…as State House of Assembly calls for Proper Investigation into Sacking crisis

The Managements of the Osun State-owned Tertiary Institutions have said that the state government has no hand in the sack of some of their teaching and non-teaching staff.

Responding to questions at a meeting called by the State House of Assembly in Osogbo on Tuesday, they said it was the discretion of the institutions to retrench the staff who have run foul of the requirements of their jobs.

This is just as the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam called for meticulous scrutiny, justification and thorough investigation of the files of the affected staffers so as for the House to confirm whether the sacked workers have indeed run foul of the said jobs’ requirements.

Hon. Salaam further directed the managements of the four affected institutions to suspend any action capable of making anyone loses his job until the investigation is concluded by the House.

Apparently, the Rector, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Sola Agboola; his counterpart from Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Dr. Augustus Oke; Provost, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Dr. Kadiri Adegoke and his counterpart from Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Professor Isaac Oyewole argued that none of the staff of the institutions was unjustifiably sacked.

One after the other, they all identified redundancy, inappropriate qualifications, poor academic development, declining productivity, questionable certificates, disciplinary matters among other as parts of the criteria for the disengagement of the affected teaching and non-teaching staff of the institutions.

In his submission, Rector, Osun State College of Education, Dr. Augustus Oke who attributed the lingering crisis to what he described as nepotism, chauvinism and favourism explained that the problem in the system, dated back to 2005 when due process was totally ignored and disregarded in the staff engagement, saying at that period, political office holders used to give out note for lecturers to report to the institution without the appropriate certificates and qualifications.

He stressed that many of the affected workers were neither recruited nor engaged in line with the recruitment’s standards, rules and regulations, saying some of them gained the jobs through back door.

In his subsequent reactions, Rector, Osun State Polytechnic, Dr. Sola Agboola elucidated that the institutions were not involved in the recruitment of staff from 2005 to 2007, saying, it was done at the instance of the  political class.

The duo however affirmed that consultants were engaged to carry out staff audit and at the end, the affected staff were found wanting.

Also reacting, Provost, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Professor Isaac OyewoleProfessor Oyewole said the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt the staff, but was done in good faith to bring sanity into the education system in the state.

Professor Oyewole stressed that some of the affected staff had disciplinary issues including extortion of students and aiding exam malpractices among others, saying the offence committed by the affected officials were contained in their files.

Reacting, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Najeem Salaam wondered why the management had to wait till now if indeed the affected staff have been found wanting in one way or the other.

“If somebody has a questionable certificate, you must have known before now; and if a person is engaging in disciplinary activities, your must have had the hint. Why do you have to wait till now to generate noises”, he said.

Hon. Salaam held that the House under his leadership would not condone the disengagement of the staff of the institutions unjustifiably, therefore directed the institution to suspend the action for now.

Salaam who hinted that a letter for the commencement of strike action had been received from the Academic Staff Union of the institutions, urged the Union not to embark on any strike for now, as effort is being taken by the House to resolve the matter.

Osun State Police Command has nabbed eight robbery suspects who murdered a university teacher, Dr. Adedeji Adejobi.
Adejobi a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and senior brother to Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ademuyiwa Adejobi.
Osun State Police Commissioner,  Kola Sodipo made the disclosure at a press briefing held  in Osogbo yesterday. Dr. Adedeji was murdered on July 14th, 2015 in Ile-Ife.
Those arrested are: Abiodun Damilola Jawefa, Adegoke Adeolu, who pulled the trigger, Sunday Okoro , Abiodun Ayeni, Faisal Musa, Bilkiaminu Alasan, Sule Victor and Bobby Eric.
Sodipo said when the suspects were interrogated, they all confessed that the Berretta pistol which was used to kill Dr. Adedeji Adejobi belong to Abiodun Damilola Jawefa and Anthony Okoro who is now at large.
He added that during the operation, Okoro now at large used his locally made cut to size barrel gun to kill the night guard security man at the house of the lecturer.
The Polic Commissioner said further that before the gang killed the university lecturer that day, they had earlier robbed a man of his Toyota Corolla car at Ilesa, which they latter used to trail Dr. Adejobi to his residence at Ile-Ife and robbed him of the following: Toyota Venza, NhP Laptop Computer, Blackberry handsets and cash, before  eventually shot him to death.
He said that the police had recovered the following from one of the suspects: Laptop Computer, Plasma Television , two locally made cut size single barrel guns, one live and 3 expended cartridges, and one empty shell of 9mm Pistol ammunition.
Commissioner  Sodipo said that the suspects have been arraigned in court and effort is ongoing to arrest the run away Anthony Okoro.
The State Commissioner of Police also stated that the command has arrested four robbery suspects and large cache of arms from them.
The suspects are Ifedayo Adeniyi, Semiu Taofeeq, Ogunwale Afolabi and Mukaila Oyeleke.
He posited that the suspects were arrested when they attacked and robbed one Fabiyi Adebayo of his Lexus Jep RX 300 at gun point.
He added that during the arrest, one locally made double barrel pistol with one live cartridge and cutlasses was recovered from them.
Commissioner of Police also disclosed that one Bamitale Fisayo who broke into a house and carted away sum of N30,130, one Acer laptop, two Infinix handset,one Blackberry touch handset, one Itel phone, one Nokia phone, one power bank with charger and other items was arrested, and has been charged to court .
The Commissioner said that eighteen vehicles and eight motorcycles were recovered by the command from various suspects from September to December 2015.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

