Maximisation of social welfare of the society forms the essence of any government throughout the world, and the metric of performance of an administration is usually calibrated along the lines of security of lives and properties, and provision of social goods.

The desire of any government in maximixing the welfare of its people is reflected in the manner of policies and programs it pursues. These are in turn a reflection of its annual budgets, which sets the tones of any administration in any given year. 

Ideally, government determines its expenditure pattern from its fiscal policies. The desire of any government is to ensure it generates enough revenue to sustain its planned expenditure. As applicable to individuals and private organizations, where government is unable to generate enough revenue however, the excess spending needs to be financed through leveraging. 

Borrowing by government is actually not a crime, as long as the proceeds of such inflow are judiciously utilized for societal development in form of infrastructure transformation and mandatory social welfare. While long term loan can be secured by government for infrastructure development, occasional challenges arise where the recurrent expenditure of government cannot be met immediately from its recurrent revenue, particularly due to delay in time of receiving such revenue. In this case, government needs some financing strategies to keep pace with its obligations to the governed. One of such strategies that has global recognition, particularly in advanced economies is “Ways and means” advances. This strategic way of stabilizing government machineries first became popular in India around 1930. This financing initiative was first institutionalized by the Reserve Bank of India (India Central Bank). Under this scheme, the Reserve Bank of India extends short term advances to the country’s state governments that maintain accounts with the bank. These short term advances are used to bridge any gaps that might arise for short time between the expenditure and receipts of state governments. They are meant to provide a cushion to the states to carry on their essential activities despite mismatches on fiscal transactions and to avoid disruptions to the normal and necessary financial operation of states. 

Given the unprecedented delay on receipt of allocation from the Federation account in the recent time, and the excessive interest rate on commercial loans, agitation for way and means advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may not be out of place.  This is necessary to minimize the severe impact of delayed allocation from Federation account on government and the citizens. A situation where government cannot pay salary of her workers promptly as a result of the habitual delay in Federation allocation is detrimental.

For us in Osun, our strategy actually mirrors “Way and means”, though within the financial institutions’ domain. 

Of course, we are all aware that states’ allocations from the Federation account are made in arrears, the usual delay in receipt of these allocations, which in most times can be up to one or two months implies that mandatory expenditure of the state such as security, salaries and overheads of the government would be outstanding until receipt of allocations. Given our desire for good governance, and borne out of our strategic initiatives, our administration has been meeting its numerous obligations by resulting to different creative ways such as savings and application of “ways and means” particularly to finance salary payments at least twenty five (25) days before receipt of allocations. It should not be forgotten that as part of the current government’s resolutions to ensure that workers are well motivated to ensure robust productivity, prior to the end of 2013, the state ensured payment of workers’ salaries on 25th of every month. 

Contrary to what obtained under the last administration in the state where huge excess crude oil revenue collected from the Federation account (up to over N40billion) was frittered, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola denied himself and saved the excess crude funds for the state and encouraged the local governments to also save theirs. The total savings built up to about N30billion. The Governor consequently created Omoluabi Conservation Fund to take care of future generation, infrastructure needs and shortfall in revenue. It was this saving edge that was used to create a Deposit draw back facility that was used to finance the salary payments promptly on 26th of every month for three (3) years, despite the delay of one or two months before receipt of federation revenue. This edge allows the state to swap the interest rate and minimize the cost to three (3) percent per annum. This creative structure actually mirrors Ways and means advance of Reserve Bank of India. Incidentally, part of the referenced savings has been applied on the state’s various infrastructure roll out, without compromising the statutory responsibilities of the state.

In our opinion, the unabated delay in monthly revenue sharing from the Federation account is capable of grounding the workings of government, particularly State and local governments and create an unfavourable impression about states governments sustainability. 

We therefore wish to make case for this ingenious ways of bridging the monthly delay on revenue allocation from the Federation account. This call cannot be more timelier given the recent assumption of office by the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Only few states in the country can boast of robust internally generated revenue and adequacy of same to take care of their critical expenditure before receipt of their monthly allocations. It is therefore our hope that other states’ governments across the country will lend their voices to this pragmatic financing strategy.  The benefits remain bridging the unending delay in receipt of revenue from federation account at minimal cost, while maximizing social welfare.

