Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
…To Pay N231m As Compensation For Road Dualisation
…Maternity Leave For Pregnant, Nursing Mothers Now Six Months
The Government of Oyo State has re-awarded the contract for the completion of the 7.2 kilometre Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-
Odogbo Barracks road through the Alternative Project Funding Approach.
The contract, according to the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, was awarded to Messrs Fax Consults at the cost of N3,280,568,572.34 only [Three Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty Million, Five Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Two naira and Thirty-Four Kobo only].
This is coming on the heels of the commitment made by the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, during the last media interaction on Independence Day that the government would re-award the contract in four weeks.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Commissioner, while briefing newsmen shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, added that the sum of N231,100,000 [Two hundred and Thirty-One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira Only] has been approved for the payment of compensation claims on the road.
Olatubosun, who briefed newsmen alongside the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Prof. Daud Kehinde Shangodoyin, maintained that the road project would be completed through the Alternative Project Funding Approach, APFA, which will allow the state to pay after the contractor must have financed the project.
The Information Commissioner said: “We are here to brief you on the outcome of today’s EXCO meeting. The first one has to do with the completion of the 7.25km IdiApe-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barrack junction road dualization project.
“It would be recalled that during the last media interaction, the governor promised that the road will be looked into and worked upon.
“Today, the Council approved the completion of Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barrack junction road dualization project. The project was awarded to Messrs FAX Consults Limited, at the sum of N3,280,568,572.34 only, on design, build and finance basis, and in line with the repayment modality in form of Alternative Project Funding Approach.
“The completion period of the project is 8 [eight] months.
“We also approved the payment of compensation claims on the dualisation of that same road to the tune of N231,100,000 put forward by the Ministry of Works, Infrastructure and Transportation.”
Similarly, the Commissioner for Establishment, Shangodoyin, told newsmen that Governor Makinde’s administration has approved an upward review of maternity leave period for pregnant women and nursing mothers in the employment of the state.
He added that the Council has also adopted the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation on exclusive breast-feeding of a child.
According to Shangodoyin, the Council, after deliberating on a memorandum for the review, agreed to an upward review of the leave from four to six months, weekends inclusive, with full payment of salaries and other benefits.
He stated, however, that the period of closing at 2 p.m. for six months has now been cancelled.
He said: “At the 38th meeting held today, we deliberated on a memorandum on the review of maternity leave for pregnant and nursing mothers in the employment of Oyo State for every motherhood and we resolved and approved as follows:
“The adoption of WHO recommendation on this matter on exclusive breast-feeding of a child.
“An upward review of maternity leave period for pregnant and nursing mothers in the employment of the state from four to six months, weekends inclusive, with full payment of salaries and other benefits.
“Also, the period of closing at 2pm for six months, upon resumption has been cancelled. The application shall be for civil and public service workers only.
“The Executive Council also approved that the leave shall commence from four weeks to the expected date of delivery and it shall be mandatory for beneficiaries to proceed for the four weeks pre-natal leave as specified in the civil service rule.
“Also, we approved that the review is for female employees of Oyo State Government only and it shall be enjoyed at most four times in her service years.”
