The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took centre stage as the federal government launch the National school feeding programme in Abuja on Thursday June 9, 2016.
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The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reaffirmed his government commitment to continuously champion the welfare of the citizens by providing essential amenities capable of improving their general well being.

 
Aregbesola also noted that no effort must be spared in the move to provide electricity as it is the major driving factor of the economy.
Aregbesola stated this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with an energy company that will generate 20 megawatts of power with the use of the Kajola Hydro Power plant in the state.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU, at the Government house Osogbo, Aregbesola noted that no effort must be spared in the move to provide electricity as it is the major driving factor of the economy.
He expressed delight in the drastic step taken by the state to revive and improve its economy towards the provision of stable electricity supply, saying with adequate power supply, small, medium and and large businesses would grow for the benefit of the state.
Governor Aregbesola said tapping into the alternative source of power which hydro provides, saying enough power supply in the country will definitely ease the stress on the economy.
According to him, “no effort must be spared for the provision of electricity as it is the major tonic to boost the economy.
“I am happy to be sitting and signing this MOU because I know that we are signing our way into prosperity as the availability of electricity guarantees prosperity for all.
“When there is stable and adequate power supply, there is a certainty that small scale businesses will grow and existing businesses will keep floating in the society.
Speaking on the realization of the project, the state Governor urged the energy company to take the project seriously and bring it to a reality for the benefit of all parties involved.
He stated further that any form of delay in the execution of the project should be avoided, stressing that all the state obligations as contained in the MOU will be met as at when due.
“I want this company to take the execution of this project seriously and bring it to reality for the benefit of all.
“I don’t want any party to suffer any delay in the implementation of the project.
“I am assuring you that all the state obligations as contained in the MOU will be met as at when due and I want you to meet with yours as well”, Aregbesola added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of CBC Energy Company, Mr. Kunle Oderinu, assured that the project when completed will go a long way in assisting the energy deficiency in the state and the country at large.
He assured that the company’s technical partners are already on ground with a view to commencing activities just as everything is already set towards the realization of the said objectives.
He explained that the 20 megawatts electricity project which will be ready for use in the next two years is just a tip of the iceberg as it will not cover the state’s energy need because of the planned commercial activities in the state.
He said “the 20 megawatts we are starting with is just a tip of the iceberg, we are hoping that this “first-start” will stimulate the commercial activities in the state.
“In terms of being fed into the national grid or to work as an independent national plant we are discussing with the distribution company that has the responsibility for the state of Osun.
“At the right moment we are going to bring them on board to discuss together on how to manage it so that the benefits will be more to the people of the state”

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday called on all stakeholders in the state including the organized labour to assist government in plugging leakages so as to make the state economically independent.
Aregbesola also noted that his government would not relent in his effort to jack up the state Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, saying all hands must be on deck to improve the State IGR for economic independence.

