Daily Trust

Abiodun begs residents over deplorable Lagos - Ota - Abeokuta roads

- From Peter Moses, Abeokuta By Abubakar Sadiq Isah

Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday called for calm over the poor condition of the federal roads in the Sango area of the state.

He said his government would do everything humanly possible, not only to fix the roads in the state, especially, AdoOdo/Ota Local Government to ensure that the people enjoy “better life”.

Abiodun gave the assurance on Monday on the heels of the growing agitations for

State

the reconstruc­tion of LagosOta-Abeokuta; Ota-Idiroko and Sango-Joju roads in the industrial town by EndSARS protesters.

In the plea, the governor, stressed that permanent solutions would be brought to these roads in no distant future/

He stated that his administra­tion had already carried out palliative works on the Ota-Idiroko road, while plans were in top gear to do the same on the Sango-Joju road, where more materials and equipment would be delivered this week.

The chairman of the Parents Teachers Associatio­n (PTA) in the FCT, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, has urged the Minister of State for FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, to dialogue with primary school teachers with a view to ending the ongoing strike embarked by the teachers over non-payment of the new minimum wage.

Primary school teachers across the territory had last week Monday embarked on an indefinite strike action over non-payment of their new minimum wage after the FCT minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, ordered all schools to open for academic activities.

The schools had been shut for seven months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usman, while speaking with our reporter in Gwagwalada yesterday, said it was dishearten­ing that after the pupils had stayed at home for seven months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary school teachers suddenly embarked on strike, causing the

Abiodun disclosed that the Sango-Joju road had last week been approved by the Tenders Board, and is now awaiting award and ratificati­on by the State Executive Council.

This plea was contained in a personal message circulated online via the verified page of the governor.

Abiodun said he understood the plight of the people, adding that he would not allow any security agency to stifle the voices of demonstrat­ors who were simply exercising their fundamenta­l right of associatio­n, assembly and pupils to continue to stay at home.

He said there was the need for the FCT minister, all six area council chairmen and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to sit down on a round table for dialogue in order to see how the new minimum wage of the teachers would be paid to them so that they can go back to class.

City News visited some primary schools within the FCT and observed that schools have remained closed without any teacher on ground, while some with gates were under lock and key.

Reacting, the FCT state wing chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Stephen Knabayi, said no teacher would resume classes until the new minimum wage of the primary school teachers is paid.

“Although, I just learnt that the six area council chairmen and the minister and some stakeholde­rs are currently in a meeting in respect of the minimum wage which we are not part of, until we are called upon, schools remain shut,” he said. peaceful protests.

The governor recalled that the Ogun and Lagos state government­s had earlier requested the ceding of these federal roads from the federal government, for full reconstruc­tion.

He however disclosed that there had not been a positive response yet from the federal government, making it impossible to bring a permanent solution to the roads, even as the Ogun State government continues to carry out palliative works pending the approval.

 ?? Photo: NAN ?? #ENDSARS protesters invade the statue of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former premier of the western region at Agidingbi junction in Ikeja, Lagos yesterday
Photo: NAN #ENDSARS protesters invade the statue of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former premier of the western region at Agidingbi junction in Ikeja, Lagos yesterday

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