How Minister of State, (Power), Goddy Jedy Agba Saved Nigeria From Total Blackout

Not a few Nigerians were taken aback, when the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) declared a general strike on Wednesday 11th December, 2019 and threw the country into a total blackout.

The workers embarked on the strike action following crisis in the power sector at the expiration of the 21 days issued by the union.

However, the swift initiative of  Minister of State (Power), Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba in extensively engaging the stakeholders in the sector including those from the Ministry of Power, Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh, representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, leadership of NUEE and others.

The meeting addressed several issues that led to the suspension of the strike action by the electricity workers, who resumed duty after 24 hours of the exercise.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting was jointly signed by the Honourable Minister of State (Power),  Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba (OFR), Director General, BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, President (NUEE), Comrade Engr. Martin Uzoegwu, General Secretary (NUEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and a representative of the Federal  Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Hosea Akayi Musa, JP..

On the non-payment of over 2000 disengaged PHCN staff, the Director General of BPE confirmed that over N360 Billion had been paid and that the verification of 600 staff processed and forwarded to Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for payment, while 200 could not be verified.

On the issue of 16-month underpayment of severance benefit as well as the 7.5% Pension component, DG BPE acknowledged that this was pending and promised that modalities would be worked out on the payment.

On ownership of the schools, the DG gave his words that anytime they provided documentary evidence providing ownership of the school, the process of handing over would commence accordingly.

Director General, BPE promised to obtain the Condition of Service (COE) from the GenCos and DisCos within a week and hand them over to the Honourable Minister of State (Power).

The Honourable Minister of Power (State) promised to visit the GenCos in company of the Managing Director of NELMCO along with some officials of the union to see things for himself and resolve the issue of unionization in the GenCos and the non-remittance of the deducted check-off dues.

The meeting resolved that DisCos/GenCos be advised to negotiate with their bankers to ensure sufficient cash flow to enable them pay salaries as at when due.

The Director General -BPE promised to intervene on the non-remittance of Contributory Pension to PFA, especially for Kaduna, Kano and Jos.

The meeting also resolved that the DisCos could be advised to stop casualization of workers where or exists.

On the issue of harassment by security personnel, the Honourable Minister of State (Power) informed that he was not aware of the incident, apologised and promised that such an unfortunate incident would not occur again.

The meeting also resolved that all staff who participated in the Industrial action would not be victimised in any way.

Director  General-BPE explained that the pre-retirement training was processed, but that there was no cash backing to carry out the training.

On 10% equity, the Director General BPE explained that the percentage share had not been worked out because the 40% was yet to be determined and that until then staff could access their own share.

It was generally agreed by watchers of events that the move by the Minister of State (Power), Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba averted what would have led to a setback for the economy of the county at this time that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is trying to restore the nation's economy and a led ding festive season.

This has further increased the belief of people in many quarters that Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba is a round peg in a round hole as the Minister of State (Power) at this crucial time of the nation.

Oniru Stool: Aremo Adesegun Oniru Is Our Next King - Chiefs, Baales

To dispel the murmurs and rumours in the media and around Lagos metropolis surrounding the ancient Oniru stool of Iruland, the respected chiefs and baales of the kingdom have in one accord chosen Aremo Adesegun Oniru as the next king.

The Odofin of Iruland, Chief Saliu Abisogun, made this disclosure when the stakeholders hosted members of the press to finally lay the issue to rest.

Chief Abisogun, who spoke on behalf of the royal blood and chiefs of Iruland, stated that the stool which was formally recognised in 1994 after more than 200years of robust history has only been sat on by one king, the late Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru.

"Our recently translated king, Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru was the first king to ascend the throne and ruled for 25years prosperous years," he declared.

The chief also made know that after the former king translated, it became imperative to ensure the next in line is a prince, who is endowed with the capacity to provide needed leadership in consolidating the achievements of departed king.

