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

The Osun State Government had again announced an easy movement of people for the Christmas period with the 2013 Christmas/New Year free train ride.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Commerce Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment, Ismail Jayeoba-Alagbada, the free train  ride commenced Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Omoluabi train would convey people  from Lagos to Osogbo on December 24 and 28 from Osogbo back to Lagos at 10a.m. On the eve of the New Year, December  31 at 10a.m., the train would move people from Lagos to Osogbo and similarly from Osogbo to Lagos on January 5, 2014, by 10a.m.
Alagbada said the gesture by the state government would facilitate smooth and hitch-free transportation for people coming to the state during the yuletide. ‘The gesture by the Rauf Aregbesola-led government to people willing to come home during Christmas and New Year, is aimed at easing their travelling during the hectic period.
‘The free train ride which started in 2011, has become a regular gesture to both Christians and Muslims during festival periods. “With this arrangement, the state government has since put an end to problems normally encountered by commuters during these periods.
“Government therefore enjoins people from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States to seize the free train opportunity offered by the Aregbesola administration to come and celebrate Christmas and New Year in Osun State with their relatives,” the commissioner said
The government’s gesture had been acknowledged as part of the factors that have restored Nigerians’ hope in the viability of the train as a more economically better option for Nigerians.
THIS DAY

Osun State government is to adopt new approach to rural water supply and sanitation management to sustain proper hygiene in the state.
This was the submission of delegation of the state led by Special Adviser to governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Adekunle Ige to AFDB study programme in Ethiopia.
The team who included the state Head of Service, Mr Sunday Olayinka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Communities Affairs, Lere Oriolowo and Programme Manager, Osun State Rural Water Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA), Alhaji Bulaymen Posi, maintained that the study programme would go a long way in fast-tracking effective and efficient service delivery in the area of water supply and management.
Briefing newsmen in Osogbo on the study programme, the RUWESA Programme Manager, Alhaji Posi  said the tour had intimated the agency with the best practices on how to implement and sustain rural water supply and sanitation in the state.
Posi, who advocated setting up of maintenance committees in each community that benefited from the agency water scheme, noted that the committees would be in charge of monitoring, valuation and maintenance, as well as management.
While maintaing that the agency would not rest on its oars in the task of promoting open defecation-free communities, the programme manager explained that the agency would also employ community-based methodology approach to curtail the act.
He called on stakeholders in the sector to use the exchange programme to leverage on the existing policies in the sector to improve the standard of living of Osun citizenry.
He lauded the state government for its commitment towards provision of potable water to rural dwellers to enhance their economic status.
Among other management team of RUWESA who were part of the team included  Ademola Adebayo, Moyinoluwa  James and Mrs  Adenike Oladimeji, among others.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday inaugurated the state government assisted mass transit buses with 70 brand new buses distributed to members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers.

Photos of the Governor and some dignitaries at the Christmas Carol Cantata 2013 organised by the State Government in conjunction with CAN Osun Chapter, at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun

From left, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Osun Chapter, Reverend Elisha Ogundiya; Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat and Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, during
the Christmas Carol Cantata 2013 organised by the State Government in
conjunction with CAN Osun Chapter, at Government House, Osogbo, State
of Osun

From left, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Osun Chapter, Reverend Elisha Ogundiya; Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Wife, Sherifat, during the Christmas Carol Cantata 2013 organised by the
State Government in conjunction with CAN Osun Chapter, at Government
House, Osogbo, State of Osun

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman, Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) Osun Chapter, Reverend Elisha Ogundiya, during the Christmas Carol Cantata 2013 organised by the State Government in conjunction with CAN Osun Chapter, at Government House, Osogbo, State
of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and Chairman,
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Osun Chapter, Reverend Elisha
Ogundiya (left) at the Christmas Carol Cantata 2013 organised by the
State Government in conjunction with CAN Osun Chapter, at Government
House, Osogbo, State of Osun

As christians world over celebrate the birth of Christ today, The Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has harped on the need for the spirit of love, tolerance and accommodation to be revived among all and allowed to reign supreme.
He made this known last night in Osogbo at the 2013 Christmas Carol Cantata held on the lawn of the government house,  Oke-Fia Osogbo.It was an avenue for Governor Aregbesola, his wife, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, Dep Gov, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori alongside other State Executive members and the Christian body in the State to share the fun of the season together.
Gov Rauf Aregbesola’s remark to the gathering was anchored on love for God and one’s neighbor as thyself.The gov who read from the book of Matt. 22:35-46 frowned at all acts amounting to discrimination and hatred among people and stressed the need for all to sacrifice ego, eschew bitterness and cover all with love.
Gov. Aregbesola used the avenue to again justify his government’s investment and commitment to education saying his effort is to build a system where every child is given the hope of a brighter future through quality education.With a reference to the successes of O-Meal, O-uniform, O-school project, Opon-Imo among other policies, the governor vowed to forge ahead in his effort noting that in 24months from now, education in Osun would have become a model for the nation.
He called for continued understanding and co-operation ,and assured that by February, every public school student in the state would have been given personal identity cards which will contain necessary information about them. The sermon for 2013 Xmas Carol Cantata was given by Arch. Bishop Leke Abegunrin who frowned at the level of moral decadence among public school students.He urged people to steer clear of repaying evil with evil but embracing forgiveness, reconciliation and repentance in the spirit of the season.
The carol featured readings of various portions of the Bible by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, the State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo who was represented by Justice Yinka Afolabi among several others. Prayers were also said for the Govt, the people of the State of Osun and the nation while various choir groups from all blocks of CAN took turns to offer various tunes all in the spirit of the season, Christmas, which marks the celebration of the birth of christ.