Mr Remi Omowaiye, the  Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology in Osun, has described Gov. Rauf Aregbesola as a symbol of good governance for upcoming generations.

Omowaiye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan  that the governor had  promoted growth and development in the state.

He also described as laughable the threats by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over in Osun in  2018.

Highlighting Aregbesola’s achievements, he stated that the school feeding programme of  the  administration had  increased primary school enrollment by 60 percent.

Omowaiye said the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) as well as massive road and school infrastructure projects had   become models  for other states.

“Unfortunately, the governor has been circumstantial victim of misrepresentation and orchestrated media attack.

“It is on record that the SUKUK loan which was used as part of the re-engineering tool in the state has become a template for the Federal Government  now despite the widespread criticism against the noble idea.

“Even some European countries have become beneficiaries of the loan too after Osun,’’ he said.

He said that the bailout fund given to the state was transparently and judiciously spent on the payment of salaries and pension to state and local government workers as well as OYES cadets.

The commissioner stated that the state was given a  clean bill by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission after  investigation of alleged diversion of bailout funds  and Paris Club refund.

The occasion of the 57th anniversary of national independence should give us a cause for deep reflection and critical thinking without necessarily taking anything away from the celebration.
 
 
 
 
I use this occasion to congratulate Nigerians, the good people of Osun in particular. It is a thing of great joy, irrespective of our collective or individual circumstances, to be alive to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence.
For some of us who were born before independence, it was a momentous event for us. Though I was a child at independence in 1960, the ferments of the struggle against colonialism still remained with us in my growing up years while the substitution and replacement of white colonialists with our people that followed was dramatic enough to give us a deeper appreciation of independence.

With the benefit of hindsight, some of the hopes and aspirations of the pre and immediate post independence era have been betrayed and this is regrettable. We dreamt then of Nigeria becoming a superpower in one or two decades after independence. This dream was even shared by some of the great powers of the era who saw us as potential competitors, first for regional hegemony and also on a global scale in economic, social, political, sporting and diplomatic contests. Many of them have since relaxed, feeling their fears then were unfounded. However, the dream of greatness is an undying one. Nigeria can and will still be great.
Though this issue has been over flogged, it still needs reiterating – that our bane since military interregnum has been overt reliance on rent from crude oil. Let us be clear on this, oil is a blessing, not a curse. The problem is what you make of it. Oil has been a blessing in the Scandinavian countries, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Angola, United States, Britain, Norway, Venezuela, Canada, Russia and several other places where it has been well utilized as a catalyst for development and wealth creation.
Our own problem, like several oil rich nations, is that we live on its rent and do not build any productive activity around it. That is why, beyond exportation, oil is practically useless for us. We cannot even refine for local consumption until current efforts by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Even then, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources told us recently that 92 per cent of local consumption is still being imported at the cost of $28 billion in 2016. We then import every other thing, including food, clothing and most of our building materials.
Now, the price of oil has fallen and the portents are still bad. This is in the wake of a tectonic shift in technology from internal combustion engines to electrical engines in automobiles.
Nevertheless, a lot of people still believe we are rich with crude oil, only if there is equitable distribution of the resources. Now, corruption has made the scarcity to be worse. Corruption is evil, it disrupts the development process and should be stamped out. However, without corruption, we are still a poor nation, even with oil.
Let us do this simple calculation. Nigeria’s daily production quota from OPEC is put at 2.1 million barrels per day. Let us note that we have never met this production and sales quota in the last 10 years. Nevertheless, if we multiply this imaginary production quota with 365 days, which make a year, we have 766.5 million barrels of crude oil as our total foreign exchange oil earning resource. This is assuming there is no production disruption from militants’ activities in the Niger Delta and unsold inventory which could be up to half a million barrels sometimes.
Since oil sells for an average of $50 now, this will give us $38.325 billion in total sales per annum. Remember we have not deducted production and associated expenditures; this is the gross income, joint venture partners are assumed volunteers.
If we divide this amount by 170 million, which is our conservative population estimate, it goes round to roughly $225.44 per head per annum. This is further reducible to $18.786 in a month. At an exchange rate of N370, it amounts to N7,000. This calculation simply means that every Nigerian is entitled to N7,000 monthly from oil wealth at best!
How about income from other sources? Since oil accounts for 70 per cent of total national revenue, this figure will only rise to  N10,000.
Let’s say someone wants to experiment with this calculation and give to every Nigerian N10,000 unearned income, it means there will be no government; bureaucracy and associated wages, paying salaries, no executive, legislature and the judiciary, no police, military, public education, roads, airport, international relations, etc. This without a doubt means anarchy.
I have gone to this length to demonstrate that we are not rich at all, even with the oil wealth. The per capita income from oil would probably have been better if we have just one tenth of our population.
This makes the issue of diversification of our economy and productivity imperative. Productivity is the ability to alter any state of matter or service, alone or in combinations into a more desirable form – product or service. The process of bringing about that alteration, or the effort we put into achieving this, is called work.
The initial condition or base material for these processes is often as freely set by nature, while the derived output or product is as contrived by man in his imagination. Thus, sound notes put together productively equals music, otherwise it is noise. Rubbles put together constructively is a house, otherwise it is just a dump of rubbles.
The challenge before us as a nation is therefore to earn income from productivity, not from rent. On this note, I will like to posit that we should get 50 million of our compatriots to be working i.e. engaged in productive activities that will bring them at least N25,000 a month. From this, N1.25 trillion will be generated in the economy every month from real productive engagement.

