Osun State Government says it is working towards improving the level of voluntary compliance of people on tax payment and ensuring immediate and sustainable growth of the revenue base of the state.
 

 
Acting Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, Dayo Oyebanji, said this when the task force embarked on a road show to major markets and shops in Osogbo, the state capital.
This is to sensitise the people on the need to pay for their business premises and other taxes.

The OIRS boss said aside from generating revenue into the government’s purse, it would also enable the government to have adequate planning data which would enhance even development in all parts of the state.

Oyebanji added that the agency has been receiving positive response especially from people in the informal sector, saying defaulters would be made to face the full weight of the law.

The Coordinating Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Empowerment, Abimbola Oso, said the move would complement development programmes embarked upon by the state government towards making life more comfortable for the people.
He enjoined shop owners, market men and women and artisans to register with the ministry, pointing out that billing will be based on the sizes of their premises.

The government of the state of Osun has called for qualified medical doctors to apply for openings in the state civil service to replace medical personnel who abandoned their duty post five month ago.
 

 
The government through a statement released by the Head of Service, signed by the Permanent secretary, Festus Olajide, the state stated that, “On Wednesday, 10th February, 2016, the State Government of Osun appointed, in public interest, new Medical Doctors to replace serving Medical Doctors who walked out of their various posts in
the State’s Public Service unilaterally on their own volition since Monday, 28th September 2015.
“However, other eligible Medical Doctors are encouraged to apply as vacancies still exist for various positions in the Medical Officer cadre of the State of Osun Public Service.”
The government in the advert seen by Osun Defender stated that “the State Government of Osun hereby requests for applications for employment from suitably qualified candidates both in Nigeria and the Diaspora for the under-listed
vacant position in its Public Services: Medical Officer, Grade lever 12 (CONMESS II)”

The state government however stated that Medical Doctors, including those who were formerly in the employment of the State of Osun Public Service, who are still willing to take up appointments in the State of Osun Public Service are hereby enjoined to call at the State Hospitals’ Management Board for employment forms for processing.
Osun Defender learnt that interested Medical Doctors who are in the Diaspora are to send their application  torecruitment.osun@gmail.com.
Click Here To Find Out How To Apply

The Government of Osun yesterday described as a cock and bull tale, allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party that the Rauf Aregbesola administration was planning to replace doctors who had abandoned their duty posts with native doctors.
 

 
The government expressed pity for what it called the irredeemable abyss that the Peoples Democratic Party had sunk into as demonstrated by the lack of substance and hollowness that characterise its criticisms of the Aregbesola administration.
In a statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, the government said in an attempt to play the crucial role of opposition, PDP had exposed itself as a political party peopled with characters, who sufferred from ‘crass ignorance’ and ‘chronic intellectual deficiency.’
The statement endorsed by the Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said that the allegation that the government intended to sack some striking doctors and replace them with traditional healers (herbalists) could only be a figment of an inelegant and unrefined minds that could only be found within the rank of PDP.
He argued that PDP’s criticism must be misplaced when put side by side with the performance of the state in the health sector as second to Lagos in the provision of sound primary health care delivery in the whole country.
But the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, insisted that the government had concluded plan to sack another 3,000 workers through a sinister mechanism. It specifically condemned Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s request, asking workers in the state to submit their Bank Verification Number (BVN) or forfeit their salary.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has commended what he called the gallantry of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command in thwarting armed robbers’ attempt to rob banks in Ikirun recently.
 

 
Oba Akanbi also lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his foresight in considering security as the first major thing to put in place ahead of everything, adding that if not for the adequate provisions that had been made for the police by the Aregbesola administration, the attempted robbery would have been successful.
 
The monarch made the commendation in a statement signed by the spokesperson for his palace,  Prince Dauda Abimbola.
 
According to him, without adequate security, investments whether local or foreign, would remain a mirage.
 
“There is no doubt that Osun is impregnable to criminals and this is commendable. This can easily be attributed to the foresight of Governor Aregbesola in considering security most paramount. I am aware of the state’s heavy investment in security equipment.
 
“I am aware of about 25 highly sophisticated Armoured Personnel Carriers which have been provided for the police which are found on our roads in Osun. I am also aware of the many patrol vans available for security agents. Everywhere you go, there is a sense of security because you see highly motivated men and women of the Nigeria Police.
 