…as State House of Assembly calls for Proper Investigation into Sacking crisis

The Managements of the Osun State-owned Tertiary Institutions have said that the state government has no hand in the sack of some of their teaching and non-teaching staff.

Responding to questions at a meeting called by the State House of Assembly in Osogbo on Tuesday, they said it was the discretion of the institutions to retrench the staff who have run foul of the requirements of their jobs.

This is just as the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam called for meticulous scrutiny, justification and thorough investigation of the files of the affected staffers so as for the House to confirm whether the sacked workers have indeed run foul of the said jobs’ requirements.

Hon. Salaam further directed the managements of the four affected institutions to suspend any action capable of making anyone loses his job until the investigation is concluded by the House.

Apparently, the Rector, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Sola Agboola; his counterpart from Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Dr. Augustus Oke; Provost, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Dr. Kadiri Adegoke and his counterpart from Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Professor Isaac Oyewole argued that none of the staff of the institutions was unjustifiably sacked.

One after the other, they all identified redundancy, inappropriate qualifications, poor academic development, declining productivity, questionable certificates, disciplinary matters among other as parts of the criteria for the disengagement of the affected teaching and non-teaching staff of the institutions.

In his submission, Rector, Osun State College of Education, Dr. Augustus Oke who attributed the lingering crisis to what he described as nepotism, chauvinism and favourism explained that the problem in the system, dated back to 2005 when due process was totally ignored and disregarded in the staff engagement, saying at that period, political office holders used to give out note for lecturers to report to the institution without the appropriate certificates and qualifications.

He stressed that many of the affected workers were neither recruited nor engaged in line with the recruitment’s standards, rules and regulations, saying some of them gained the jobs through back door.

In his subsequent reactions, Rector, Osun State Polytechnic, Dr. Sola Agboola elucidated that the institutions were not involved in the recruitment of staff from 2005 to 2007, saying, it was done at the instance of the  political class.

The duo however affirmed that consultants were engaged to carry out staff audit and at the end, the affected staff were found wanting.

Also reacting, Provost, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Professor Isaac OyewoleProfessor Oyewole said the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt the staff, but was done in good faith to bring sanity into the education system in the state.

Professor Oyewole stressed that some of the affected staff had disciplinary issues including extortion of students and aiding exam malpractices among others, saying the offence committed by the affected officials were contained in their files.

Reacting, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Najeem Salaam wondered why the management had to wait till now if indeed the affected staff have been found wanting in one way or the other.

“If somebody has a questionable certificate, you must have known before now; and if a person is engaging in disciplinary activities, your must have had the hint. Why do you have to wait till now to generate noises”, he said.

Hon. Salaam held that the House under his leadership would not condone the disengagement of the staff of the institutions unjustifiably, therefore directed the institution to suspend the action for now.

Salaam who hinted that a letter for the commencement of strike action had been received from the Academic Staff Union of the institutions, urged the Union not to embark on any strike for now, as effort is being taken by the House to resolve the matter.

As he Commissions N140m State-of-the-art Elementary School in the State

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the good people of the state of his administration’s commitment towards the provision of functional, quality, qualitative and effective education in the state.

In view of the worrisome economic situation in Nigeria and the state in particular, Governor Aregbesola said one of the ways to liberate the nation out of her present situation was to invest its little resources on her citizens through the provision of an interrupted-standard western education as it remains the sustainable legacy for every child.

Governor Aregbesola stated this while commissioning Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School, Osogbo.

The school which was named after the former military administrator, Retired Navy/Captain Anthony Udofia was metarmophosed from Anthony Udofia Model School to Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School.