These jobs can be created and paid for by ways and means in diverse areas of the economy like agriculture and food production, clothing and footwear, housing, environment, critical public infrastructure like roads, bridges, airports, railways, water resources development etc that will provide basic needs for the people and cut our imports by 90 per cent, reducing foreign goods to critical machineries and raw materials we do not have at home. This will catapult Nigeria into a superpower within two decades.
In Osun we are already working on this. We are striving to put at least one million of our over four million population to work. If they earn a minimum of N25,000 a month, a 10 per cent tax from this will give us revenue of N2.5billion every month. This amount will be sufficient to run the government, pay workers, develop our state and bring prosperity to all.
If this is replicated in all the states of the federation, Nigeria will be prosperous without oil money. This is my dream for our country and it is my sincere hope that at this occasion of our independence celebration, leaders in the public and private sectors will critically engage this idea.
Once again, I congratulate all Nigerians and wish us all a happy Independence celebration.
• Ogbeni Aregbesola is Osun State Governor

Reports coming in say Ogbeni Aregbesola’s achievement in the education sector has brought about  mass withdrawal of students from private schools.

 
 
 
Parents of students attending public schools in the State of Osun have lauded the approach of Ogbeni  Rauf Aregbesola to the State’s education sector which they say has improved the lot of education since 2010.
In separate interviews with newsmen in Osogbo, some of the parents noted that the policies being implemented, which includes huge infrastructural investment of government in the erection of new model schools, as well as rehabilitation of existing ones are huge steps in the right direction.
They also applauded the quality of education delivered to students in the new model schools vis-a-vis proper monitoring and mentoring of students. They added that the convoking of regular P.T.A meetings among other initiatives have in a great deal contributed positively to the development of primary and post primary education in the State.
One of the parents who spoke with our correspondent, Adeomi Adegboyega Ajani said, “I am extremely happy with the situation of things in the school. The school is a testimony of the huge investment of government in making our children, the leaders of tomorrow.”
Another parent, Adekola Oluwatoyin said, “my child was formerly going to a private school. When he chose to be in science class in High School, I personally came to assess this school since I knew it was Ataoja School of Science before; and since he started coming here, I have noticed a great improvement in him. Every time he returns from school, he is always keen on doing his assignments because of the next day. I am glad to have made the wise decision to put my child in this school.”
“I have observed that in this and other model schools built by government, our children enjoy the best of the best facilities that are of international standards.”
As it stands, 500 new classrooms have been constructed in 20 elementary schools to accommodate 18,000 pupils, 550 classrooms constructed in 22 middle schools to take in 22,000 students while 11 high schools were completed to take in 33,000 students per session.
Asides the newly built schools, the State of Osun Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Universal Basic Education Board rehabilitated 1,811 classrooms in 277 model schools.
To complement the buildings and population, government provided 45 scholars’ buses that were distributed across the State to provide transport services to all school pupils at affordable rates.
In ensuring that adequate manpower are sourced to get the factual work of education done, more than 9,000 teachers were employed by the Rauf Aregbesola administration including 3,230 regular and 6,000 O’YES Volunteers with about 26,591 of the teachers across the State trained in 26 different training programmes and workshops.
The promotion of 17,057 teaching and non-teaching staff has helped motivate teachers, whilst the employment and subsequent deployment of Edu-Marshals has instilled discipline in public schools and ensure that students do not loiter around the State during school hours.

Ahead of elections into all Local Government Councils in Osun, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has called for registration of all political parties with registered offices in Osun.

 
 
 
A press release signed by the Chairman of OSIEC, Otunba Segun Oladitan, stated that the political parties’ registration with the commission kicks off tomorrow Wednesday, 4th October and ends on Monday 9th October, 2017.
 
 
While giving the location where the registration exercise will hold, he said, OSIEC secretariat, Old Ikirun Road, Testing Ground Area, Osogbo shall be where the registration exercise will hold.
 