 
He made the call while receiving the report of the Committee on Plugging of Revenue Leakages in the state, at Government House, Osogbo.
The Governor noted that the only way Osun could become economically stable is to be able to generate at least N5billion monthly.
Governor Aregbesola who welcomed the report, expressed satisfaction in the fact that the state has the capacity to generate triple of its current IGR basis.
The Governor said once the revenue projection of state could be conveniently upsurge to N20billion, expressing confidence that with such income accruable to the state coffer, his government would be definitely aided in meeting the all needs and obligations of the state.
He noted that it is particularly suiting to know through the report of the committee that Osun has the capacity to generate between 5 and 8billion every month throughout the remaining months of this year if all the palpable leakages are blocked.
Aregbesola stated further that it is heartwarming to know that Osun can conveniently pay salaries and execute capital projects if there is sincerity of purpose from everyone in the generation of revenue for the state.
The Governor hinted that his government would put in place a permanent committee that will be in charge of monitoring all revenues accruable to the state in order to maximize its potentials.
Commending the committee for a job well done, Governor Aregbesola said the details of the report has reflected the realizable potentiality of the state as its serves as an eye opener towards economic prosperity.
Aregbesola expressed delight that the job done by  the committee has made the state government to realize that Osun has the capacity to grow and develop without relying on the federal allocation.
He said “it interesting to know that if all leakages are blocked, our state can realistically generate between 4 to 8billion every month for 2016 alone, which can also rise to between 5 and 8.5billion per month next year and there after at least 7.5billion on a monthly basis.
“We have been made to know that with every conveniency, our state is capable to generate 4 to 5 billion this year 2016; 5 to 8billion by 2018 and 8 to 20billion by 2018.
“For this obvious purpose and economic projection, I believe it is high time to call ourselves to order for the benefit of our dear state, because having understood that Osun can conveniently generate this much as IGR if there are no leakages.
“I have said it before that if Osun can hit a revenue base of at least N5billion per month then our troubles are over.
“Because of the eye opening job this committee has done, I think its importance that a permanent committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of monitoring revenue and blocking leakages be set up.
“I am also calling on the organized labour and other relevant stakeholders to join hands with government in ensuring that our revenue are intact for the benefit of all”, he added..
Earlier, during the presentation of the report to the governor, Chairman of the committee who is also the Auditor General for Local Governments in the state, Mr Emmanuel Kolapo pointed out that a viable generation of revenue must go alongside blocking of leakages for it to be meaningful.
He stressed that all revenue generation needs to be accounted for by all relevant agencies, saying that there has to be a working synergy between all government agencies so as to boost the revenue drive of the state.
Mr. Kolapo added that the semi-formal and informal sectors of the state’s economy needs to be monitored so as not to draw the economy of the state back.
According to him, “Osun has the capacity to be great if we can block all leakages very well.
“the revenue drive of Osun can only be on a steady rise if all leakages in the system are blocked and this is not a job for the government alone, we all need to be involved.
“All sectors of the economy need to be involved, I am talking about both the semi-formal and informal sectors of the economy.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the citizens of his administration’s determination to place the state to an enviable height never known in history.
Aregbesola also reaffirmed that the current government in the state would not in any way be deterred by the current economic crisis in its bid to promote functional and quality education.