BUSINESS DAY

Government of the state of Osun is establishing an Automotive Mechatronics Specialist Institute christened “Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute (BIMI) hosted by the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke. This is part of its continued quest to make life more meaningful for the citizen, create more job opportunities for youths and enhance their capacities.

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the institute, when completed, will be be the first in Nigeria. He pointed out that the institute will deal with the latest technology involved in modern vehicles which consist of combined electro-mechanical systems with fully automated controls termed “mechatronics” that reduce use of kilos of wires making way for light weight and greater efficient motor vehicles of today.

The statement also revealed that the state has concluded arrangement to send 30 indigenes of the state to Germany to master the technology. The Communications director added that fund for the project is an intervention soft loan provision by the National Automotive Council using part of its Auto Development Fund Loan Scheme domiciled with the Bank of Industry (BOI).

According to him, “Osun is the first of all states and Federal institutions to establish this world class Automotive Skill-gap Bridge in Nigeria meant for promoting skills needed for employability of our graduates, technicians and improvement for artisans in the sector.

Okanlawon added that the local experts having trained in Germany will in turn serve as train-the-trainers to train other Nigerians at Esa-Oke . He emphasized that the exercise is purely a practical delivery project as trainees shall be tested and certified before graduation from the centre.

Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje has revealed that 780, 464 electorate who have received their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would vote in the August 9 governorship election in the state saying that only voters with PVCs would be allowed to vote.

Agbaje who disclosed this on Thursday, 3rd July, 2014 during a press conference in Osogbo said the 780, 464 voters qualified for voting because they have received their PVCs out of the 1,256,569) electorate who registered in the state.

The Residential Electoral Commissioner maintained that only voters with Permanent Voters’ Cards will vote saying “it’s important to stress at this juncture that only the PVCs would be used to vote during the 9th August, 2014 Governorship election; simply put, “No PVC, No Voting.”

He pointed out that 780,464 PVCs were distributed by the commission in the state out of 1,256,569 PVCs received as at 27th June, 2014 stressing that the eligible voters, 780,464, represented 62.11 percent of total PVCs received.

According to the new REC, “as we speak, 780, 464 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been distributed out of 1,265,569 PVCs received in the state.

“Also, a total of 149, 885 eligible voters were registered during the Continious Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise between 12th and 17th March, 2014″.

He said during the Voters Registration proper, 1, 256, 569.

Agbaje who resumed office on 1st July following the compulsory leave that former REC, Ambassador Rufus Akeju was said to have embarked on arrangements for the distribution of the PVCs of those who registered during CVR exercise which would be distributed to the owners as soon as they were received by the state office.

GAZELLE

Download inspiring Quotes about the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. This Quote is from Wole Soyinka. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng  or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.

 

Photos of Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka during his Visit to the School at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka (right, with face cap) on the Assembly Ground with Students of Salvation Army Middle School, during his Visit to the School at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka (arrowed) asking Questions from Students of Salvation Army Middle School, during his Visit to the School at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka (right) asking Questions from Students of Salvation Army Middle School, during his Visit to the School at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka, during his Courtesy Visit to the Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon; Chief Executive Officer, Dudu Productions, Mr Tunde Alabi-hundeyin and Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka, during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 03-07-2014

Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro, also known as Saka, has joined the multitude of actors, musicians and celebrities who are lending their support and brand image to the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola’s Re-election Campaign bid. The well-loved actor was spotted today at the Salvation Army Middle School at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, dressed as one of the students. He even spent some time in class, making the students laugh and motivating them to succeed.

Saka joins Kunle Afolayan, Fadeyi Oloro, Toyin Adegbola (Ashewo To Re Mecca), Saheed Balogun, Shina Peters, 9ice, LKT, Weird MC, Tony Tetuila, Artquake, KWAM 1, Osupa Saheed etc. who are some of the popular faces that have identified with multiple award-winning governor in his quest to lead Osun state another four years.

