfully to the affairs of people living at the rural areas, Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Chapter has enjoined both federal and state governments to grant financial autonomy to the local governments.

This piece of advice was contained in a communique issued at the end of the congress of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Council held on Thursday 30th June, 2023 at NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Details of the communique goes thus:

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE CONGRESS OF NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ) OYO STATE COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 30TH JUNE 2022 AT NUJ PRESS CENTRE, IYAGANKU, IBADAN, OYO STATE

The June congress of Oyo state council of NUJ was presided over by the Chairman of the union, Comrade Ademola Babalola and attended by members from all the chapels. After rigorous deliberations, the Congress resolved as follows:

1. That the Congress congratulated the newly sworn-in acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola over his appointment. The congress charged the Oyo-state born Chief Justice to reposition and sanitize the judicial arm of government to serve as true hope of the masses.
2. That the Congress also welcomed the new Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams to Oyo State. The Congress charged the new CP to see the new task as a call to service meant to protect lives and property of the people of pacesetter state and beyond. It advised the new CP to prevail on his men to see journalists as partners in progress and not as antagonists.
3. That the Congress commended both Oyo and Osun State Governments on their resolve to jointly rehabilitate and reconstruct the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo Road.
4. That the congress lauded Engr. Seyi Makinde administration for its various developmental and infrastructural projects that dotted the landscape of the State. Th Union tasked the government to continue its good works, just as it also charged it to rehabilitate some deplorable roads in some parts of Ibadanland to reduce the hardship being faced by motorists.
5. That the Congress frowned at the sudden increment of prices of goods and services across the state. It called on traders and service providers to tread softly so as not to make like more difficult for residents of the state.
6. That the Congress enjoined both federal and state governments to grant financial autonomy to local governments in order to allow them contribute fruitfully to the affairs of people living at the rural areas.
7. That the Congress frowned at unchecked nature of the influx of commercial motorcyclists who are mostly people without number plates in most parts of the state. It called on the state government to checkmate activities of this category of people through registration and data collection to ensure proper identification and forestall any act that may be inimical to the people of the state.
8. That the congress observed that despite the free education policy of the State government, the number of out-of-school children is increasing on the streets of Ibadan and major cities in the state. It called on parents to ensure that their children are always in school during school periods and charged the government to wake up against act of truancy and lateness in school.

Communique Drafting Committee:

1. Imran Khalid (Oke Ogun Chapel)
2. Musliudeen Adebayo (Correspondents chapel)
3. Rofiha Animasahun (NTA chapel)

Signed

Sola Oladapo
State Secretary