Customers of Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria in Osun State may experience network outage as the state government has shut all of the firm’s base stations in the state over unpaid taxes running to about N207 million.

According to a statement by Chairman/Chief Executive of the State’s Internal Revenue Service, Dayo Oyebanji on Tuesday, in Osogbo, the amount represented unpaid “outstanding taxes, fees and charges in respect of base stations, and right of way for laying fibre optics due to the State Government since last year.

He said the step was taken after all necessary steps in terms of consultation and persuasion, among others.

According to him, “the meeting held with the representatives of the MTN Company led by Emmanuel Uganden was concluded with a unanimous decision that the outstanding should be paid latest by the close of business on Friday (May 16), having reconciled with the company from N399 million to N207.609 million for the right of way and N135.668 million for base stations.

The statement recalled that the base stations of the company were on April 7 closed by the officials of Osun State Internal Revenue Service(IRS), but later released two days after, following the intervention of a top manager in the communication outfit, Emmanuel Seton.

The revenue service boss said that the imperviousness of the MTN Company to clear their outstanding bills despite various suasions implored, is what necessitated the action.

He further stated that, the ongoing distraining exercise will not be  limited to MTN company alone, but also would be extended to other telecom communication companies, banks and other recalcitrant tax debtors found guilty of owing the state government.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

Download inspiring Quotes from the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Today’s Quote is focused on the highlights of Governing the people of Osun. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng  or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.

 

• Condemned the abduction of girls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State
• Declared a day of fasting and prayer for safe return of the over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State abducted by the  Boko Haram Sect
• Provides a free daily nutritious meal for over 250,000 pupils of Elementary School 1-4 in all public schools in Osun under the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (OMEALS)
• Empowered and engaged 3,007 community caterers to provide daily meals for over 250,000 pupils of Elementary School 1-4 in the state
• Abolished the payment of PTA levies and other fees in public schools in the State of Osun
• 40 State of the art Elementary, Middle and High Schools being embarked upon under the first phase of the school infrastructure revamp
• Providing standard recreational facilities in Elementary schools
• 8,000 students trained on calisthenics
• 750,000 pupils in all public schools provided with free school uniforms
• 150,000 tablet of knowledge (OPON IMO) being distributed to  students of High Schools in the state
•   Free healthcare for under 5 children as well as pregnant women
• Distributed over a million pieces of insecticide treated nets for mothers and children to curb the incidence of malaria
• Routine immunization for children against the six-killer diseases
• Constantly sensitization and education of prevention of mother to child (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS
• Celebrated the first Oodua World Children’s Day in which participants were drawn from all Yoruba speaking communities within and outside Nigeria
• Resuscitated Agriculture in schools to develop new generation of youths with interest in  Agric
• Introduced Spelling Competition in Schools
• Introduced Debate competition in schools to develop the art public speaking and confidence in public students
• Set to inaugurate free transportation for public schools students with over 40 Coaster buses provided
• Distributed fortified healthy nutritious milk for public school pupils in partnership with West African Milk Company (WAMCO)
• Established the Omoluabi Boys and Girls Club to teach good morals and values in children
• Re-introduced into schools the forgotten  rhymes and poems which teaches hardwork, resilience and honesty

Photo of the Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah during his ‘One-day with Ogbeni’ after Winning the Osun High School’s Unity Debate Competition at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with the Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah (left), during his One-day with Ogbeni after Winning the Osun High School’s Unity Debate Competition at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) welcoming the Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah (left) to the Government House, during his One-day with Ogbeni in Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Wife, Sherifat (right) and Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah (left), during his One-day with Ogbeni after Winning the Osun High School’s Unity Debate Competition at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Wife of the Governor State of Osun, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola (left) with the Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah (left), during his One-day with Ogbeni after Winning the Osun High School’s Unity Debate Competition at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); his Wife, Sherifat (2nd right); Overall Winner, State of Osun Public Schools Debate, Ayodele Habibllah (3rd left); Chairman, Omoluabi Support Group (OSG), Pastor Israel Alagbe (left); Chairman, Lagos State House of Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Honourable Bisi Yusuf (right) and Secretary OSG, Barrister Kayode Tinubu (2nd left), during his One-day with Ogbeni after Winning the Osun High School’s Unity Debate Competition at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 26-05-2014

Download inspiring Quotes from the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Today’s Quote is focused on the Good Governance in the State. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng  or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.

