by Nurat Uthman
The Oyo State Government has approved ₦25 million as compensation for the composers of the State Anthem “Asiwaju Ni Wa”.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.
While approving the compensation after the Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday, Governor Seyi Makinde acknowledged the initiative and foresightedness of former First Lady, Mrs Florence Ajimobi.
According to the commissioner, the composers would be given a parcel of land each, and have streets named after them while the Ministry of Information and Orientation would produce a documentary on the history behind the anthem.
Oyelade said Asiwaju Ni Wa became the official anthem of the state about a decade ago without any form of compensation for the composers, which he said, made the council set up a committee last year.
Meanwhile, the commissioner announced that the council also reviewed the promotion of 1,629 state workers, including nurses who were adversely affected by administrative error, during the 2017 to 2020 promotion exercise.
Oyelade added that the government also approved the prayers of the state Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, for the reinstatement of 47 civil servants who were wrongfully dismissed from the service during the last administration.
According to him, 124 workers who were sacked in 2012 had equally been pardoned.
The commissioner said 823 workers who were laid off by the previous administration on the ground of fake certificate submission, had their dismissal upheld, while 180 who were employed at the twilight of the exit of the last administration in 2019, had their termination approved by the council.