Only yesterday, the governor was awarded “The Most Innovative Governor” Supporting Education in Nigeria. This was conferred on him in Osogbo by Zuriel Oduwole, the eleven year-old Nigerian girl who has made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed in Forbes and was quoted as one of the 100 most influential Africans.

OSUN DEFENDER

As this my article goes to press, the forces and individuals within the progressive fold in southwestern region of Nigeria that could (and in my opinion ought to) put a conservative political action in the field in time for the August, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun State, are already in motion: Caucusing, coalescing and laying careful plans for actions that will take place before, during and after the election day.
Though, it is not within the power of this writer as a patriotic Nigerian from the southwestern part of Nigeria, even if it were my place, to describe in details the probable sequence of events, or to describe the innermost thoughts or speculations of Nigeria’s leading progressive politicians and columnists in most leading Nigeria’s print media.  But the calendar and election laws in Nigeria impose certain inexorable requirements on the hopes and plans of men, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that might compromise with the hawks in the national ruling party (PDP), to rig the forthcoming election in Osun State.
To take care of the southwest, Prof. Femi Orebe, writing in his weekly column in The Nation of Sunday, May 18, 2014, stated that “Not only has the presidency assembled the usual political outcasts in the region, it has successfully breached what has hitherto an impregnable regional elders redoubt with the result that men you could count on a few years back have completely sold out”.
Mustering one-fifth of the south-west’s population and 30 percent of its natural resources, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s government in Osun is rapidly consolidating a new force, both moral and material, with which to raise the living standard and erect adaptations of the design of modern progress to their own distinct cultural environments. Whether one adheres to the concepts of southwestern Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) document or not, this is the direction of Osun State progress and thousand of Iyiola Omisores and Abdul-Jelili Adesiyans in combinations cannot stop it.
It is corrolary to the shift of the south-western economic frontiers, as the whole epicentre of former Western Region affairs rotate back towards the area it started, i.e. pre-Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration. In this situation, it becomes vital that our own country orient its policies in consonance with this basic evolutionary condition rather than pursue a course blind to the reality that the PDP era in Osun could be reinvented as Osun people now covet the right to shape their own destiny.  What they seek now is friendly guidance, understanding and support, not imperious direction; the dignity of equality, not the shame of subjugation.
Their pre-PDP government standard of life, pitifully low, and it could be infinitely lower if the devastation plan of the hawks in PDP is allowed to manifest, God forbid.  There are those who are possessed with satanic spirit and desperately determined to capture Osun by any means.  Nigerians know them, the people of Osun are vigilantly watching out for them.  The incidence that led to the brutal murder of Chief Bola Ige over a decade ago is still very fresh in the memories of most Nigerians.  The perpetrators of this heinous crime were allowed to get away freely to come back again and do their thing as they know best.  That is why the PDP hawks in south-western states, particularly in Osun and Ekiti states, are developing a new phenomenon of criminal intent, and anyone who does not understand it will not be able to understand the chaos that contemporary Yorubaland has become or the potential anarchy the PDP hawks, in collaboration with the Presidency, are threatening to bring to all of us again.
Nigeria will be absolutely in despair if Oduduwa Nation deserts it. But the thing is inconceivable. Osun is not going to desert it. The people of the southwest are not going to desert it. The job is to get that into the consciousness of men who do not understand it. The job is to restore some of our fellow citizens to that large sort of sanity which makes a man bigger than himself.
It has always been regarded as a blot on Yoruba political sophistication that the PDP hawks and retrogressive elements in Yorubaland be allowed to hold in unwilling bondage of the people in southwest; it has seemed to argue a lukewarmness in matter of socio-political order on the part of the national ruling party, and it has always been apparent that the people in the other five geo-political zones in Nigeria were more opposed to PDP political domination of Nigeria and consequently, more in sympathy with the opposition parties. State policy, begotten of national jealousy and national rivalry has always held the governments in check. The people, overlooking or despising reasons of state have seen only the injustice.  But for the jealousy of what has been called the national ruling power, there can be no doubt that PDP rule would long since have ceased to exist in the southwest of Nigeria.
For Ogbeni Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State, who is the architect of vibrant domestic policy of the state from year 2010 until this present moment, and, hopefully beyond, nothing would serve the state consolidation better than a long period of peace. Hence, Aregbesola deserves a second term to complete the good work he has begun.
To their own minds of course, the trio of Iyiola Omisore, Abduljelili Adesiyan and Musiliu Obanikoro, nursing the sentiment of revenge was the chief threat to the state and by extension, the stability of the southwest.  May be the enemies of progress within our midst should be reminded of the crisis tagged Operation Wetie, of which this writer, a septuagenarian who was an eye-witness at Mushin voters’ collation centre of election that was not to be in Mushin, and that which consequently triggered the crisis that engulfed the whole of Western Region as a result of the rigged election that took place on October 11, 1965, which led to the first coup of January 15, 1966.  I believe that Omisore and his co-hawks should learn from the lessons of the past and behave.
Ogbeni Aregbesola no doubt, is committed to a better, egalitarian society.  Although, he is fully anxious to build a society with massive physical infrastructure that promotes better living, believes first in pursuit of those human values that can pave the way for the emergence of that total man who is socially responsible.  Hence, his dogged pursuit of extra-curricular schemes such as the Calisthenics, Omoluabi Boys and Girls Club and other schemes aimed at re-orientating the youths to channel their energies towards a society where the promotion of the common, collective good will dominate the crazy pursuit of the good of the self.  He stirs the hornet’s nest often, usually in his determined attempts to break the norms to achieve extra-ordinary results.
To date, he has ignited debates on federalism, restructuring of education towards functionality, equity, justice and fairness in all spheres of life.  Even in the face of mounting criticisms, Aregbesola holds tenaciously to his ideas, convinced that opposition to them is a product of long years of military rule, ignorance of what is even good for humanity and the acute manipulative capacities of those whose interest it is to keep the ordinary people perpetually subjugated.
Engr. Shoyebo, an Author and Publisher wrote from Mushin – Lagos.
NATION