Governor Aregbesola who described the provision of functional basic education as an unavoidable duty and responsibility  owed by every serious government, said his administration has prioritized education based on the premises of its understanding that any child with a good elementary school foundation will have no problem making progress educationally.

Aregbesola expressed satisfaction in the fact that his administration has been able to record tremendous achievements and accolade locally and internationally in educational sector, adding that he had elevated the state to the extent that the state can presently boast of having public schools that can compete with the best in the world.

He said his administration since inception has been putting together necessary efforts towards the actualization and fulfillment of its electoral campaign promises not only on education but in all other sectors of the economy as these notions had been successfully initiated, enunciated and implemented.

Aregbesola said his government having identified basic education as a fundamental and inalienable right of every child, decided to invest huge parts of its resources with the sole foresight that it remains the bedrock for sustainable development.

He stressed further that a good basic education fulfills the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write, saying it remains a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon.

Enumerating his landmark achievements, Governor Aregbesola recounts that his administration has commenced the  building of 100 Elementary schools across the state in a bid to domesticate and harmonize elementary public school in every neighbourhood.

He said, “Elementary school is the basic of the basic education. Any child with a good elementary school foundation will have no problem making progress educationally, other things being equal.

“We are building 100 Elementary schools like this across the state; though this is ambitious, the idea behind it is that there should be an elementary public school in every neighbourhood.

Speaking on the amount being expended by his administration on the new edifice, Governor Aregbesola disclosed that his government spent N140 million for the structure, furnishing and landscape, saying his government was satisfied in the fact that “being in this school gives the satisfaction of being in the proper environment of learning.

“We have made education development the priority of our administration. As you are mostly aware, these schools and other innovations are the products of the educational summit we held immediately after my inauguration.

“The complex we are in is a 960-pupil capacity school with 24 classrooms of 40 pupils each, with further capacity for upgrade to 1,000. It has an ICT room, a library, multipurpose hall, 29 toilets, offices for headmaster, facility manager, staff room, food court, sick bay, security/reception office and a water fountain for aesthetics.

“I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here.

“All these are in fulfillment of our promise to provide functional basic education for the pupils in the state.

“This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education. It is a fundamental and inalienable right of every child.

“A good basic education fulfills the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write and is a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon”, Aregbesola stated.

He revealed further, “Indeed, we are constructing 100 brand new state-of-the-art Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. Out of these, 14 Elementary Schools, 15 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools, including the one we are commissioning today, have been completed, receiving finishing touches and awaiting commissioning, to the glory of God.

“Fulfilling our commitment to complete these school projects and our other obligations is financially challenging, if not herculean.

Governor Aregbesola who lamented over the current economic challenges occasioned with the effects of continued dwindling revenues from the Federation Accounts, said his administration would not be carried away in its focus to meet its numerous obligations and commitments.

He said, “As at Friday January 8, the new OPEC Reference of 13 Crude Basket which includes Nigeria’s Bonny Light sold for $28.46.

“This is a new low for the cascading price of crude oil, the life line of the nation’s economy, which hit a dazzling height of $140 in 2013.

“It is a crude awakening to the grim fact that any hope of allocation from the Federation Accounts is gone.

“We must therefore face the twin realities of first living within our means and making our own money.

“We must be engaged in productive activities that will lead to job creation, wealth creation and generous taxation to the government.

“Our people must work hard and double their productivity. We must all be engaged in one productive activity or the other.

Governor Aregbesola however implored the people of the state especially the youths to develop interest in agriculture, saying exploring its potentials would bring greater improvement on the state economy.

“The era of free, unearned money is gone. This is not a situation peculiar to Osun alone. Only states that can generate its own revenue will be able to withstand the financial disaster that befell the nation on account of the precipitous slump in oil price.

“The youths, especially fresh graduates and school leavers, must find something to do, especially in agriculture, an area where we have tremendous advantage.

“In addressing this challenge, it is also imperative that we live within our means.

“It is impractical anyway to do otherwise, since states do not print money and you cannot spend what you don’t have.

“The government sits atop society and presides over contending and competing interests therein. It is our duty that no particular interest predominates and asphyxiates other interests and put the survival of the state in danger.

“We must therefore reasonably spread what we have, especially on human development.

“This is why we have been unwavering in our commitment to human development projects like education”, he stressed.

Governor Aregbesola who debunked the allegation that his administration was only concentrating the state’s resources on the execution of capital development at the expense of state workers, said it was erroneous for any government to spend all its accruable resources on workforce which according to him remains subset of a set and constitutes less than 5 per cent of the entire populace.

“There is this ignorant and unreasonable idea being vigorously promoted by a few disgruntled media organizations and their political sponsors that reduced government to paying salaries alone.

