Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Saturday pledged to restore the lost glory of Modakeke in 2014.
Aregbesola made the promise in a message to the 28th Modakeke Ako-ri-aaye Day Celebration and Launch of N500million Community Development Fund. The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Fatai Kolawole, said more local governments would be created.
He said this issue, which had been before the Osun Assembly, would be actualised and would surely favour the people of Modakeke.
“t is my fervent hope and prayer that the actualisation of this long-standing aspiration of the community will usher in total peace and progress in Osun and Ife land in particular’’, he said.
Aregbesola added that Modakeke had not been left behind in the state development projects. He said that projects undertaken in Modakeke included the construction of 900-capacity middle school and provision of transformers to new areas in the town.
The governor urged individuals and corporate bodies to complement these gestures through donations to the Community Development Fund. Earlier, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin, called on parents to educate their children and lay good foundation for them so as to have a brighter future.
Adedoyin described education as the best legacy parents could give their children. He urged parents to pay their children’s school fees and monitor them regularly. The traditional ruler said that community development should be a joint responsibility and encouraged all sons and daughters of Modakeke living abroad to come home to lend support.
The National President of Modakeke Progress Union, Mr Tajudeen Oke, said the indigenes had realised that government alone could not provide all their needs. Oke said that this prompted them to raise funds for the development of the community.
He appealed to everyone to donate generously to the development fund to complete the Events Centre Complex. Oke said the donations would be wisely used for the development of Modakeke.
(NAN)
 

COMMERCIAL banks operating in Osun State have been given December 31 deadline to settle outstanding debts amounting to about N1 billion owed the state government in form of taxes deducted from their staff, withholding taxes and other taxes and rates due to Osun State government.
Acting Chairman, Osun State Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, who gave this directive, said the financial institutions have been given adequate time to remit the funds before the ultimatum was set.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Osogbo, Oyebanji said the state government had directed the affected banks that all outstanding taxes, withholding taxes and other taxes, must be paid into the coffers of the state government on or before December 31, 2013, failure of which they would be sanctioned and delisted as agent for collection of taxes in the state.
The state government was also said to have directed all banks collecting money and taxes on its behalf to, within the same period, integrate into the new e-payment system and ensure that all monies and taxes are promptly paid into the state government account for automatic revenue receipts to payers.
It also frowned against alleged delay in the sweeping or remittance of money collected on behalf of the government by banks, saying that the delay in posting revenue collected on behalf of the government through e-payment system into the general revenue account, impedes flow of income.
Oyebanji, who did not name the affected banks, declared that the government had resolved that non-compliant banks over integration on e-payment application risk being delisted from revenue collection agents of the state government.The state IRS, in a warning letter written to banks and entitled: “Demand Notices on Liabilities from Backduty
Investigation on PAYE, Withholding and Development Levy for the PAYE (Amended Liability 2012)”, and signed by Dayo Oyebanji dated December 13, 2013, said: “Please, be informed that our board would be left with no other option than to disdain your bank provided you failed to settle your backduty liabilities mainly on PAYE and withholding taxes for the year 2012.
He said: “We have been on this reconciliation exercise for almost six months and kindly note that the board has been very considerate to your bank based on the existing good relationship, that explains why we have waited for this long to enable us give adequate consideration to your appeal”, the board maintained.
THE GUARDIAN

Opon Imo Wins UN Award In Estonia

World Summit Award (WSA) Out of 461 entries nominated from 100+countries. 17 Grand Jury members converged for three days in the city of Tallinn, Republic of Estonia, Northern Europe to judge and choose winners for 2013 WSA Summit Awards.
Under the category of e-Learning and Education, OPON IMO entry from NIGERIA, State of Osun, emerged above all others to win this e-Content Creativity competition. Read More…
 

‘Two Festivals Of A Kind’ – Rare Moments From The Osun Osogbo Festival

Towards the end of Nigeria the Beautiful, a dance drama staged on Thursday, August 22 at Government House in Osogbo, a spectacled character in the traditional up-and-down dress worn by those in the Niger Delta, complete with bowler hat, dominates centre stage. His appearance raises a murmur in the audience. There is no doubt the historical figure he is playing in Nigeria’s tortuous journey to nationhood and fragile existence since amalgamation in 1914.
A stage bedecked with the Union Jack and the map of Nigeria inset, the be-whiskered matchmaker himself, Lord Lugard, who presided over the union of the various ethnicities take his turn, played to the hilt by Paul Alumona, though without the luxurious walrus. Read More…
 

Osun Takes N10bn Sukuk To Investors Highlighting The Gains Of People-Centred Programmes

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said his state is an emerging investors’ destination which all investors in and out of the country must court with the emerging robust opportunities in commerce, tourism agriculture and other sub-sectors of the economy.
Aregbesola, who identified human capacity building and empowerment as effective ways to combat poverty in the country stated that a nation intends to fail the moment its government’s policies and programmes are not targeted at empowering its citizens.
The Governor spoke in Lagos Tuesday evening at an investment forum put together to drum up support for the State of Osun’s N10bn (Ten billion) Sukuk (an Islamic bond). Read More…

Osun Raises Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) To N1.6b From N300m

The Government of the State of Osun  has raised the state’s Internal Generated Revenue from N300 million to N1.6 billion monthly.