Osun State House of Assembly yesterday passed the bill seeking to extend the retirement age of academic staff and non-academic staff of the state-owned tertiary institutions from 60 to 65 years.

Sequel to a motion moved by the House Leader, Timothy Owoeye, shortly after the bill passed through the committee, whole and necessary amendment were made from clauses 1 to 4.

It would be recalled that both academic and non-academic staff of the state-owned institutions have been on strike since February, demanding extension of the retirement age among other agitations.

Addressing his colleagues, the Speaker, Najeem Salam, expressed optimism that the passage of the bill would resolve the crisis between staff of the tertiary institutions and the government.

“By the passage of this bill, I think we have resolved the issue of the retirement age that has been the bone of contention in our tertiary institutions. “I believe with this exercise that we have done, the teaching and nonteaching staff would return to work.

“If there is any other agitation, I think that can be resolved when they resume work, at least, for the sake of our children who have been at home and wasted time in their academic pursuit,” he said.

He added that the parliament ensured speedy passage of the bill because the administration of Rauf Aregbesola wanted schools to reopen as soon as possible.

NATIONAL MIRROR

Osun State Security Council has debunked the wide spread rumour of Boko Haram operations in the state. Rising from its meeting, which lasted for several hours on Wednesday, the council denied any terrorist operation that could be linked to Boko Haram in any part of the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maishanu, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, said: “What happened in Ile-Ife recently was a minor explosion and not a major one as reported by a section of the media.”

Other security chiefs at the briefing included the Director of State Security Services, Mr. Andrew, Commandant, Nigerian Army Engineering Construction Regiment, Ede, Brig General Gbenga Adeyemo and Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Muhammed Hussein.

Maishanu said the detachment of police that went to the spot of the explosion only found a banger and not a deadly explosive or bomb as was reported.

He said there was no threat to lives and property as Osun still remained one of the most peaceful states in the country.

He enjoined people in the state to go about their lawful activities without any hinderance.