“What happened in our state on that fateful Friday was yet another test case of the preparedness of our security agencies to combat crime. We must congratulate the government for this and we most salute the gallantry of the officers, who showed confidence and prevented the men from their evil plot,” the Oluwo remarked.
 
Oluwo, however, urged government and the police not to relent, adding that criminals of today always employ new tactics to overwhelm their victims.
 
He added: “I want to urge the government and the police to intensify efforts in the area of security. Our attempt to promote our culture through tourism will be a mirage if visitors feel unsafe. I also urge residents of the state to be vigilant while cooperating with the law enforcement agencies in their efforts to make Osun uncomfortable for criminals.”

Secretary, Ilesa East Local Government Council, Honourable Lanre Balogun, has called on security officials in Ilesa to emulate the gallantry of the security operatives at Ikirun, who, last week, successfully arrested some robbers who attacked banks in the area. Balogun stated that the brave security operatives successfully “countered the armed robbers and disallowed them from perpetrating evil in the area.”

 

 
Balogun stated this while speaking against the backdrop of recent armed robbery attack in Ikirun, when bandits attacked two major banks in Ikirun, Osun State.
The council boss also commended the gallantry of the police, most especially, the DPO of Iragbiji, who strategically manned a security bullet proof tank to counter the armed robbers during the attack at Ikirun, which aided the arrest of four of the bandits and disallowed them from carting away the sum of N7.5milion looted from the banks.
While calling on the leadership of the police in the country to recognise the efforts of the DPO, he also commended Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, for providing adequate security outfits for the people in Osun State and maintained that, he would also commence a campaign to “sensitise people on the need for adequate security in their respective homes, offices and market places within Ilesa East Local Government Area.”

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State, has described the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that his administration was poised to sack striking doctors in the state’s employ and replace them with herbalists, also known as native doctors.
 

The governor stated this on Monday, February 22, 2016, while expressing disgust over the condition of the opposition party in the state, which, according to him, is shallow and lacks the substance required in a political party.
Governor Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in a long-drawn battle with the PDP over his policies and administration of the state, with the PDP using every opportunity to ridicule his decisions as governor.

Doctors at the state level in Osun State have been on strike for many months now, demanding for the immediate payment of salaries and entitlements.
The governor’s remarks were contained in a statement endorsed by Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor.
He said that the allegation that the government intended to sack some striking doctors and replace them with tradition healers (herbalists) could only be a figment of the inelegant and unrefined minds that could only be found within the ranks of the PDP.
“Weird is the logic of PDP and nothing can change the illogical reasoning of people whose illogical ways brought Nigeria to her present predicament.

“Because of those who abandoned their jobs as a result of seemingly irreconcilable terms, the government has left no one in doubt on its efforts to deploy doctors from the state Ministry of Health, doctors in the security agencies in the state to compliment the consultants and local government doctors who are working,” he said.
Okanlawon, while countering the main opposition party in Osun State, claimed that the party, while it led the country at the national level, brought economic hardship upon Nigeria through its mismanagement.
He said it was a waste of time not to ignore the PDP and the flimsy accusations it frequently peddles against the governor.

Some civil servants in Osun State have flayed the state government for demanding for their Bank Verification Numbers, alongside other information which the government requested them to submit before Wednesday.
 
 

 
Some of the workers at the state Civil Service Secretariat argued that the BVN was their personal number and should not be disclosed to anybody.
Some of the workers said they would not submit the BVN because they believed the numbers were not necessary for the exercise.
In a circular issued from the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Finance on Monday,the ministry asked civil servants in the state to fill a form indicating their names, Chams Identity card number, BVN and bank accounts. The BVN is one of the information marked as mandatory on the form.
The circular, with reference number AD/2/405/19 and dated February 18, 2016 pasted at the Ministry of Women Affairs, was entitled, “Re: Cleaning of payrolls of state and local governments’ workers in the State of Osun.”

The circular read, “Further to the circular letter with reference number AD/2/405/7 dated 7th September, 2015 on the above subject matter, I am directed to request every member of staff of your ministry/ department/ agency to complete the format below which should be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance not later than Wednesday, 24th February, 2016.”

