The  Director General of  the National Productivity Centre (NPC),  Alhaji Kashim Akor,  has expressed the centre`s  readiness to   establish  a branch office  at Osogbo, Osun State capital,  to improve  the state`s  productivity.
 

 
 
The director general stated this when the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, visited the NPC head office in Abuja.

He said the centre would key into the governor’s programmes in ensuring accelerated human resources development and capacity building for the Osun public service.
Akor disclosed that the   governor’s visit was the first of its kind by a serving governor in the history of the centre.
 
“The NPC would help in building the capacity of the state workforce and organisations through training and installation of Productivity and Quality Improvement Programme (P&QIP). We would also want your assistance in the establishment of a state productivity committee in units in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state as well as in providing airtime on Osun Radio and Television for dissemination of productivity messages,” he said.
 
Governor Aregbesola stressed the importance of the NPC in making   the Nigerian workforce efficient and proactive in service delivery.
 
He said he would actively engage the centre in making  the state civil service productive toward achieving  the All Progressives Party (APC) change agenda.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has commended the speedy spate of works on the ongoing construction of Osogbo Government High School, which he described as a worthy legacy.

 
 
Governor Aregbesola also applauded the contractor and artisans working on the site for meeting up to the expectations of the state in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions.
The Governor gave the commendation while touring the premises of the construction site, located at Oke-fia area, Osogbo.
Aregbesola who expressed satisfaction over the completion stage of the building shortly after his unscheduled inspection tour to the school, said with the rate of work on the site, the state is confident of commissioning the edifice within a short time.
He also acknowledged the quality materials being used on the site, saying his government was bent on ensuring quality delivery in all aspects of the economy.
Governor Aregbesola said in spite the current economic crisis in the state and Nigeria at large, his government would not for whatever reason condone the use of substandard materials in all the ongoing projects in the state.
Governor Aregbesola insisted that the current administration under his leadership would apply both human and material resources to ensure overall development in all nooks and crannies of the state.
The Governor who attributed his government’s laudable achievements in all sectors of the economy especially on education to what he regarded as his brilliant implementation of necessities and priorities.
He therefore implored the all the contractors working at different government sites to maintain the quality tempo in all they do.

The government of Osun has warned parents and private school operators in the state to desist from the act of assisting students in engaging in examination malpractices or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
 

 
Mr Festus Olajide, Permanent Secretary, Osun Ministry of Education, Science and Technology gave this warning through a press statement released to newsmen in Osogbo.
According to Olajide,  “the state government has observed with displeasure that malpractice is orchestrated in certain schools in the guise of registering students in what is called “Miracle Centres”.
He said apart from the fact that such a practice is against the code of conduct in examinations, the practice is also a betrayal of the policy of the state government, stressing that among other things, the practice of mass cheating had led to lack of seriousness by students.
He said the act of malpractices had caused proliferation of private high schools who engage in the act, causing indictment of both Public and Private High Schools by WAEC & NECO and also resulting to turning out of half baked secondary school leavers.
The state government therefore warns that any private school henceforth found in the irresponsible act will have their operational licence revoked, while supervisors involved in the act will be blacklisted.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that disciplinary measures will also be taken against the principal of any indicted school in line with the provision of the state  Public Service Rules: 030401 and 030402 which prescribe dismissal for any officer found guilty.
He also said officials caught in such act would be handed over to the police for prosecution adding that any school found culpable would also be de-recognised by the appropriate examination bodies.

………. urges multinational companies to pay taxes
 
The Chairman,  Special Committee on fire safety sensitisation and fire facilities inspection in the State of Osun,Hon  Mudashiru Oguntola Toogun has clarified the area of jurisdiction and limitation between the Federal and State Fire Services to avoid clash of interest that may arise  in the cause of carrying out their official responsibilities.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has presented the Staff of Office and instrument of  appointment to Onisara of Feesu, Oba Moshood Alamu Oparonke 1 at the event that was held at Baptist Elementary Primary School Feesu –Iwo.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti explained that the presentation was a clear testimony to the high priority and regards the administration in the state has been according the traditional institution in the state saying the traditional institution has been serving as a unifying agent of peaceful co-existence and communal development in our society.
 