“We are fully conscious of our legal and moral obligations to workers, yet, the truth is that workers are less than five per cent of the population of the state over whom we have responsibilities as a government.

“The idea therefore that all state’s resources must be spent on workers alone is insane, unsustainable and impossible.

“These media organizations have been inciting workers and pensioners to rebellion, subversion and sabotage, with the intent of destabilizing the state and disrupting the peace of our communities.

“In the past, they have made futile attempts to precipitate religious crisis by inciting Christians against Muslims in the state. It did not fly.

“They have also made repeated but failed efforts at inciting Civil Servants against the government. They have failed also. They hunt for crises and where they could not find any, they invent stories and write fiction, thereby putting the noble profession of journalism into disrepute, just because they want to stoke crises in the state.

He therefore commended the state workforce for its understanding, patience and perseverance to the current economic hardship, saying its constant resolute and total resistance of political demagogues and detractors had justified its apolitical stands in the affairs of the state.

Aregbesola said, “I must commend the mainstream Civil Servants for not taking the bait and falling prey to the infernal political schemes of failed politicians whom the people of this state have consistently rejected at the polls and who want to take over the government thorough subterfuge and conspiracy.

“This is why other categories of workers in the state’s employment must see reason and cooperate with government on the need to live within our means.

“This is a very special time that requires faith, understanding, creativity and new thinking. Albert Einstein, the great physicist, once defined insanity as doing the same thing, the same way, all the time and expecting a different result.

“I have the faith that with the various efforts we are making and fresh opportunities we are exploring in agriculture, solid mineral development, tourism and manufacturing, we will surmount the present challenges, create wealth and usher in new round of prosperity and wealth creation.

He therefore congratulate the people of Osogbo, the teachers and staff of this brand new school, its pupils and their parents and those working for the development of education in this state.

Earlier in her remarks, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori said the current administration has remained unstoppable in the provision of functional and quality education.

Mrs. Tomori who is also the State Commissioner for Education averred that the giant strides of the present administration in education and other sectors of the economy has elevated the state to the vantage position of being the model for its peers across the world.

She held that countless of the present administrative policies and programmes  initiated had been borrowed and domesticated by the local, state, national and international governments across the world.

Mrs. Tomori therefore applauded Governor Aregbesola for his rare commitment to turn around the state and bring the desired light into the educational sector, saying his compassion for education has positively impacted the lives of the pupils and students in the state.

She admonished the pupils who are the beneficiaries of the projects and their teachers to see the edifice as a jewel that must be properly kept and maintained.

“This project is one of the testimonies of a fulfilled vision. It is a testimony of our untiring efforts to turn the education around for good and for the massive benefit of every Osun born citizen.

“The construction of such state-of-the-art school like this indicates our commitment towards functional education and provision conducive environment for teaching and learning processes.

“The building of the state-of-the-art school like this is equipped with modern facilities couples with the architectural masterpiece that eases teaching and learning and this is also the dream of many pupils all over the world”, Mrs. Tomori stressed.

in his address, the former Military Administrator in the state whose school was named after, Captain Anthony Udofia, commended the state government for building a solid future for the people of the state through provision of functional education and construction of school buildings with longer lifespan.

Confirming the numerous achievements of the current administration in educational sector, Captain Udofia stressed that no amount of money spends on education goes wasted and that the current government has with five years performed a 50-year development in education.

He said, “it is glaring that this government has been working rigorously to bring us the best in all sectors especially in the area of education which it prioritizes since it assumes office.

“This school and other ongoing ones across the state is a clear manifestation of the rare love, passion and commitment of the current government towards a developed and improved education system.

He therefore expressed gratitude to the Governor, people and government of the state of Osun for deeming it fit to maintain the status and name of the school.

Pictures of the newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. In attendance, Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and former Osun State Military Administrator, Navy Captain Anthony Udofia, at he commissioning of the School in Osogbo on Tuesday 12-01-3016

Newly Commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. Insert
From left, Permanent Secretary SUBEB, Mr Fatai Kolawole; Osun State
Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Military
Administrator in the State, Navy Captain Anthony Udofia; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon.
Adegboye Akintunde; wife of Governor Aregbesola, Alhaja Sherifat and
others, during the commissioning of the School on Tuesday 12-01-2016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary Schooling Osogbo. Insert
From left, Former Governor of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola;
Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and former Osun State
Military Administrator, Naval Captain Anthony Udofia, during the
commissioning of Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo on Tuesday
12-01-2016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. Insert
From left, Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his
wife, Sherifat and former Osun State Military Administrator, Navy
Captain Anthony Udofia, during the commissioning of the School in
Osogbo on Tuesday 12-01-3016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. Insert
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Tauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from students during the commissioning on Tuesday 12-01-2016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. Insert
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Tauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from students during the commissioning on Tuesday 12-01-2016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary in Osogbo. Insert
from left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Mrs
Sherifat Aregbesola; Former Military Administrator in the State, Navy
Captain Anthony Udofia; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Secretary to the
State Government, Moshood Adept I and others, during the commissioning
on Tuesday 12-01-2016