‎The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the weekend said the improvement of the lots of the people of the state was a strong motivation for his seeking office.

The governor made this disclosure while delivering his address titled “The Difference Leadership can make” at the third Babatunde Jose Lecture on Media and the society and the formal presentation of the National Infinity magazine’s “Nigerian of the Year 2013” Award to him‎ at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo.

Aregbesola pointed out that leadership should offer a golden opportunity to serve the people and bring improvements to bear on their lives and existence.

He also noted that leadership is a core pillar upon which a viable and successful human society can be built, adding that from the beginning of history, leadership has been of the essence in the affairs of men.

The governor revealed that when he sought the leadership of the State of Osun as governor, he was fully aware of the implications and well-prepared to face the responsibilities.

According to him,” ‎the improvement of the lots of the people of Osun was therefore a strong motivation for my seeking office and a paramount object of the deployment of my talents. Thus, as a leader I constantly seek for ways of bringing about progress and advancement for my people in every area of their lives.

“In education, everything done under my leadership is meant to improve the standard for the benefit of our children. Building of new schools; recruitment of more teachers; provision of uniforms, distribution of Opon-Imo; provision of free food etc. are all aimed at raising the standard of public education in Osun.

“This is grounded in my belief that education is one of the greatest legacies we can give to humans. Similarly, the intention behind my administration’s agricultural policy is to transform farming in the state to big business”. The governor told audience at the lecture.

Aregbesola held that roads being constructed by his administration are meant to enhance the various levels of human transactions including trade and commerce.

He ‎thanked the National Infinity magazine for the award; and for adding voice to the motivating choruses of appreciation that have greeted his demonstration of the difference leadership can make in society.

In his lecture, entitled: Governance, Deficit and Accountability in the Era of Twitter, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi identified four challenges confronting Journalism in Nigeria.

According to Olorunyomi, who is the Editor In Chief of PremiumTimes, these challenges are conflict of interest, invasion of privacy, confidentiality of sources and general fabrication of stories.

Olorunyomi also identified the problem confronting investigative journalism, saying it’ s expensive, dangerous and time-consuming.

“In the independence of our profession to serve as a real public watchdog for making government accountable and serving the society, there must be an independence of the pocket, which will guarantee independence of the practice.

“Journalism remains the vital force for restoration of investigative journalism in the restoration of values and general development of the society,” Olorunyomi said.

In his opening remark, the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, listed truthfulness, accountability, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and limitation to harms as the core cannons of ethical journalism.

Adesina said financial independence in journalism business can only guarantee the independent practice of journalism.

“Governance, accountability and integrity go together in ethical journalism.

“Despite the availability of online media, present journalists must be wary of throwing away their integrity in investigative journalism,” Adesina advised.

Editor in Chief of National Infinity magazine Mr. Jide Ige said the publishing house’s choice of Aregbesola was informed by the noticeable transformations in Osun noting that the spare of development in the state is startling.

