By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—The Ogun State House of Assembly has granted approval to the state government’s request to obtain a total loan of N18.9 billion to offset the outstanding deductions and subvention to workers on its payroll under the Federal Government bail-out programme.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Suraju Adekunbi, who read Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s letter during the plenary, gave the break-down of the loans, saying, N9.779 billion was for outstanding deductions and subvention while N9.139 billion was for the 20 local governments in the state.

According to Adekunbi, the governor’s request was a follow-up to the House Resolution 008/2015 authorizing the restructuring of the commercial bank loans into Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds which would enable the State to fully participate in the bail-out scheme.

The approval was granted through a resolution passed after the motion for the passage was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Adeyinka Mafe, seconded by Hon. Oluwasesan Soyebo and supported by the Whole House.

Earlier while opening debate on the motion, Mafe explained that the loan would cater for the backlogs of the civil servants deductions which would help in boosting their morale thereby enhancing productivity.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has called on officials of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps and other concerned agencies in road and traffic management to ensure strict adherence with traffic rules and regulations to put an end to incessant road accident leading to loss of lives and properties.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraju Ishola Adekunbi gave the charge while responding to the presentation of the lawmaker representing Ewekoro State Constituency, Israel Jolaoso under personal explanation on the recent carnage in the State which claimed the lives of 15 people including a final year student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, at Awowo junction, along Lagos- Abeokuta Express way.