The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has presented the Staff of Office and instrument of  appointment to Onisara of Feesu, Oba Moshood Alamu Oparonke 1 at the event that was held at Baptist Elementary Primary School Feesu –Iwo.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti explained that the presentation was a clear testimony to the high priority and regards the administration in the state has been according the traditional institution in the state saying the traditional institution has been serving as a unifying agent of peaceful co-existence and communal development in our society.
 

 
Alhaji Adeoti then charged the new monarch not to give room for  land, boundary and religious issues to  degenerate into communal crisis in his domain.  He called on him to be fair and just to all his subjects.
The Secretary to the State Government urged him to mobilize the people of Feesu to always fulfil their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes and rates promptly.
The Chairman of the Coronation Committee, Deacon Gabriel Oyebamiji, in his welcome address, expressed the gratitude of the people to the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola promising maximum co-operation and support for government programmes and policies.
The Council Manager of Iwo Local Government, Mr. Gbenga Babatunde thanked the Governor for his developmental  strides in the State.  He also congratulated the new monarch on his appointment.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti represented the Governor at the presentation of staff of Office and instrument of appointment to the Looja of Agberire, Oba Jacob Oyetunde Alajide in Agberire, Iwo West Local Council Development Area.

Osun State House of Assembly has passed into law, the Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Bill 2016.

In statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Timothy Owoeye and seconded by Babatunde Olatunji representing Ife North Constituency at the plenary on Tuesday.

The bill, the statement said, is seeking to prohibit hawking or exposing goods, wares and articles for sale or offer service whether or not from a stationary positions in any place or streets in some major towns of the state or within the vicinity of any public building in the state.

The affected towns, it said, are Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Ikirun, Ikire, Ila-Orangun and Ejigbo.

The statement added that the bill was also prohibiting the establishment or maintenance of any market by any person other than the state, local government or statutory corporations.

It added that the bill also discouraged extension of shops into the walkways, road setbacks and building lines, as well as indiscriminate pasting of posters or banners, advertising goods and services on sidewalls, bus stops, bridges or any other unauthorised space.

The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, according to the statement, said the passed bill when assented to would ensure cleaner environment and safe more lives of the people.

According to him, it would also discourage the use of underage to hawk in line with Child Right Act.

Regretting that many lives have been lost due to roadside accidents with street traders being the major victims, Salaam said, the law was borne out of the government commitment to safe the lives of its citizenry.

The speaker who noted that the bill would be forwarded to the Governor for his assent, expressed hope that it would be effectively implemented to the benefit of the people of the state.

Also, at the plenary, the state Micro-credit Agency Bill came up for consideration and the speaker directed that a letter be written to the executive to correct the lacuna observed between the existing law passed in 2006 and the new bill before the House.

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday April 5, 2016 presented the Land Use Charge with a view to increase the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
Aregbesola during the public presentation of Land Use Charge at the Exco Lounge, Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, said the land owner would be allowed to appeal high or low charges but the half of the charges must be paid before the appeal.
 

 
He said the new law was initiated as a viable alternative to oil money, urging the people of the state to join hands with the government to make the new law work.
He said Nigeria dependence on oil has caused more hardship than succour, adding “taxation remains the only viable and sustainable way civilized societies fund, sustain and maintain their government.
Aregbesola who decribed land as a greater resource stressed the need for government to take the use of land as another alternative trough which the current economic crises orchestrated by the steady fall in the oil price could be tackled.
Speaking, Consultant on Land Use Charge, Pastor Olumide Bolorunduro, said the charges was to harmonize all property laws like tenement rate among others.
He added that location, quality, size and value of the area will be considered in order to bring out the charge, stressing that bankers have been appointed to collect in order to ensure that there is no leakages.
Bolorunduro stated further that Finance Ministry, Works and Land including other professionals, collectively calculated the formula, saying that the taxation was a collective responsibility.
He said the charges was to stem up the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, adding that “it is a call to rally round the government so as to have enough fund to govern the state.
Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Dr Ajibola Basiru, stated that some properties were excepted in line with Section 8 of the law.
According to Basiru, properties used exclusively for religious body, Cemeteries and burial ground, registered educational institute that is non-profit making, property used solely for Non-governmental Organization activities and traditional grounds were exempted.
He added that Motherless baby home, Palaces of recognized Obas and Villages heads (Baales), were also exempted from the charges.
Speaker, Rt Hon Najeem Salaam, said the law was not new even if it is new in Osun.
He noted that the state House of Assembly had organized a public hearing on November 3rd, 2015, before the final passage of the bill.
He however advised the executive to ensure that enough awareness is carried out on the bill, saying the formula was designed to make it application easy for the people of the state.
The speaker however promised that the house will always provide enabling environment for the state to grow, adding that “if this law is well implemented, our IGR in Osun will definitely improve.

The Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Engr Olusegun Aduroja , yesterday kicked off A – 2 day free medical treatment for the elderly people aged 60 and above.  The programme was organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Ladoke  Akintola University
of Technology (LAUTECH) Osogbo .
 
 

 
 
The Permanent Secretary, who made it known, implored all the people concerned to make themselves available for free medical treatment on minor ailments such as cough, malaria and cold among others.
He, therefore, enjoined the elderly ones to visit the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ibokun for the free treatment and   further pointed out that should there be any serious case(s), there is provision for instant referral services.

State Of Osun Ministry Of Education, Science and Technology has directed Public and Private Schools across the State to proceed on Second Term holiday of the 2015/2016 School Calendar on Friday 1st April, 2016.
 