When the history of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic is finally written, one man, a public administrator of uncanny acumen, will tower highly on the pages of that account. He will be so specially recognised not on account of his volubility or seeming Spartan lifestyle. Reasonably, Governor Rauf Aregbesola will attract a huge focus in that chronicle because of his sterling performance and consistent delivery of good governance in Osun State, a once economically drab, socially sick, and politically explosive landlocked state.
While not neglecting the evident changes taking place in other sectors of the state since the Aregbesola administration began in 2010, I must confess that I have been more dispassionately concerned with what happens in the education sector of the state. From the reforms, the innovative initiatives, to the hefty sum being sunk in the public education system of Osun, there can be no doubt that the interest of the Aregbesola government in the advancement of education as a vital element of enduring human and physical development is not superficial.
Specifically, the vastly improved Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, famously regarded as Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS) is one of the areas in the education sector of the state that the incandescent light of good governance has been determinedly beamed. The success of this programme brings to mind the indisputable fact that the sector-wide development being witnessed in Osun is a product of the robust resourcefulness, rugged will, uncommon prudence, and practicable vision of the Aregbesola administration. O-MEALS has been sustained for two years. It is a stirring testimony to the inspiring ability of the administration to provide invaluably enduring programme.
This free school-feeding programme covers some 500,000 pupils enrolled in grades one to four of all government-owned elementary schools. It is firmly founded on the objectives of alleviating hunger and malnutrition among school children; addressing specific micronutrient deficiencies in school-age children for better school performance; motivating parents to enrol their children in school and have them attend regularly; and stimulating job creation, local goods production and to boost local farmers’ incomes.
On every school day, these pupils are fed with highly nutritious meals made up of yam with fish stew and orange; rice and beans with chicken; beans porridge and bread with whole egg and banana; and cocoyam porridge with vegetable soup and beef, with a slice of pawpaw. This initiative, as reports indicate, has seen to the gainful empowerment of over 3000 women who serve as food vendors in all the schools across Osun. The disbursement of about N3 billion annually by the state government to sustain the programme is itself a marker of the power of vision and what only a responsible government can do.
The O-MEALS programme is a resoundingly well-restructured idea. And this is no frivolous claim. This assertion can be substantiated by looking at the quality of international supports and acclaims the programme has engendered, its implications on the education of children in the state, and the economic spinoffs. All of these prove that the programme is not a misbegotten idea.
With respect to genetic predisposition to intelligence, good nutrition plays an immeasurable role in cognitive development of children. Studies have shown that nutrient deficiency in children often affects the development of their brain, the engine room of the human body.  Children who are deficient in nutrients and are poorly fed will not only be sickly and look terrifyingly gaunt; they will equally have weaker brain power coupled with a demeaning lack of confidence. In class, they will do everything but give meaningful attention to learning. They will listen to teachers desultorily. Rather than remember the salient thrusts of their lessons, they have the rumbling worms in their stomachs to remind them of the pang of hunger.
This is the hell from which the Aregbesola administration has rescued the school children. With the nutritious meals, provision of modern learning facilities, conducive learning atmosphere, and qualified teachers, there can be no doubt that sound and round education is the lot of these children. The children now look healthier, more robust, and more confident. Their brains are being energised for effective performance on a daily basis. It now matters little, if any at all, that these children attend public schools.
The government in Osun understands that nutrients are quite critical for optimal brain development, hence its unwavering commitment to the free-feeding initiative and uncompromising provision of functional education. Those who steer the ship of governance in Osun understand that it is with well-fed, well-groomed, well-bred, and well-educated minds that society attains great heights in development.
As a full package, the O-MEALS programme has positive impact on the economy and agricultural sector of Osun. Cocoyam farming (aptly tagged ‘Cocoyam Rebirth Farming’) has taken a new dimension and many hands are already being gainfully engaged in that area. Cocoyam, especially the pink species, is said to have higher nutritional value than yam. Its inclusion in the menu of the school meal is a sensible decision.
Similarly, poultry, livestock and catfish farming now thrives in the state, improving the quality of life of farmers and reinflating the domestic economy of Osun. It can be safely concluded that the quest of Osun for economic development benefits richly from the active involvement of its people. They not only benefit from government’s programmes, they also play important roles in their execution. That is evidence that people-oriented government is what subsists in Osun in the last three years.
It is equally noteworthy that the restructured O-MEALS initiative under the watch of Aregbesola has attracted international attention. The international acclaims and backing from organisations like the Partnership for Child Development (PCD) UK, the World Bank, and the World Food Programme are strong proofs that out there in Osun is a responsive and responsible government. Given that the Osun State government has by action shown it is responsible, serious and prudent in the management of resources, it will be good judgement on the part of these international organisations to further support and help to expand the coverage of the programme to include both Middle and High School students. This will make for a complete programme.
This is a programme that will do all of Nigerian children good – not only those in Osun. It is, therefore, a welcome development that the federal government has found the need to copy this programme and make it an essential part of the Universal Basic Education programme. It is even more encouraging that roundtable discussions are being organised on how to get the programme going in all the states of the federation.
Nigeria needs the kind of revolution that has reshaped for good the public education system in Osun. Let those in charge rouse themselves to action, demonstrating the right will, translating vision into reality, and providing good governance through prudence and creativity – all of which are the hallmarks of the Aregbesola administration. They should know, as Confucius enlightens, that ‘[n]o nation goes bankrupt educating its people’. Every naira spent to make the Home-Grown School Feeding programme work would be worth it.
 Oladeji writes from Ede, Osun State.
THE NATION

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina have called for the promotion of investigative journalism for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

Aregbesola and Adesina spoke at the third Ismail Babatunde Jose Lecture organized by the National Infinitymagazine held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, where the award of “Nigerian of the Year 2013” was also conferred on Aregbesola by the media organization.