The newly commissioned Anthony Udofia Elentaty School in Osogbo.
Insert is Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,
acknowledging cheers, during the commission of the School in Osogbo on
Tuesday 12-01-2016

Newly Commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School in Osogbo. Insert
From left, Permanent Secretary SUBEB, Mr Fatai Kolawole; Osun State
Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Military
Administrator in the State, Navy Captain Anthony Udofia; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon.
Adegboye Akintunde; wife of Governor Aregbesola, Alhaja Sherifat and
others, during the commissioning of the School on Tuesday 12-01-2016

…as he Receives State Under 15 Football Team

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has warned youths especially the students of both secondary and tertiary institutions to abstain from all forms of social vices and any act capable of tarnishing their brighter future.

Governor Aregbesola said the only constant factor that can hinder swift achievement of one’s ordained fulfillments, successes and progresses in life is to indulge or inculcate evil acts especially at tender age.

Aregbesola gave the admonition why receiving the State’s Under-15 Football Team who just bagged Bronze accolade at the just concluded Southwest Under-15 Football Team, in his Office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

Aregbesola who described youths as the only hope for sustained socio-political and economic realities of Nigeria, implored the younger generations to rededicate themselves and imbibe the virtues of Omoluabi ethos which according to him could add the needed values into their collective lives.

He frowned at the incessant involvement of youths across the world in all forms of social vices and immoral acts, saying the time has come for government at all levels to rise to the occasion and find a lasting solution to the menace.

Governor Aregbesola expressed disaffection over what he called ‘pitiable and worrisome situation’ of youths lives in Nigeria, saying youths needed to be reoriented into the platform of new life which he said, “will help to combat the present situation of the already proliferated immorality and anti-social behaviours prevailing among the youths.

Aregbesola said the statistics have shown the greater involvement of youths in various drug abuses, kidnappings, maiming, insurgency, armed robbery, internet fraudulence among others, stressing that unless youths develop a mind set of being productive, resourceful and useful to their nation, the futuristic hopes embedded and reserved in them would not be allowed to manifest.

Governor Aregbesola urged Nigerian youths to always see themselves as good ambassadors of country and as well demonstrate high sense of patriotism, nationalism and commitment towards the concept of nation’s building and national development.

“Emphatically, youths should be seen as epitomes and paradigm of national hope, peace, unity and cohesion and this must be manifested in their characters, attitudes and behaviours in the society.

“It is unfortunate that youths in Nigeria and across the globe who are supposed to project the favourable images of their various countries by being good ambassadors, have turned themselves to ready-made instruments in the hands devils.

“Many of them are now into drug abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping, maiming and other social vices. These acts must be stopped and youths must see virtues of Omoluabi as priority in whatever they do.

“Our youths must abstain from drug abuse, gangsterism, hooliganism as well as any act of immorality that can ruin their brighter future and hamper them from getting to their ordained destines.

“Having prioritized education, our administration has been working round the clock since inception to bring about quality, effective and qualitative modern education calculated to change the face of teaching and learning in all public schools in the state.

“In our efforts to achieve this mission, the current administration would not on no account condone any act of indiscipline, cultism, gangsterism and hooliganism in all its terms and forms”, Aregbesola stressed.

While praising the State’s Under-15 Football Team for coming home with Bronze and other prizes from the just concluded Southwest tournament, Governor Aregbesola expressed delight in the fact that the children of the state had the opportunity of participating in such a regional football competition.

Aregbesola who commended the players drawn across the Public High Schools in the state, said with the medals brought by the team, the state has added to its accolades in football competitions.

He said, “Our children have made us proud once again. We all know that this competition organized among our children are to foster regional integration in the western region, therefore, it is our joy that Osun was part of the progress.

“We were not only participated but we brought home Bronze and other prizes as our child (one of the players) bagged the highest goals’ scorer, this is a plus for our state.

Governor Aregbesola however warned the children against bad company, saying there is the need for them to avoid being lured by evil doers.