 
Alhaji Adeoti then charged the new monarch not to give room for  land, boundary and religious issues to  degenerate into communal crisis in his domain.  He called on him to be fair and just to all his subjects.
The Secretary to the State Government urged him to mobilize the people of Feesu to always fulfil their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes and rates promptly.
The Chairman of the Coronation Committee, Deacon Gabriel Oyebamiji, in his welcome address, expressed the gratitude of the people to the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola promising maximum co-operation and support for government programmes and policies.
The Council Manager of Iwo Local Government, Mr. Gbenga Babatunde thanked the Governor for his developmental  strides in the State.  He also congratulated the new monarch on his appointment.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti represented the Governor at the presentation of staff of Office and instrument of appointment to the Looja of Agberire, Oba Jacob Oyetunde Alajide in Agberire, Iwo West Local Council Development Area.

Osun State House of Assembly has passed into law, the Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Bill 2016.

In statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Timothy Owoeye and seconded by Babatunde Olatunji representing Ife North Constituency at the plenary on Tuesday.

The bill, the statement said, is seeking to prohibit hawking or exposing goods, wares and articles for sale or offer service whether or not from a stationary positions in any place or streets in some major towns of the state or within the vicinity of any public building in the state.

The affected towns, it said, are Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Ikirun, Ikire, Ila-Orangun and Ejigbo.

The statement added that the bill was also prohibiting the establishment or maintenance of any market by any person other than the state, local government or statutory corporations.

It added that the bill also discouraged extension of shops into the walkways, road setbacks and building lines, as well as indiscriminate pasting of posters or banners, advertising goods and services on sidewalls, bus stops, bridges or any other unauthorised space.

The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, according to the statement, said the passed bill when assented to would ensure cleaner environment and safe more lives of the people.

According to him, it would also discourage the use of underage to hawk in line with Child Right Act.

Regretting that many lives have been lost due to roadside accidents with street traders being the major victims, Salaam said, the law was borne out of the government commitment to safe the lives of its citizenry.

The speaker who noted that the bill would be forwarded to the Governor for his assent, expressed hope that it would be effectively implemented to the benefit of the people of the state.

Also, at the plenary, the state Micro-credit Agency Bill came up for consideration and the speaker directed that a letter be written to the executive to correct the lacuna observed between the existing law passed in 2006 and the new bill before the House.

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday April 5, 2016 presented the Land Use Charge with a view to increase the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
Aregbesola during the public presentation of Land Use Charge at the Exco Lounge, Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, said the land owner would be allowed to appeal high or low charges but the half of the charges must be paid before the appeal.
 

 
He said the new law was initiated as a viable alternative to oil money, urging the people of the state to join hands with the government to make the new law work.
He said Nigeria dependence on oil has caused more hardship than succour, adding “taxation remains the only viable and sustainable way civilized societies fund, sustain and maintain their government.
Aregbesola who decribed land as a greater resource stressed the need for government to take the use of land as another alternative trough which the current economic crises orchestrated by the steady fall in the oil price could be tackled.
Speaking, Consultant on Land Use Charge, Pastor Olumide Bolorunduro, said the charges was to harmonize all property laws like tenement rate among others.
He added that location, quality, size and value of the area will be considered in order to bring out the charge, stressing that bankers have been appointed to collect in order to ensure that there is no leakages.
Bolorunduro stated further that Finance Ministry, Works and Land including other professionals, collectively calculated the formula, saying that the taxation was a collective responsibility.
He said the charges was to stem up the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, adding that “it is a call to rally round the government so as to have enough fund to govern the state.
Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Dr Ajibola Basiru, stated that some properties were excepted in line with Section 8 of the law.
According to Basiru, properties used exclusively for religious body, Cemeteries and burial ground, registered educational institute that is non-profit making, property used solely for Non-governmental Organization activities and traditional grounds were exempted.
He added that Motherless baby home, Palaces of recognized Obas and Villages heads (Baales), were also exempted from the charges.
Speaker, Rt Hon Najeem Salaam, said the law was not new even if it is new in Osun.
He noted that the state House of Assembly had organized a public hearing on November 3rd, 2015, before the final passage of the bill.
He however advised the executive to ensure that enough awareness is carried out on the bill, saying the formula was designed to make it application easy for the people of the state.
The speaker however promised that the house will always provide enabling environment for the state to grow, adding that “if this law is well implemented, our IGR in Osun will definitely improve.

The Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Engr Olusegun Aduroja , yesterday kicked off A – 2 day free medical treatment for the elderly people aged 60 and above.  The programme was organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Ladoke  Akintola University
of Technology (LAUTECH) Osogbo .
 
 

 
 
The Permanent Secretary, who made it known, implored all the people concerned to make themselves available for free medical treatment on minor ailments such as cough, malaria and cold among others.
He, therefore, enjoined the elderly ones to visit the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ibokun for the free treatment and   further pointed out that should there be any serious case(s), there is provision for instant referral services.