 
 
This is contained in a Press release issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Festus Olajide.
According to the release, principals, head teachers and proprietors of schools across the state are to comply with this directive, as it is in line with the approved school calendar for 2015/2016 School Session.
Parents and guardians are advised to take good care of their children and wards during the period of the vacation by engaging them in meaningful activities that will assist their moral, physical and
mental developments.
Parents are also advised to guide against exposing their children/wards to errands and unwholesome activities that are capable of endangering their lives.
The holiday is expected to last 3 Weeks and will end on Saturday 23rd April, 2016 while school activities which include teaching and learning for the 3rd term academic session would begin on Monday, 25th April, 2016.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has bagged the  award of  most outstanding governor in educational revolution in Nigeria.
 

 
 
 
The award was presented to the Governor ,who was represented by the Special Adviser on Federal Matters, Hon. Idiat Babalola  by the National Coalition for Peace and Mobilization at the International  Conference Centre in Abuja.
Hon. IDIAT  Babalola at the event commended the group for  appreciating and recognising the innovativeness of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola especially at this time where there are negative reports about him and his cabinet.
Hon.  Babalola mentioned Obafemi Awolowo ,who people never appreciated when he started with educational reform but later became celebrated all over Nigeria and beyond.
She further said definitely history too will judge Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola right. She emphasized” we are making a lot of giant strides in the educational sector.” She mentioned the school feeding program which is a flagship of Aregbesola which the federal government is trying to duplicate all over Nigeria as well as the opon imo.
She assured the people that Osun Government will remain focused, firm and not relent on her efforts saying “APC is the cure for the ills of the previous administration’’.
In another development, Hon. Idia Babalola was presented a medal as a patron of NACOPEAMS.
One of the organizers who wants to remain anonymous, said the governor deserves this recognition for his selfless effort in transforming education in Osun.

The Governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola Tuesday described former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a true democrat and bridge-builder.
 
 

 
 
This was contained in a congratulatory statement message to Tinubu on the occasion of his 64th birthday which comes up yesterday.
 
In the statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola portrayed Tinubu as one gallant Nigerian who fought not only for democracy but also the expansion of the nation’s political space.
 
Aregbesola highlighted Tinubu’s financial management ingenuity, unparalleled political mobilisation capacity and the ability to keep his large political family together as some of the reasons Tinubu would continue to be celebrated and revered for a long time to come.
 
President Buhari with Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo He stated that the further expansion of the political space of the country also makes Tinubu a bridge-builder and an astute politician, who brought to pass the prediction of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that the progressive South and North will one day come together to rule the nation.
 
The statement said in part : “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu means many things to many people but there are certain things that everyone agrees about him: a political think-thank, master strategist, promoter of politics of inclusion, political futurist and fearless activist and top politician per excellence.
 
“His life is packed with personal achievements and involvements as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a pro-democracy activist, two-time governor of Lagos State, mentor of successful leaders and currently a major player and factor on the national political scene.
 
“He strikes as a consummate politician and very strategic, original political thinker. “When he became governor of Lagos, the state was financially incapacitated but Tinubu’s knowledge of public finance changed the fortune of the Lagos Internally Generated Revenue from mere N600m.
 
The rest is history as Lagos today stands on firm, sure footing of unimaginable development proportion.
 
“There is no denying the fact that Asiwaju is a rare breed politician, patriot and a true democrat. Through his political efforts and strategies, progressive politics for which the South West was noted now dominates the realm.”
 
“No doubt, the accounts of modern Nigerian political evolution would not be complete without ample recognition of the roles of this selfless political leader.”

In order to cushion the effect of the harsh economic situation in the country, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has called for the review of the current revenue sharing formula to push more resources to the states.
 

 
 
Aregbesola made the call during his presentation at the economic retreat organised by the National Economic Council on Monday and Tuesday last week.
Our correspondent exclusively obtained a copy of the paper on Sunday, which was presented behind closed doors at the two-day event with the theme “Nigerian states: Multiple centres of prosperity.”
The governor regretted that the nation’s economy had increasingly worsened over the last three years.
This, he said, was caused by dwindling crude oil revenue globally.
He noted that the inflow of global wealth into oil-producing countries fell from $1.2tn in 2013 to N400bn in 2015.
“All the three tiers of government are affected. We are facing a national financial crisis,” the governor said.
In offering solutions to the current challenges, Aregbesola listed three perspectives to be considered. They included what he termed inter-governmental relations, interstate relations and regional competitiveness.
Under inter-governmental relations, the governor called for a “review of the current revenue sharing formula to push more resources to states; federal-state governments collaboration on infrastructure; prompt repayment of states for federal roads; Federal Government-led public sector reforms which include reduction of cost of government and optimisation of civil service.”
He noted that Osun State was currently being owed over N5bn in Back Duty Taxes.
Under interstate relations, Aregbesola called for economic collaboration among contiguous states with socio-cultural affinities and similarities.
He said such states could explore economies of scale, regional optimisation of assets and endowments as well as mitigation of afflictions and troubles.
The governor listed areas of collaboration to include transport infrastructure, education, market development, human capacity building as well as security and intelligence sharing.
On regional competitiveness, the governor said monopoly should be discouraged to enhance national economy and shared prosperity.
Also in tackling the current economic realities, Aregbesola stressed the need to demonstrate courage, character and leadership.
He added that there was the need for adequate mass mobilisation of Nigerians towards national economic recovery.