“Now that you are doing well in physical fitness and football competitions, there is the need for you all to take your education seriously as well as your priority because it is best legacy you could bequeath from your parents.

“Shun anything that could mortgage your future because you are the hope and future of this nation”, Aregbesola warned.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, State of Osun Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi commended the team for coming out with fying colours and for making the state proud in education and football competitions.

Chief Ogunjobi who attributed the successes recorded by the team to the prompt intervention and contributions of the current government, saying the incumbent Governor has done a lots in boosting the welfare of younger generations.

Chief Ogunjobi who led the team to Shagamu, where the competition took place applauded the timely performances of the players, disclosing that seven of the players from the state have been selected for inter-regional and national competitions.

He said the competition had given the children of the state an ample opportunity to meet and synergize with their colleagues from other parts of the western region.

He said, “our Governor has proven to us as a lover of children whose passion for the welfare of younger generation could not be surpassed. This has been continuously demonstrated in all areas of economy especially in education and youth empowerment.

“The beauty of this competition is the fact that it has helped in synergizing and entrenching the existing relationship, peaceful co-existence and mutually benefited interactions among yoruba people in the region.

“This competition has also boosted our children morale in the areas of football competitions and social relations”, Chief Ogunjobi affirmed.

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE COMMISSIONING OF ANTHONY UDOFIA GOVERNMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AT THE SCHOOL PREMISES AT OKE-FIA, OSOGBO ON TUESDAY JANUARY, 11, 2016
 