THE SUN

We had barely driven past Ibadan when a call came in, informing that a bomb blast  had gone off in Ile-Ife, in the state of Osun. I was advised not to proceed, as one of my stops on this trip, the APC Governorship Osun Rally, could be a target of such a bomb blast.
I remained insistent it was an explosion which could have been caused by any other reason, but not a bomb blast…couldn’t be a bomb blast. There are no bomb blasts in Southern Nigeria. Nobody could be that dumb as to expose themselves as the real Boko Haram, not over a small state like Osun. I was very wrong.
In Ekiti, 2 people had been shot dead by security agents during the APC campaign following the elections. Nobody was brought to book. In Ekiti, somebody was inducing voters with food, nobody has been asked questions. In Ekiti, APC party chieftains were abducted, disenfranchised, and their followers subdued by the Nigerian Army, no one has been queried.
All of these shadow operations carried out to blur, the mission, and provide reasons and explanations to cover up the massive rigging in that state. Now that the Ekiti formular for masking rigging has proven successful, the plan is to up the anté in Osun. Why shoot 2 people when you can bomb an entire community? Why bribe with bags of rice when you can use plates of ‘amala’? Why abduct party chieftains using the Army, when you can assassinate them with a sniper squad?!
During my previous visit to Osun state, market women in a convoy headed to the Osun Rally in Iwo were ambushed and beaten up by thugs. This time, a convoy of Okada riders was crashed into by a bus loaded with thugs also attacked the riders with sticks and cutlasses for good measure.
I’m not a member of the APC, I would have done what I should do when visited with such madness. However, for the few members I know, I advised that they take precise and decisive action against the perpetrators of this “Capture The SouthWest” agenda. You don’t capture electorate, you win people over, and they give you their votes.
Eventually, we got to the grounds of the rally at Ibokun, but I couldn’t stay. A little bird told me that a lot of the people at those rallies are not members if the community where the rallies were being held, and since I was from Lagos, and am aware of convoys of market women and Okada riders heading to the rallies, I took that information seriously.
During this trip to Osun, my plan was to meet with the people of Ibokun, and seek their disposition towards the candidates vying for Governorship of Osun state.
At a barbershop, one man argued that the incumbent, Rauf Aregbesola, had not ‘sent things’ into the community. He claimed another party had sent inducements to those willing to support them, but ‘Ogbeni’ had not. He pledged his vote was for the current Governor, but wished that the Governor sent something, or at least prevented others parties from using such gimmicks.
The barber himself said he was a supporter of Governor Rauf, and would vote him for a second term. When I questioned the barber’s absence from the rally itself, he explained that the Governor would arrive much later, and so would he.
People were concerned about pictures of themselves or their shops and homes being taken during the interviews. A woman who sold me Seven Up said she didn’t want the state to go back to thugs who made them pay protection, and other illegal fees.
Another man who claimed to be a member of the PDP, and an indigene of Gbongan town asserted that his people never voted for Aregbesola the first term, but have now been humbled by the projects the man executed and commissioned in their town. He swore this time, that his town will vote Ogbeni ‘aggressively’!
An elderly woman who spoke in Yoruba was concerned about the security of the future generation. Seeing I was a visitor  to the state, she assured that this bombing thing was not of the Osun people, and that they would “ship Bola Ige’s killer back to his masters” before he kills more.
They still talk about Bola Ige in Osun, like it was only yesterday he was murdered in cold blood. They love the man, just as they love Awolowo, and they mince no words in calling out one of the governorship aspirants whom they point out as this killer.
I questioned the kids who were at the rally during school hours. They spoke so enthusiastically about the man who gave them the “Opon-Imo”, that I knew I wouldn’t be the one to chastise them for truancy.
In the state of Osun, it’s not difficult to know that even violence is not enough to sway the votes of the people. The thing about violence though, once applied, it is hard to let go. Those political tacticians who have chosen death and destruction as a tool of their own brand of democracy, should re-calculate their formular, and realize that it would take nothing short of a Nuclear bomb to defeat the people of Osun, and since they don’t have that yet, just let the people be.
Osun is a beautiful place, with very hardworking people; they farm, they fish, they hunt, they mine. They love good food, live music, and a decent relax. Let no one import these politics they used to ruin other states.
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