 
Otunba Oladitan stated that the exercise becomes very important in view of the strategic position of political parties in electoral matters.
 
He further state that for the forthcoming LG election to be successful and acceptable to all, the OSIEC must be seen to be fair to all political parties and other stake holders, hence the reason for the registration of political parties to know them closely by way of constant interactions.
 
 
The OSIEC Chairman however urged all political parties to cooperate with the commission by taking the registration exercise seriously.

Dr. Rafiu Isamontu, the State of Osun Commissioner for Health, spoke in this interview with OSUN DEFENDER Toba Ajisafe on Governor Rauf Aregbesola achievements in the health sector, government efforts at ensuring lasting solution to strike action of doctors in the state and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Excerpts:
 
Q: Can you highlight the achievements of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the health sector?
 
When Aregbesola came on board in Novermber 27, 2010, the legacy of free medical health services which was initiated by Baba Akande continued by Oyinlola administration continued; we were able to continue and sustain this legacy; we have even brought a radical transformation in the programme just like what we did in the education sector.
 
 
Q: How many state hospitals do we have in Osun and what was their condition when you came on board?
 
We have nine of them and these hospitals were in  the state of disrepute and we swung into action, all the nine state hospitals were rehabilitated, about N1.7billion was spent in renovating our State hospitals; we have three State hospitals in each senatorial district, in West senatorial district we have them at Iwo, Ede and Ikire; in Central senatorial district we have State hospital Asubiaro, Ila-Orangun and Ikirun; in the East senatorial district we have State hospital Ilesha, Oke Ogbo in Ile-Ife and Ipetu-Ijesha.
 
Q: Did you do anything on primary health care? 
 
We built Primary health centres in Ogbaagba, Erin-Ijesha, Erin-Ile/Erin-Oke and about nine comprehensive health centres were equipped with modern day equipment. 50 ambulances (O-Ambulance) were bought by the state government which 30 local governments got one each and the rest stationed in all the Highways across the State. To comprehend our effort on the O-Ambulance scheme, we built emergency unit in State Hospital Asubiaro.
 
In 2014 we bought about 100 handheld scanners that we have distributed to rural areas outside the cities and we equally gave Asubiaro that too. We bought four 3-D Duplad scanners which were distributed according to the Senatorial districts; one was given to Iwo, Ilesha and Asubiaro then the fourth one was given to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital here in Osogbo.
 
We also built tuberculosis control centre in Ilesa west. As a policy, government make sure that anyone treated of leprosy and tuberculosis in the state, they all get drugs free of charge, diagnosis and treatments of HIV/AIDS in our State is free.
 
In 2013, about 1.4 million long lasting insecticidal nets were distributed. Periodically we trained members from the O-Yes scheme on house fumigation. This year in conjunction with Global Fund, Catholic Relief Services, Society for Family Health they gave us about 4 million insecticidal nets.
 
We have also encouraged ‘Surgical and Medical Mission’ with the help of an NGO called Hope Flow Initiative headed by Dr. Simeon Afolayan, we use to do what we called Surgical Jamborees in which we go to all the State and General Hospitals to do free surgical operations, surgeries that won’t require hospital admission like anemia, breast lump; occasionally pregnant women during this period second stage of labour will be attended to.
 
Between June and July this year, we covered all the nine State hospitals and the grand finale was done in Asubiaro. We have started this since 2010. We also distributed free eye glasses in 2012.
 
Q: Apart from buying and providing equipment to the hospitals, what did government do about the welfare of Healthcare’s givers talking about remuneration and promotion before the financial quagmire came in late 2015?
 
When Governor Aregbesola came on board, in most states, they had implemented Consolidated Medical Salaries Structure and Consolidated Health Service Salaries Scale for all other categories of health workers who are not doctors. It was when Ogbeni came that he approved that in compliance with what is happening in other States ditto for other health workers so it baffles me when people say “Mr. Govenor hasn’t done much for health workers in the State”.
 
Also, the resident doctors in Asubiaro hospital when they go for exams because they are trained to become consultant, government give them some allowances before the economic downturn of the country even at that in the last one year we have continued to support the Resident doctors who are going for exams, giving them allowances.
 
Q: There was a particular statement ascribed to you that Osun doctors are among highest paid doctors in the Southwest, what do you have to say on this?
 
I didn’t issue any statement about that but what I said was that; during the time of Baba Akande, Doctors in Osun were the highest paid in Southwest and it continued, not that it reduced.
 
What I used to tell our people here in Osun is that ‘You can’t give what you don’t have’. If we have the money and refuse to give it out that would be a different ball game entirely but based on what we can afford, we are operating in that realm.
 