Aregbesola, who identified human capacity building and empowerment as effective ways to combat poverty in the country, stated that a nation intends to fail the moment its government’s policies and programmes are not targeted at empowering its citizens.
According to him, “my administration is people-centred, which is why the State of Osun has the least ratio on the poverty index and unemployment rate in Nigeria. “This is why our government is poised on investing on the people of the state so as to expand the economy and create more wealth. Our various investments in education, health, transportation, agriculture and social infrastructures are therefore directed towards achieving optimum level of human production,” he said.
Read More..

Advancing Open Governance In Osun, Introducing Www.Osun.Gov.Ng

In furtherance of her drive for innovation and transparency, the state government of Osun is unveiling a new online platform under its ‘New Media’ plans. The government, through this effort, seeks to raise the bar of public engagement and deepen the Osun brand in the increasingly vibrant Nigerian online space.
The Osun New Media Project seeks to provide the global online audience with a one-stop shop for uniquely robust coverage of Osun. This online platform will break from convention by showcasing information beyond the state government. The platform will avail the public of such information that is more relevant to the needs of citizens (local and diaspora), investors and interested parties. Read More…

OSUN – Focused On The Prize

Good governance is the transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic and financial resources for the purposes of equitable and sustainable development. The importance of good governance and the management of public affairs are central to the aims and agenda of any government. As with any country or state, citizens entrust its governments, the public sector and state enterprises with their tax money and the resources of their country to manage the public good, present and future, and to provide essential services and infrastructure.
Good and effective Leadership makes a whole load of difference. And leadership is not just about obstructionism. Leadership is also not about caving every time you get pushed. Leadership is about understanding and communicating to the people. Read More…

“Good thing sells itself”, the saying goes- and this popular adage thus came manifested in the ancient town of Modakeke Friday, when Governor Rauf Aregbesola entered the town around 2.30pm.
His convoy rolled-in; in its usual ‘silent’ manner- without siren. This, however did not prevent the ‘Akoraye’ sons and daughter from taking notice that the trail blazing governor Aregbesola had stepped on their soil.
In their mammoth, they trooped out right from the neighbouring towns of Famia, Koola, Oyere Aborisade, Onisooro, Kugbe, Kinkin yiun “to show support for the continuity of Aregbesola’s progressive government”, they sang as they ran after the governor’s convoy- women and children especially.
Addressing them, Governor Aregbesola hyped on the need for the people to ensure that they partake in the coming voters’ registration exercise to be conducted by INEC. He warned those who have already registered to avoid double registration so as not to be disenfranchised.
He urged the people to make sure their names are on the voters register just as he advised them not to allow themselves to be deceived or manipulated by the people he described as “only being concerned chiefly with their personal profit and pleasure”, He added that such people go about trying to buy their voters card from them.
While appreciation the people of Modakeke for standing by the government and the party through thick and thin, governor Aregbesola announced that the road leading to Oke D.O along Ondo road in Madakeke will be repaired before election.
The Osun governor noted that the show of love and general acceptance of the Modakeke people was “an indication that every Akoraye son and daughter recognises and appreciates good governance. “That is why the town is the first town to completely endorse us for second term”, he said. He expressed optimism that other towns in the state will begin to follow suit.
In a welcome address, FIFA and CAF instructor and former Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde- a ‘son of the soil’, praised the Governor for the various steps taken so far aimed at ensuring peace in the land; and also on his developmental strides across the state in the area of infrastructure development.
The former Super Eagles coach said “every true son and daughter of Modakeke recognises no other governorship candidate but Aregbesola”.
“We are aware of a development causing some amusement by way of someone who is also traced to Akoraye, as saying he wants to contest the governorship. Whom are you all going to line up for in the next election? He asked the people, who answered thunderously, “Aregbesola!”
In a goodwill message, a Senator representing Ife/Ijesa Federal Constituency- Babajide Omoworare commended the people for turning out in their large number to expressed their “unalloyed support for Aregbesola and APC generally”; adding that the town in known for supporting the progressives at all times. He urged them to pray for Aregbesola and his government. Also speaking, the APC youth leader in the South West, Alhaji Abdulahi Enilolobo described the state of Osun as very lucky.
“Aregbesola’s emergence as Osun governor is a loss for Lagos because of what we know him for and what he did for Lagos for eight years.
“Most of the development we see in Lagos today are the roadmap he left as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure. What Aregbesola left more than five years ago s is what is still being used as a template in Lagos state till date”, said Enilolobo.
He urged the people to ensure that they vote Aregbesola back into office come 2014, He added that by the time the Governor completes his years in office his achievement would have surpassed the achievements of past administrations in the state put together.
The duo of the state party chairman, Elder Lowo Adebiyi and a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Adeyeni urged the people of Modakeke and its environs to continue to support the government and the party, stressing that it is only the All Progressives Congress that can move the state and the country forward in the right direction.
Governor Aregbesola had earlier paid homage on the Ogunsua of Madakeke- His Highness, Frances Adedoyin in his palace where the monarch described the Governor as a pace setter in the state.
The monarch said “the achievement of the Governor since taking charge of governance in the state is unprecedented. We only ask those working with him to be faithful to him and the people in the course of trying to move the state forward”.
BIOREPORTS