In his speech entitled “The difference leadership can make,” Governor Aregbesola who stressed the need for journalists to embrace investigative journalism said leadership entails service to humanity.

The governor urged Nigerian leaders to serve the people who gave them the mandate, just as he called on journalists to investigate properly before disseminating news to the public.

The governor extolled the virtues of the NGE President, and urged all editors in the country to emulate what he called the Babatunde Jose model of journalism practice.

Also speaking, Mr. Adesina who was the chairman on the occasion reiterated the need for journalists to develop interest in investigative Journalism, which he noted is expensive, difficult, time consuming and dangerous.

Mr. Adesina said that the advent of online media brought about “evils” to journalism practice and  stressed the need for proper investigations by media practitioners.

Also, the NGE president noted that social media currently pose serious challenge to the practice of journalism and urged journalists to be guided by the ethics of the profession in their day to day activities..

He lauded Governor Aregbesola for the successes recorded by his administration, stressing that his achievements are visible in the state.

In his lecture entitled “Media and the Society” the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi stressed the need for media practitioners to invest in investigative journalism and urged proprietors of media organizations to promote it.

He identified conflict of interest and infringement on privacy as major ethical errors that characterize journalism practice in the country today.

Olorunfemi maintained that not all practices in journalism today are helpful for the sustenance of democracy in the country.

He advised journalists to embrace the Babatunde Jose model of journalism practice.

SUNNEWS

Today (25th May, 2014) provides another opportunity for the amiable and doughty governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to thank his creator for sparing his life to be able to witness another date of his birth. But not only for the grace of being alive should he be thankful to God, for having lived a life of impact thus far also provides a cause for him and his numerous admirers to glorify the name of the Lord today.

A journey of fifty seven years on the shore of earth is not a joke and especially as the journey is defined by giant achievements not only personal but humanitarian. And it is for this reason that we are happy to identity with this visionary leader who has impacted positively on the lives of so many people and added value to humanity in no small measures.

For Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola service is what matters. His life is purely defined by service to humanity. Thus for those who are familiar with his life history his stellar performance as the Governor of the state of Osun is no surprise. For he has always excelled in whatever position of responsibility he found himself. Not for him to regard any assignment as being small or unimportant and so he always put in his best and handles every assignment with absolute commitment.

When it comes to work Ogbeni Aregbesola does not look back. For him what is worth doing at all is what doing well. He is such a hardworking man so much so that the word ‘workaholic’ has always been used to describe him. Of course he must be a workaholic to have always worked for twenty to twenty one hours daily. It’s this nature of his that made a journalist to once asked him during an interactive session with the public whether he (Ogbeni) even sleeps at all.

Whenever Ogbeni Aregbesola finds himself handling a particular assignment his mind is focused on result. So as a result-oriented leader he loathes to hear from anyone to whom he might have given assignment to come back and give him excuse that he couldn’t achieve result. Thus for him there is no excuse for failure. No wonder he has achieved so much during just a period of four years that he has attained the position of leadership in his home state even in spite of the monetary challenges he has been facing.

It is important to mention it that Ogbeni Aregbesola had for long prepared himself for leadership role. So it doesn’t seem to be by accident the position he finds himself now. Even as young and as smallish in stature as he was he emerged the President of the Black Nationalist Movement in his days at the Polytechnic Ibadan due to his agility and vocal attribute. It was that platform he and his colleagues used in fighting against perceived bad government policies then.

As a Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos state during Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s administration Ogbeni Aregbesola was an excellent performer. For that he won many awards as the best Commissioner in Lagos state then in recognition of his hard work. And since he became the chief helmsman of his state four years ago the story has not been different. He has carried on with the same spirit and determination. The reason why awards have also been pouring in for him both from near and afar.

As the Governor of the state of Osun Ogbeni Aregbesola has proved that he is equal to the task. Within four years he has turned the state around. The level of development the state has witnessed under him is quite unprecedented. His style of governance which is quite unusual has been recommended to other states of the federation especially his educational policy.

As this dynamo turns 57 today we at Osun Defender are proud to identify with him as we wish him many more years of meritorious service to humanity. It also pleases us to wish him victory in the coming governorship election in the state. Happy birthday to a focused, visionary and virtuous leader!

OSUN DEFENDER