 
Governor Aregbesola gave the assurance while addressing the people during the official commissioning of St. Micheal’s R.C.M Government Middle School, Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
Aregbesola disclosed that the school being commissioned in structure, furnishing and landscaping  cost the government a total sum of N164 million.
Aregbesola noted that committing such huge sum on a school is a clear sign of commitment to basic education particularly in the face of the obvious lean resources of the state.
He said his government was not building the schools across the state for showmanship, but rather for the development of the new man intellectually, socially and morally, saying new man is placed in the centre of society, who views his own development as part of and for the development of society.
According to him, “this is a non-parasitic and non-oppressive man who regards his or her own existence in light of the growth of others; he or she views whatever he acquires to be subsumed in the overall interest of others.
“He is a man in himself and a man for society. This is the Omoluabi essence. Everything we have done in the school reform is for the building of this man.
“We are also developing a man of the future who will take a pride of place in a competitive digital and knowledge driven world. From these schools will emerge world renowned scientists, diplomats, educationists, jurists, clerics, statesmen, inventors, academic and entrepreneurs.
Recounting some of his achievements in education sector, Aregbesola said his government has successfully provided e-Learning tablets (Opon Imo) for final year high school studebts in the state just as free school uniforms for pupils in public school were provided.
According to him, “Our free school feeding and health programme (OMEALS) has been adopted nationally and had won applauds across the globe. The food programme is not just to develop the brain and confidence of our pupils, it is also a way of poverty alleviation for parents who do not have the means to send their pupils to school”.
He said the state was bent on revamping , reviving and resuscitating the education sector, stressing that his government has transformed the old ramshackle buildings into architectural masterpieces that will make school and education attractive to the pupils and their teachers.
The Governor explained that the middle school, like the others building in the state, has the maximum capacity for 1000 pupils, 28 classrooms, an ICT room equipped with 30 computers, 24 toilets for pupils and teachers, three head teachers/principals’ office, one staff room, one facility manager office, a multipurpose hall, food court, library, sick bay, security/reception gatehouse and recreation zone.
He disclosed that his government since inception has been building a total of 170 state of the art schools with 100 of them at elementary, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools, saying out of these, 14 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed.
He said, “Some are already commissioned while others are receiving finishing touches and waiting to be commissioned too. We are going to complete them before the expiration of our tenure. None of our projects will be abandoned.
Aregbesola who condemned in its totality the insinuations that the female students across the public schools should be allowed to wear religious  garments in place of uniforms to schools, said any student found with uniform contrary to an authorized uniform for public schools would be legally dealt with.
Governor Aregbesola bemoaned over the move purported being sponsored by an unnamed religious group in the state, instigating secondary school students to wear religious garments to schools in place of the official uniforms, adding that the current government would not condone any act of indiscipline.
According to him, “the government therefore cannot support or be seen to be supporting a particular religion. The government is a democracy, not a theocracy.
“It is not the role of government, through the schools, to lead a child in a particular religious direction. That will be for parents and religious institutions, in private capacity, until the child is grown enough to make a decision on religion.
“For this reason, our government will not hesitate to deal with anyone flouting the court order on the wearing of Hijab by the female Muslim students.
“It is our believe as a constitutionally rooted government to continuously respect the law of the land as well as other constituted authorities before taking any decision as it amounts to subversion of the educational needs of a child for him or her to be drawn into and used for political purposes.
“I want to make it clear again that the fundamental role of government in schools is to equip every child with the intellectual and moral requirement needed to be useful for himself or herself and society.
He therefore warned residents not to allow themselves to be used as instrument in the hands of the opposition, just as he called for religious tolerant.
Earlier, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye Tomori, said the numerous developments going round the state  were clear manifestation of what the present government stands for.
Mrs. Tomori who doubled as the state commissioner of Education said the prompt intervention of Governor Aregbesola in education sector had really snowballed into greater performance of pupils and students in both learning and character.
She disclosed that the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola had successfully equipped the state pupils and students the needed facilities, saying Aregbesola has provided enabling environment capable of facilitating smooth teaching and learning process.
“The commissioning of this school at this special economic period symbolizes our avowed commitment to turn around the education sector.
“The exercise also confirms the actualization of our mission statement in the provision of structurally and architecturally designed schools coupled with the adequate provision of the state-of-the-art facilities to improve level of quality education.
Speaking on the various achievements recorded in education by the current government, Mrs. Tomori hinted that 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 17 High schools are already either put into use or at completion stage.
According to her, “Our laudable feat in all sectors shows that we are unstoppable as we have been treading the path to greatness as we assumed office.
The Deputy Governor said the commitment of government towards the building of edifices around the state was in furtherance of the fulfillment of its electioneering campaign promises made to the good people of the state.
“Building state-of-of-the art schools being equipped with modern facilities to enhance teaching and learning is indeed one of the many recommendations of the education summit held in 2011 to arrest the rot in the education sector.
“The edifice we are commissioning today is in no doubt the architectural masterpiece of our administration in the quest to build a new man of greater intellectual capacity.
“This school is purposefully built and tailored towards functional, efficient utility service delivery.
“Our government believes in the development of a complete and total man as such requires us to strengthen our education system in such a manner that common man can access.
“For this purpose, our government would not in anyway condone any act of indiscipline in our schools.
“We shall maintain high level of discipline in all the public schools, as this noble gesture calls for collective support of parents and teachers towards the achievement of greater future for our children”, Mrs. Tomori stated.
She therefore called on the pupils, teachers and parents to imbibe good maintenance culture towards the utilization of the school so as to justify the huge investment being made in education by the current government.
In his remarks, Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, Prince Felix Awofisayo, charged parents and guardians on the need to complement government efforts with regular tax payment.
Prince Awofisayo who implored the parents to prioritize the welfare of their children and wards towards the actualization of brighter future, said quality education remains only sustainable legacy a parent could bequest on his child.
SUBEB Chairman applauded Governor Aregbesola for setting an unforgettable legacy and standard for the state in all aspects of the economy.
In their separate remarks, the Alademure of Ibokun, Oba Festus Kayode Awogboro; Chairman of the Chairmen, Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Yisa Ojewola; Chairman, Community Based School Management Committee, Chief Olasoyede Fadeyibi, Member representing Obokun State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye among others, commended Governor Aregbesola for being aggressive towards the promotion of functional, quality and qualitative education.

The government of Osun on Monday formally inaugurated the use standardised weighing scales in all its markets as the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the move was to make the state the preferred destination for commercial activities in the sub-region.
 