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said Osun will have one of the best education systems in the country, when his administration completes its reforms in the sector.

On Monday, 16th December, 2013, Governor Rauf Aregbesola took residents of the state by surprise when he presented before the floor of the State House of Assembly an executive bill requesting the lawmakers to consider and approve the creation of additional 27 local government development areas from the existing 30 local government councils in the state.
Unlike any other executive bill that usually emanate from the office of the Governor to the lawmakers, Governor Rauf Aregbesola took upon himself to personally present the bill at the floor of the assembly because of the importance his government attaches to it.
The presentation of the bill for the creation of additional 27 local government development areas was sequel to the submission of report of the 7-man local government creation committee headed by Professor Mojeed Alabi, former Speaker of the assembly between 1999 and 2003.
The reports after its submission was also vetted by another 5-man committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti to test the appropriateness and justification of the recommendations of the Mojeed Alabi’s committee in meeting the yearnings and demands of the people of the state especially regarding the recommendation of a particular local government area or citing headquarters of such local government in a particular place.
Meanwhile, as a prelude to the required public hearing of the bill to become law, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Nojeem Sallam, shortly after receiving the bill from Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the assembly chamber, called on members of the public to forward their responses on the new bill for the creation of additional local government development areas to the house for necessary parliamentary review and consideration.
This, the political observers in the state believe will make the whole exercise to have direct impact on the lives of the citizenry mostly in the rural areas after they had interacted with members of the local government creation committee on their demands; agitations and expectations.
The plan by the current administration to create additional local government development areas in the state has therefore attracted the affection of a larger chunk of the residents of the state and it is being viewed as an additional value to the popularity and image of the incumbent Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as somebody that keeps promises made to the electorate.
While presenting the bill for the creation of additional local government development areas, Governor Rauf Aregbesola told the 26 member assemblymen that his administration ventured into the creation of new council areas to make the government count and further bring it closer to the people at the grassroots level.
According to him, “we are here today to be part of history that will forever impact on the life of our people. The courageous step we are taking is in fulfillment of our avowed belief that the purpose of government is to deliver the greatest happiness to the greater number of the people. There is no gainsaying that the only way a government can deliver the greatest happiness to its citizenry is its level of closeness to the people. It is beyond contention that the closest government to the people should be the local government.
“Can we truly say that the existing local government system we have in the state is a true reflection of the desire of the citizens of the state? Are the councils in all honesty close enough to the people at the grassroots to enable them deliver the required services expected of a local government? The answer of course is No. If they are, why do we have agitations for more local governments?
“The reality, as we have found out since our assumption of office in the last three years, is that many local governments as presently constituted are too large in size as regards the area they cover; the size of its workforce as well as the quality of representation needed at the grassroots level. These have hindered the smooth running of our local governments to the extent that they merely survive to pay salaries and nothing more. The statutory duties of the local governments have been neglected so much that people had actually forgotten their existence within their locality.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola while speaking further on the bill, stressed that his administration in doing this, was committed to complying with the clear provision of Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, adding that the committee was charged with the task of preparing the bill for a law to the state assembly in conformity with Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
While describing the bill tagged: “Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Bill 2013” as historic, Aregbesola maintained the newly created local government areas will co-exists with the existing 30 local governments specified in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Aregbesola said: “One significant aspect of the Bill is that the existing 30 Local Governments co-exist with the newly created local governments. As a matter of fact, Section 3 of the Bill clearly provides that pending the passage of an Act of the National Assembly to list them in the constitution as Local Government Areas, the 27 new Local Government Areas shall be 27 Local Council Development Areas (Local Counties) in the State with the names specified in schedule II of the Bill. This provision clearly takes care of confusion that might have arisen should there be a controversy as to the status of the Local Government if the existing and the newly created Local Council Development Areas are lumped together as 57 Local Government Areas in the state. We have done our best to act within the existing law in this regard.
He stated that the bill will be parliamentary system in nature in or der to be cost effective, people-oriented and development based.