Protocols,
Giant Strides At A Special Time
It gives me great pleasure to be gathered with you well-meaning people in the joy of today, the commissioning of Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School. I congratulate the people of Osogbo, the teachers and staff of this brand new school, its pupils and their parents and those working for the development of education in this state.
Assembling here to commission Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School is the third time this joyous train will arrive in Osogbo. Actually, we began the commissioning of our legacy schools with Salvation Army Government Middle School at Alekuwodo on October 2, 2013. We were again in Isale Osun on March 13, 2014 for the commissioning of AUD Government Elementary School. You are going to see us again in Osogbo very soon to commission other legacy schools, by the grace of God.
We are building 100 Elementary schools like this across the state; though this is ambitious, the idea behind it is that there should be an elementary public school in every neighbourhood. Elementary school is the basic of the basic education. Any child with a good elementary school foundation will have no problem making progress educationally, other things being equal.
Being in this school gives the satisfaction of being in the proper environment of learning. The complex we are in is a 960-pupil capacity school with 24 classrooms of 40 pupils each, with further capacity for upgrade to 1,000. It has an ICT room, a library, multipurpose hall, 29 toilets, offices for headmaster, facility manager, staff room, food court, sick bay, security/reception office and a water fountain for aesthetics. It cost N140 million for the structure, furnishing and landscape.
I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here.
All these are in fulfilment of our promise to provide functional basic education for the pupils in the state. This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education. It is a fundamental and inalienable right of every child.
Basic education is basic, pardon my tautology. A good basic education fulfils the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write and is a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon. Having the ability to read means that one can receive information and systematised knowledge stored in various retrieval forms like books, digital electronic devices and by direct observation of events and phenomena. This includes the capacity to observe, understand and make sense out of nature, creation and one’s environment in the most basic form. To write means also that one can graphically reproduce one’s thought, observations, ideas and received knowledge in clear, free flowing prose, in at least one language.
Though we usually take this for granted and confuse it with passing through an educational institution, but we are increasingly faced with the stark reality of school leavers who cannot express themselves or reproduce knowledge in spoken or written form because they neither have the knowledge nor possess the ability to reproduce it. This failure is manifest in no better form than the less than five percent success of pupils in external examinations before our coming in 2010.
This is why we have made education development the priority of our administration. As you are mostly aware, these schools and other innovations are the products of the educational summit we held immediately after my inauguration. Indeed, we are constructing 100 brand new state-of-the-art Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. Out of these, 14 Elementary Schools, 15 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools, including the one we are commissioning today, have been completed, receiving finishing touches and awaiting commissioning, to the glory of God.
Fulfilling our commitment to complete these school projects and our other obligations is financially challenging, if not herculean. As at Friday January 8, the new OPEC Reference of 13 Crude Basket which includes Nigeria’s Bonny Light sold for $28.46. This is a new low for the cascading price of crude oil, the life line of the nation’s economy, which hit a dazzling height of $140 in 2013. It is a crude awakening to the grim fact that any hope of allocation from the Federation Accounts is gone. We must therefore face the twin realities of first living within our means and making our own money. We must be engaged in productive activities that will lead to job creation, wealth creation and generous taxation to the government.
Our people must work hard and double their productivity. We must all be engaged in one productive activity or the other. The youths, especially fresh graduates and school leavers, must find something to do, especially in agriculture, an area where we have tremendous advantage. As I told the people of the state recently, the era of free, unearned money is gone. This is not a situation peculiar to Osun alone. Only states that can generate its own revenue will be able to withstand the financial disaster that befell the nation on account of the precipitous slump in oil price. We are now faced with two choices: to sink or to swim to the shores of safety and prosperity. The rule of self-preservation dictates that we must take the later course.
In addressing this challenge, it is also imperative that we live within our means. It is impractical anyway to do otherwise, since states do not print money and you cannot spend what you don’t have. The government sits atop society and presides over contending and competing interests therein. It is our duty that no particular interest predominates and asphyxiates other interests and put the survival of the state in danger. We must therefore reasonably spread what we have, especially on human development. People must be the focus of development, from where it will spread to every other interest in society. This is why we have been unwavering in our commitment to human development projects like education. For this reason, this school projects must be commended by all.
There is this ignorant and unreasonable idea being vigorously promoted by a few disgruntled media organisations and their political sponsors that reduced government to paying salaries alone. We are fully conscious of our legal and moral obligations to workers, yet, the truth is that workers are less than five per cent of the population of the state over whom we have responsibilities as a government. The idea therefore that all state’s resources must be spent on workers alone is insane, unsustainable and impossible.
These media organisations have been inciting workers and pensioners to rebellion, subversion and sabotage, with the intent of destabilising the state and disrupting the peace of our communities. In the past, they have made futile attempts to precipitate religious crisis by inciting Christians against Muslims in the state. It did not fly. They have also made repeated but failed efforts at inciting Civil Servants against the government. They have failed also. They hunt for crises and where they could not find any, they invent stories and write fiction, thereby putting the noble profession of journalism into disrepute, just because they want to stoke crises in the state.
I must commend the mainstream Civil Servants for not taking the bait and falling prey to the infernal political schemes of failed politicians whom the people of this state have consistently rejected at the polls and who want to take over the government thorough subterfuge and conspiracy.
This is why other categories of workers in the state’s employment must see reason and cooperate with government on the need to live within our means. We have the lesson of history that the greatest leap in human development comes from the greatest challenges. The greatest monuments and the greatest scientific innovations were recorded at uneasy periods. This is a very special time that requires faith, understanding, creativity and new thinking. Albert Einstein, the great physicist, once defined insanity as doing the same thing, the same way, all the time and expecting a different result.
I have the faith that with the various efforts we are making and fresh opportunities we are exploring in agriculture, solid mineral development, tourism and manufacturing, we will surmount the present challenges, create wealth and usher in new round of prosperity and wealth creation.
I will like to thank all the people that have made today’s occasion a huge success, beginning with the Federal Universal Basic Education Commission and its state counterpart, all the agencies and officials of government on education, especially my able deputy, Iyaafin Grace Titi Laoye Tomori, the construction firm that handled the project, the teachers, staff and pupils of this school and all men (and women) of goodwill.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting a gift to the Chairman Board of Trustees Fountain University, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeola, during the Courtesy visit to the Governor by the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of Fountain University, Osogbo at Government House on Monday 11-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Chairman Board
of Trustees Fountain University, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeola (4th left);
President, Nasiru-llahi Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT). Engr Yomi
Bolarinwa (2nd right); Pro Chancellor, Governing Council Fountain
University,Professor Ishaq Oloyede (3rd left); Secretary Board of Trustees
Fountain University, Alhaji Latif Olasupo (left); Member Board of Trustees,
Senator Bayo Salami (left); Vice Chancellor,
Professor Raji Basiru (right). during a Courtesy visit to Mr Governor by
the Board and Governing Council of the fountain university, Osogbo at
the Government House on Monday 11-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
(right) and Chairman Board of Trustees Fountain University, Alhaji
Abdulwaheed Adeola, during a Courtesy visit to
Mr Governor by Board of Trustees and Governing Council of Fountain
University, Osogbo at the Government House on Monday 11-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
(right); Presenting a gift to the Chairman Board of Trustees Fountain
University, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeola, during the Courtesy visit to
the Governor by the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of
Fountain University, Osogbo at Government House on Monday 11-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
(right); Presenting a gift to the Chairman Board of Trustees Fountain
University, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adeola (2nd left) and a Member Board of Trustees,
Senator Bayo Salami, during the Courtesy visit to the Governor by
Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the Fountain University,
Osogbo at the Government House on Monday 11-1-2016