"In order to ensure continued progress and unhindered development, we, the chiefs and baales of Iruland have resolved to back the nomination of Aremo Adesegun Oniru as the next Oniru of Iruland," he declared.

He said that Aremo Adesegun has also played a major role in the tremendous achievements recorded in Iruland under the deceased monarch.

"It was Aremo Adesegun Oniru that assisted in ensuring unprecedented infrastructural development in Iruland. He brought the whole family of Oniru together as one united force in the absence of which it would have been near impossible to make any visible progress in the land."

Chief Abisogun stated that the indigenes cant afford to truncate these progress and peace being enjoyed in Iruland by allowing some elements with foreign vassal interests to hijack the kingdom.

"That the late Oba was the father of Aremo Adesegun Oniru is not a sound argument to prevent the ascension of this noble son of the land as the prince can legitimately succeed his father if the development and peace of our land is of any meaning to all," he argued.

The chief, however, didnt forget to indicate that the principal members of Oniru family and all relevant chiefs have resolved to back Aremo Adesegun to ascend the throne of his father.

While appreciating the efforts of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Lagos state governor, Babajide SanwoOlu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, in their interests in the progress of the kingdom, Chief Abisogun enjoined all true sons of Iruland to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign by joining the chosen prince in ensuring the Iruland continues to develop.

Ruling Houses, Community Leaders Choose Adesegun As Next Oniru of Iruland

There appears to have been a breakthrough in the search for the next Oniru of Iruland in Lagos State as the heads of Akiogun Ruling House, community leaders, elders and youths of Iruland have picked a former Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development in the state, Prince Aremo Adesegun Abiodun Oniru, as the next Oniru of Iruland.

Heads of Akiogun Ruling House, community leaders (baales) of some settlements in Iruland, including Baale of Ilabare, Chief Ahmed Basorun, Baales of Oko Kuku, Ipewun, Osolu, Alakoto, Mosafejo, Falomo, Abule Ode amongst others unanimously agreed that Prince Adesegun Oniru should be installed as the next Oniru of Iruland.

Others, including women, youths and several residents of the area, who were present at the venue of the declaration lent their voices to the choice of Prince Adesegun Oniru, son of the late Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abiodun Oniru, who died in September, 2019, as the next Oba of Iruland.

This declaration was, however, preceded by a traditional rite, where kolanuts were thrown on the floor as a sign of approval or rejection.

The traditional rite was declared positive in favour of Prince Adesegun Oniru as the kolanuts turned to the positive side, an indication that his tenure as Oba would be peaceful and favourable to the town.

Prince Adesegun Oniru, an engineer and administrator was born on March 11, 1965.

He attended Kafy Cross School, Lagos, St. Berriaden Private School, Ibara, Abeokuta, Hall School, Sussex, England, and Stafford House Tutorial College, England.

Adesegun Oniru also attended Waltham Forest College, U.K in 1989 and University of Westminster, U.K in 1991.

He was the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterfront and Tourism Development Corporation between 2003 and 2005, and Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure to Lagos State Governor in 2005.

He served as the Commissioner for Housing in Lagos State and later Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development in the state between 2007 and 2011.

It would be recalled that there had been disagreements amongst the various ruling houses in Iruland shortly after the demise of Oba Abiodun Oniru.

Just last week, a ruling house in the area, Abisogun Family described a report in a section of the media that the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Mr. Hakeem Ajasa, had been picked as the next Oniru of Iruland in Lagos State as fake news.

According to the family, the selection of Ajasa, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) as the next Oniru of Iruland, must have been via a kangaroo election and thus not known to the entire family.

The family said in a public notice titled: “Fake News By A Section of Abisogun Ruling House” that the “public and all interested parties are put on notice of the kangaroo selection of a person unknown to the entire Oniru Family to rule over their land and fill the currently vacant Oniru Chieftaincy stool.”

The family, who described themselves as Cheated Members of Abisogun Ruling House, alleged in the notice that was released to the media on Friday that from time immemorial, no member of any royal family could imposes himself on the community.