“This Bill has some unique features that are meant to make local government administration cost-effective, people-oriented and development-based. To this end, the bill proposes to establish a parliamentary system of government at the local government level. The implication of this is that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council would be an elected councillor from the party having majority seats in the council with other relevant qualifications. It is our firm conviction that this will inevitably reduce cost of governance; enhance quality of representation at the grassroots level and ensure smooth running of the local government administration.
“It is clear that despite the acute paucity of funds available to local governments, the amount spent on over-head and personnel already gulps all the council allocation. This proposed system would ensure transparency, probity and a more productive local government administration system in the State of Osun.
“Section 17 of the bill further creates the office of the Council Manager who shall be the Administrative Head of the Local Government Council. He or she shall be designated as “Council Manager” who shall be a civil servant not above grade level 14. The Council Manager shall be the highest level of officer in the Local Government Council.
“In making this Bill, we are not oblivious of the career progression concern of officers above grade level 14 in the Local Government Council. Affected officers in the employment of the Local Government, upon advancement beyond Grade Level 14, shall be deployed by the Local Government Service Commission in conjunction with the Civil Service Commission to any Ministry, Department or Agency of government as they may so deem fit.
Governor Aregbesola also disclosed that there shall be creation of local government economic planning board to re-engineer the local government system in the state in line with Section 7(3) of the 1999 constitution.
The board, according to him, will act in advisory capacity to develop economic blueprint for the local government council; to develop a framework for infrastructural and sustainable development of the council area; to advice the local government council on the enhancement of commercial and trading activities; to develop the parameters for agricultural development and advise on any other ancillary or relevant matter passed to it by the council.
He stated further that the board shall not be an implementation body but its report shall be submitted to the local government council for implementation; and it shall not be involved or take part in the day-to-day running of the local government.
He concluded that when the bill is passed into law by the lawmakers, it shall not only ensure a virile local government system, it would also place the assembly in the hall of fame of progressive and innovative legislatures at all time in the state in particular and nation at large.
Though details of the new local governments and their headquarters were still scanty as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the creation affected some old long existing local governments such as Oriade; Ife-South, Ejigbo; Odo-Otin; Iwo; Ayedaade; Irewole; Atakunmosa-East; Atakunmosa-West; Ede-South; Egbedore; Ife-North; Ife-East; Olorunda; Osogbo; Ifelodun, among others.
While responding after receiving the bill from Aregbesola, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Folasayo Nojeem Sallam therefore called the members of the public to forward to the House their response on the new bill.
He opined that this action has been long overdue considering the politics of the state assuring that the bill would scale through with little or no stress considering the fact the assembly is made up of members of a single political party (APC). He noted that the lawmakers in the state have been working harmoniously with the executive to move the state forward.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said Osun will have one of the best education systems in the country, when his administration completes its reforms in the sector.
The governor was responding to Bishop Leke Abegunrin’s comments on the decadence in public schools.
Aregbesola said the moral and infrastructural decadence in the sector were the result of neglect.
He said his administration’s reforms were the outcome of the education summit he organised three months after he assumed office, adding that the area generating misunderstanding is just an aspect of a comprehensive reform programme.
Aregbesola said: “What we met on ground was appalling and we were faced with the choice of leaving it as it was and enjoy favour from stakeholders or facing the demon and seeking the understanding of all stakeholders. We decided to take the bull by the horn and tackle the menace.
“I assure you that in 24 months, other states would be coming to learn how we transformed our education sector, particularly at the primary and post-primary levels.”
Seeking the understanding of stakeholders, the governor said the school feeding programme, tagged O’MEAL, has increased enrolment in elementary schools from 120,000 annually to about 500,000.
He said the award-winning Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge) has reduced the cost of providing textbooks for pupils.
Bishop Abegunrin urged stakeholders to shun religious and political sentiments and protect the future of children.
He condemned the indolence displayed by pupils, urging the administration to put mechanism in place to ensure continuity of its policies beyond its tenure.
THE NATION

Photos from the Special End of the Year Prayer tagged: ‘Lets’ go a Fishing at Federal Polytechnic Ede Sport Complex, Ede, the State of Osun on Tuesday 24-12-2013

From left, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the Special End of the Year
Prayer tagged: ‘Lets’ go a Fishing at Federal Polytechnic Ede Sport
Complex, Ede, the State of Osun on Tuesday 24-12-2013

From left, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and
his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the Special End of the Year Prayer tagged: ‘Lets’ go a Fishing at Federal Polytechnic Ede Sport
Complex, Ede, the State of Osun on Tuesday 24-12-2013

General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (left) and Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), at the Special End of the Year Prayer tagged: ‘Lets’ go a Fishing in Federal Polytechnic Ede Sport Complex, Ede, the State of
Osun on Tuesday 24-12-2013