 
Aregbesola said his administration will not relent in its goal of developing economic activities in the state.
The unveiling of the “Osuwon Omoluabi”, was held amidst a huge crowd of market men and women who thronged the Nelson Mandela Freedom Square in Osogbo venue.
He pointed out that Osogbo ‎in the 60’s and early 70s was a great centre of commerce because of the railway that passed through the city‎.
The Governor emphasised that “Osunwon Omoluabi” policy is backed by law, saying Weights and Measures constitute item 63 on the Exclusive Legislatives list of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He noted that the laws made in this regard include Weights and Measures Act CAP W3LFN, 2004, Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act CAP P25 LFN, 2004; Weights and Measures Standardization of Indigenous Measures Regulations, 1992 and the Weights and Measures Fees Regulations.
Aregbesola noted that all hands must be on deck to revive the economic status of the state, adding that the state had in the past attracted sellers and buyers from neighbouring states, as far as Akure in present day Ondo State and that only Ibadan was greater in trade and commerce than Osogbo in the region.
‎The Governor held that the  launch of standardised weighing scales is in continuation of the provision of the infrastructure of the mind which we began at the inception of his administration, when it rebranded Osun as Ipinle Omoluabi.
‎Aregbesola stressed that “Osunwon Omoluabi” will eliminates cheating and other underhand practices that have become the hallmark of trading in most markets.
He averred that the use of standardized scales in markets across the state will give rise to a chain of economic benefits, adding that market expansion for dealers in weighing scales is assured as the programme will increase the demand for the product.
Aregbesola assured that jobs will be created for service providers in the areas of maintenance and repair of scales, adding that 178 OYES cadets have been trained in the maintenance and repair of scales in the first phase of the Train-the-Trainers Empowerment Scheme which is an integral part of the Standardised Weighing Scales Programme.
He said, “In the quest to be competitive and make more profit, which is greed, traders now devise varying means of short-changing buyers. Measures are deliberately reduced through cutting, filling with candles and wax, and sleight of hand.
“Scales are tilted fraudulently while husks, chaffs, barks and other rubbish are included in goods sold, with the intention of reducing the actual values of what the buyers take home.
“One of the tragedies of this immoral practice is that foreigners began to distrust our export because, for instance, cocoa graders put top grades at the top of the sack, leaving poor quality at the bottom, and in the process, collect money for the top grade.
“Those who are in the business can tell you what loss they suffered because the foreigners distrusted their products and classified all cocoa coming from our land as inferior, irrespective of the grade”.
Earlier In his opening remarks, the former Commissioner for Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the standardised weighing scale across markets in the state became necessary to mitigate challenges noticeable in commercial transactions.
Jayeoba-Alagbada said in order to erase cheating in the process of exchange of commercial goods and checkmate other market forces challenges, government decided to formally introduce the standardised weighing scales.
According to him, training workshops had already been conducted in the markets all over the state on the effective use of the scales.
He stated that the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the day-to-day administration of the programme.
He said: “I need to emphasise that market women and men had been fully mobilised to key into this emerging commercial revolution.
“Both the leadership and the followership of the associations of market women and men had agreed, not only to comply with the right use of the scales and measures but to continuously carry out peer reviews with a view to ensuring flawless implementation of the standardised weighing scales and measures programme.
“I want to place it on record that, but for the grace of God and the dogged determination of Mr. Governor, this launch and indeed the entire standardised scales and measures programme would have been a mirage.”
The President General of Osun State Market Women Association, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, said the standardised scale became necessary owing to imbalance in measurement and fraud in commercial activities.
Asindemade said the Kongo measurement introduced to the market in the old Oyo State became the standard measurement in Osun when it was created.
According to Market leader, the old measurement was gradually subjected to abuse and fraud to the extent that individual seller used his or her yardstick for measurement, thus the need to re-standardise and unify it.
She however warned that the introduction of the standard scale should not translate to increase in commodity price system in the market.
“It is in a bid to correct the anomaly in measurement and scale that the Government of Osun introduced the standardised weighing scales in markets in the state so as to forestall fraud and cheating in measurement.
“As we welcome this innovation, I call on my constituency – market men and women – to cooperate with government to make this a success.
“Besides, introduction of this weight and measurement does is not and should not lead to increase in price of commodities in our market,” Asindemade said

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is of the opinion that June 12 should be declared Democracy Day and not May 29 because that was the day Nigerians laid aside their differences and voted a leader.
 

 
In his address to mark the 23rd anniversary of the annulled election, the Governor insisted that June 12, 1993 was the day Nigerians voted the acclaimed winner of the Presidential election, M.K.O Abiola without recourse to religion or ethnicity.
Aregbesola said, “We will never drop our commitment to June 12. Nigerians, in their heterogeneity, on June 12, 1993, voted for Chief Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality.