The Osun State government has directed workers to provide “necessary information about themselves to prove that they are genuine”. A  circular by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of  Finance, directed civil servants to fill the form, stating their name, ministry or agency, CHAMS Staff I.D. number, phone number, name of bank and a print out of…”

 
The Osun State government has directed workers to provide “necessary information about themselves to prove that they are genuine”.
A  circular by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of  Finance, directed civil servants to fill the form, stating their name, ministry or agency, CHAMS Staff I.D. number, phone number, name of bank and a print out of their Bank Verification Number (BVN)
The circular also stated that all completed forms should be forwarded to the ministry not later than Wednesday.
The circular added:  “Returns from local governments should be collated on local government basis by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural and Community Affairs.
“Returns from all tertiary institutions should be collated by the Office of Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology.

The statement said all completed forms are to be submitted with a cover letter  endorsed by the Accounting Officer of each ministry or agency and should be addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Osogbo.

The governor, state of Osun was recently in Boripe LGA of the state to commission medical equipment worth over 50 million Naira.
Here is the event as captured through my lens.

Ogbeni Aregbesola is warmly received by the people of Boripe LGA.

This Nurse replicates the governor’s signature salute and her smile tell the story of the day

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola shakes hands with the Oba of Iragbiji

“Arise O’ Compatriots” Governor Aregbesola and other dignitaries rise in honor of the nation anthem

A time of pray for the state of Osun and the country at large

Ogbeni Aregbesola in conversation with the Oba of Iragbiji

Some of the medical equipment on display for commissioning

Medical service delivery is about to get a lot better and easier for these medical workers

wheelchairs and crutches were also part of the equipment commissioned at the event

It was all smiles for the medical staff of Boripe LGA.

The women of Bopire LGA showed their appreciation to governor Aregbesola, singing his praises.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took time to acknowledged the women before delivering his speech on the day

Osun’s got talent: Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti showing off his dance moves.

Who the cap fits, let him wear it

The O’Meal contingent were not to be outdone on the day.

“Agriculture is the way forward” Ogbeni pointed out on the day

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting wheelchairs the physically challenged persons in Boripe LGA

Heading back to the office, Governor Rauf Aregbesola gives one final salute.

The Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) on Wednesday announced the sealing of the offices of telecommunication firm, Globacom, in the state for not effecting the payment of outstanding taxes and other levies in respect of mast/ base station and laying of fibre optics.
The state said the charges became “due and payable to the Osun State Government arising from back- Duty-Investigation-Exercise”.
 

 
This Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Dayo Oyebanji, said the action became necessary following Globacom’s non-compliance in ensuring remittance of all outstanding taxes due to the State.
“The distrain action is in line with the provision of Section 104 of the personal Income Tax Act 2004 LFN (as amended in 2011) and will not be reopened for business until all full compliance is attained,” Mr. Oyebanji said.
He said several meetings were held with the company’s representatives in the past three years to resolve the issue, but that the company failed to comply.
The latest meetings, he said, were held October 8 and November 13, 2015, adding that the company’s representatives reneged on their promise to facilitate payment.
Mr. Oyebanji said the Osun State House of Assembly also intervened in the matter by inviting Globacom to appear before its special session on December 3, 2015.

 

He said representatives of the company appeared before the House on that day, the promises they made to remit the outstanding tax liabilities within two weeks were yet to be kept.
Mr. Oyebanji added, “Another important issue is the failure to obtain relevant approval for laying of fibre optics in line with the State’s relevant regulation on physical and urban planning. He emphasized that in the last few months, it has been discovered that GLO has been laying cables and masts especially in Ife Axis without obtaining necessary approval and thus violating the law.
“OIRS has intensified its efforts on advocacy, publicity and enlightenment programmes on the statutory obligations of the citizenry for voluntary compliance by paying their taxes promptly as prescribed in the Nigeria constitution and the applicable tax legislations.
“In spite of its efforts, some corporate organizations and individuals still engage in several violations. As a result of this, OIRS is set to begin enforcement of tax payment, prosecution of all tax defaulters in the State of Osun to ensure that the defaulters are made to face the full scale of the law.
“Personal Income Tax Act mandates all taxable institutions to file its annual tax return for the preceding year at the expiration of 90 days from the commencement of every year of assessment, a taxable person or corporate organizations who fails to file its returns with OIRS by the stipulated date is in breach of the provisions of the law.”
He, however, thanked those who had continued to express their unalloyed support to the State through their regular tax payment. He assured members of the public that the state government remained committed to building a vibrant economy aimed at boosting commerce, industry and improving the welfare of the citizenry which he said could only be achieved through prompt tax payments.
He said the OIRS would “not hesitate to take legal action against recalcitrant individuals or corporate organizations that fail to perform their civic responsibility to the State government in the area of tax payment”.