Q: Doctors has said repeatedly that they were been paid 30% of their salary even when other workers received 50% above of modulated pay, was that the agreement government reached with the doctors?
 
That is not true that the government is paying them 30%. They only want the masses to be on their side, everybody gets 50%. If you are on grade level 12 and above you get 50% of your salary.
 
Q: You mentioned that about 50 O-Ambulances were distributed across the State, what is the effect of this program in Osun as of today?
 
If an accident happens and a call is being put through our O-Ambulance within a very short span of time they will be at the scene. The program has been so effective and people who live in the state have attested to that by saving many lives.
 
Q: Have you gotten the required doctors you need?
 
We haven’t gotten the required doctors that we need. In the last 6 months we have recruited 32 doctors and two days ago we conducted another interview in which we are going to recruit another 15 doctors. We are not relenting, we want to employ more doctors ditto to other health workers. We want to employ nurses, laboratory technicians and pharmacists.
 
Q: Was it true that the State laid off some doctors who call bluff government’s No Work, No Pay rule while on strike in 2016?  
 
During this time none of our doctors was sacked, nobody was reprimanded for that strike action and we did not bring any doctor in to replace those doctors. What we did was that we mobilized those doctors who were working with the local government to come and stand in for them because they did not join the strike. We are even employing more doctors because we know that we need them.
 
Q: Are there any sensitization programmes for the people in the rural areas?
 
We are sensitizing through radio and we are mobilizing town criers which we will continue to do and teach them on the need for them to see and know how to maintain, prevent and take good care of their health and living hygienic lifestyle.
 
Q: Now that Nigerian Medical Association, Osun State Chapter have resumed from the industrial action they embarked on, have you resolved the issue between the government and the Union permanently? 
 
We have met with the executives of the union and we keep channel of communication open and we are still meeting with them, we know that they have suspended the strike and gave us 14 days or so in which their demands should be met. We would do our best between what the state can afford.

Journalists as the fourth estate of the realm and watchdogs of the nation have been advised to always balance their stories when reporting sensitive issues.

 
 
 
 
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa gave this charge while playing host to the Managing Director, Independence Newspaper, Mr. Adedamola Ogidan in his office.
The Commissioner said that, it was high time that journalists refrained from financial inducement and political influence while reporting, in order to protect the ethics and ethos of the profession.
Mr. Baderinwa eulogised the Management and Editorial Board of The Independent Newspaper for a virile, informative and balanced reports which are the bedrock of reasonable journalism. He took time to explain the giant strides of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration in the State of Osun which he ascribed to be a product of prudent financial management which led to the payment of modulated salaries which will soon be corrected immediately the financial resources of the State improves.
The Commissioner enjoined the Management and Editorial board of the Independent newspaper to give positive, un-biased reports about the State of Osun in order to erase the wrong notions that might have been planted in some people.
Earlier , the Managing Director, the Independent newspaper, Mr. Adedamola Ogidan said that, the visit to the Commissioner and Management of the State of Osun Ministry of Information and Strategy was borne out of the need to inform stakeholders of the emergence of The Independent newspaper from the hitherto nomenclature of the Daily Independent. He also said that, the State of Osun is one of the States the newspaper believes in, especially in the areas of physical and human development coupled with the relative peace that pervades the State. Mr. Ogidan pledged the commitment of his media outfit to objective, unbiased and balanced reports about the State of Osun and all other States in the country.

Various stakeholders in the education sector have been enjoined to join hands with government in the onerous task of developing education in the state of Osun, for the future of the state to be bright.

This is just as the 1989 set of the Old Students Association of St Charles High School, Osogbo were commended for the rehabilitation of the library complex constructed within the school. Chairman, Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement Agency, Dr Isiaka Ayo Owoade stated these during an unscheduled assessment visit to the school. He said the efforts of the Aregbesola administration in the education sector will yield more positive results if members of the general public join hands in the maintenance of facilities which government has provided.

Dr Owoade, who took time to inspect past and present WAEC results especially that of 2017, said it is gratifying to discover that, majority of the students who sat for the examination came out with flying colours showing great improvements. While calling on teachers to intensify efforts at ensuring that students performance continue to improve, the Chairman called on the teachers to improve on the teacher/students mentorship culture as a means of improving learning.

He however, warned them to be gender sensitive so as not to destroy the motive, while also calling on parents to ensure that their children are fully focused on education and avoid distracting them with other ventures.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Agency, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran who commended the general conduct of the school charged the teachers to keep up the good work in the quest to taking education in Osun to greater heights. In his own remarks, the Principal of the school, Mr Anthony Famoriyo said the creation of the agency was a step in the right direction as it has gone a long way in sanitizing the school system in Osun.