“It was a pattern that made mockery of the fabled fault-lines and fissiparous tendencies of the Nigerian federation and projected a nation united behind a popular leader.
Noting that May 29 only symbolises the day the military handed over leadership of the country to a democratically elected government, Aregbesola explained that the unity with which the multi-ethnic groups spoke and acted on June 12, 1993 is what is being celebrated till today.
“May 29, in 1999, was the date the military handed over power to civilian administration and will remain symbolic for the transition to civil rule and the opportunity it presents for realising a truly democratic government that approximates the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a leader that will lead them to the Promised Land of security and life more abundant,” he said.
The governor, however, stated that the country had to wait for a long time after the annulment for the emergency of President Muhammadu Buhari, a leader that would take the country to the Promised Land until.

“We waited for 16 years for that leadership to emerge and we thank God for the election and coming to power of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“A government with a human face is here at last. He represents the aspirations and symbolism of June 12 in that he also got a pan-Nigerian mandate that once again defied the divisions in our country.
“He represents hope for change and national rebirth. He is on that path. God willing, he will lead us to the Promised Land,” Aregbesola said.
Aregbesola said despite the many imperfections associated with democracy, it remains the best form of government.

Osun State Government has  officially launch the use of standardized weighing scales called Osuwon Omoluabi for accurate transaction of businesses in all markets across the state today. One of the aides of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagbada, who made this known, in a statement in Osogbo, stated that the programme was held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park at Old Garage in Osogbo, the state capital.
 

 
According to him: “The programme was put in place to ensure that the accurate weighing scales are introduced for usage for commercial transactions in all the markets across the state to discourage cheating of customers in the markets.” He noted that “the existing measures are based more on rule of thumbs than any degree of accuracy and consistency.
The existing measuring standard are not accurate and full of inherent shortcomings often observed by the market men and women themselves.” Alagbada further explained that, standardizing scales will eliminate all inherent shortcomings, mistrust, incessant arguments and disagreements that are currently common place in commercial transactions.
“The standardized scales and measures will positively impact on the economy of the state by bringing unprecedented ease to trade and commercial transactions in the state.” “This will no doubt increase the pace and volume of transactions among traders and consumers, thereby increasing the volume of commerce.”

The Osun State Commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Alhaji OyedokunAdebamigbe, has warned the newly appointed executive members of the group to desist from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the association, saying that the violation of the constitution of the body might lead to the termination of their appointment.
 

 
Adebamigbe gave the warning during the official presentation of certificate of awards to 15 newly appointed state executives and three zonal commandants at the VGN headquarters in Ayetoro, Osogbo.
The commandant, while identifying security consciousness among Nigerians as an antidote to the security challenges  facing the country, he called on Nigerians and the people of Osun State, in particular to report any strange  movement  in their vicinities to security agencies, saying that security matters should not be taken with levity.
Emphasising the need for a more harmonious relationship between the police and the group, Adebamigbe stated that the police and the vigilante group had been enjoying cordial relationship for a long period of time.
According to him, such relationship will help the police in discharging their duty of protecting life and property better.
He maintained that the only way Nigeria could overcome insecurity is to jointly fight the menace to a standstill.
“It is paramount to maintain utmost vigilance in our respective abode. The security of our life and property is too important to be left in the hands of security agencies alone,” he said.
Adebamigbe further expressed the VGN’s readiness to continue to support the Nigerian army in the ongoing fight against the deadly Boko Haram insurgents, and to rescue the Chibok Girls.
Enumerating the group’s achievements, the commandant listed the discovery of Indian hemp farms in a joint operation with the NDLEA and NSCDC at Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of the state, voiding of bank robbery in Modakeke, Sammya Construction Company, Alasan and Ile-Ife and the arrest of the suspects.
He, therefore, advised the newly appointed executives, the zonal commandants and all other members of the group to be loyal to the constituted  authorities, security agents and cooperate with stakeholders in their various communities.
In their remarks on behalf of the awardees, the Deputy State Commandant and the Ijesa Zonal Commandant, Abiodun Oguleye and Bello Wasiu, respectively  appreciated the state and federal commandants for bestowing on them the award of recognition, promising to continue to be good ambassadors of the organisation.

The Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA), Osun State chapter, yesterday denied insinuations it was at loggerheads with Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his administration over the introduction of fees for extra-mural classes for public secondary school students.
 

 
 
Many national dailies had reported a disregard for government directive on the payment of fees for two hours extra coaching for public secondary school students across the state that the PTA has introduced. But the body in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Bisi Olaniyan, and its administrative secretary, Ogbeni Akinlolu Fadare, stated it has not introduced tuition or school fees in public schools in the state.
The association maintained that the leadership of the PTA in the state has always been a good partner of the administration of Aregbesola and will not head for any showdown with it.