One of the first acts in office, after the Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola was sworn in as the 8th Osun governor on November 27, 2010, was the convening of egg-heads, particularly in the education sector at an education summit. It was chaired by Prof Wole Soyinka. Top on the list of outcome of the summit were rehabilitation of existing schools and construction of brand new ones across the state.
Since then, the Aregbesola government has never relented in its quest to redefine the environment of learning for Osun children. From the ashes of the death traps and collapsing buildings of public schools, about two hundred schools are being constructed across the state.
The plan is to construct 100 brand new state-of-the-art Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. About 40 of them have been completed and put to use so far, including 14 Elementary Schools, 15 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools.
With current feat in education generally, and particularly in infrastructure in the state, Aregbesola is being pragmatic as far as the saying “the willing spirit of a horse takes it to the skies, even without wings” is concerned. Even as Nigeria suffers economically from distasteful fallout of unprecedented corruption under PDP 16 year rule, Osun government remains steady and focused in the provision of quality education. It takes the willing spirit in a leader to achieve this.
So far, strategies put in place in respect of allocations earmarked for school infrastructure in the state is strong, such that such funds cannot go for other purposes. As far as the Aregbesola Government is concerned, “public schools can be the best and be returned to the preeminent position it occupied in the past”.
Today, quality of basic education and performance of the students, especially at elementary level, has greatly improved geometrically.
Before Aregbesola came on board, a paltry N200 was allocated as running cost on each pupil in public schools under PDP government. Today, the story has changed. It is now N400 for each elementary pupil in government schools and N500 for each of them in higher schools. This is in addition to timely and adequate supply of modern instructional and learning materials to all schools.
Also at the elementary level, about 254,000 children are taken care of under the free school meal programme tagged O’Meals. It is expected that the programme would be extended beyond current beneficiaries, especially when the Federal Government commenced on the programme nationwide. It would be recalled that the idea was adopted from the Aregbesola’s initiative.
Today across modern climes, the character of a society is measured beyond the character of the men and women living in it. Buildings and other architecture are yardstick by which human society is classified. The condition and quality of buildings in a society reflect public pride or indifference of the people. It reflects the level of prosperity, social values and behaviour of the people, as well as all the many influences of both their past and present, which combine to give the community its unique character. Apparently, this is part of the reasons why Governor Aregbesola is keen about the aesthetics of the structure of every school building that is being constructed across Osun. According to him, the “plan (of government) is to ensure that our school buildings are about the most beautiful structure around the neighbourhoods.
However, to achieve this important plan, it is very needful that strategies are put in place for proper management and maintenance of education infrastructure in the state. Hence, current plan of the Aregbesola government to out-source the management of the eleven 3000-capacity state of the art high schools is commendable. The initiative is starting with the already commissioned Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
REQUEST FOR SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SERVICE
On behalf of the State Government of Osun, Phillips Consulting Limited, is requesting for proposals from School Management Service Providers (individuals and organizations) who will provide an End-to-End School Administration to effectively deliver the goal of the State Government of Osun.
For details, please log kn to: http://www.phillipsconsulting.net/os-service-supplier
 

The board set up by the Nigerian Army to probe involvement of officers and soldiers in election malpractices during the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti State, on Monday, submitted its report.
It will be recalled that based on petitions and allegations of unprofessional and partisan conducts of some officers and soldiers in the states last year, the Nigerian Army set up a board of inquiry.
The board submitted its report, on Monday, to the Chief of Army Staff at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
Submitting the report, Chairman of the board, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, stated that the board placed advertorials in the media requesting for memoranda from the public before they commenced sitting.
In all, he stated that 23 officers and over 100 soldiers appeared before it as well as 62 civilians.
According to him, the board made far-reaching recommendations that would assist the Nigerian Army and the nation in the future.
He further added that two officers were recommended for compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army, three were to lose their command and one was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification.
Other recommendations included placing 15 officers on watch list, nine officers were to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations leveled against them, while six officers were to face an audit committee and 62 officers (mostly of the rank of Majors-below) were to be given letters of displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counselling.
He thanked the Nigerian Army for the opportunity to serve and reiterated the board members’ willingness to serve when called upon for any other such assignment.
In his remarks while receiving the report, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, thanked the board for a thorough and dispassionate job devoid of influence from any quarters.
He expressed delight that the board, knowing the gravity and implication of their report on the careers of officers and impact on the Nigerian Army, discharged their assignment diligently and professionally.
He assured them that the report would be reviewed accordingly, in line with Nigerian Army’s legal and administrative procedures.
VANGUARD