Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Chief Executive Officer MEI Group of Companies Mike Enyinnnaya with others, during a dinner party organised by the Law Students of the University of Lagos, at Eko Hotel Lagos State recently

Head, Department of Commercial & Industrial Law, Prof. Joseph Abugu presenting Prestigious Award in Infrastructure Development and Management of Economy to Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during a dinner party organised by the Law Students of the University of Lagos, at Eko Hotel Lagos State recently

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left),former Anthony General of the Federation,Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi (right) and Chief Executive Officer MEI Group of Companies Mike Enyinnnaya, during a dinner party organised by the Law Students of the University of Lagos, at Eko Hotel Lagos State recently Law Student Dinner UNLAG 3

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Chief Executive Officer MEI Group of Companies Mike Enyinnnaya (right) and former Chairman of Badagiri local Government, Mr. Moses Dosu, during a dinner party organised by the Law Students of the University of Lagos, at Eko Hotel Lagos State recently

I welcome you all to this important and epochal event in the annals of our state, the inauguration of the committee of government and labour on the apportionment of net revenue accruing from the Federation Accounts and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the State Government of Osun to take care of salaries, pensions and other critical expenditure of government.

As we are all aware, a financial tsunami swept through the federation, beginning from July 2013 and ravaged the entire country until the exit of that anti-people ancien regime. This crippled the finances of the states and the Federal Government, making the payment of even salaries very difficult. What many do not realise was that the governmental system of the whole country was under mortal threat, and not only Osun. It might interest us to know that the government of Goodluck Jonathan, according to his Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had to borrow N476 billion from commercial banks to be able to pay salaries in the last four months of the administration.

Thank God for His mercies. If God had not heard our prayers and came to our rescue with the election of President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire Nigerian government at all levels was dangerously racing towards bankruptcy. This should not surprise anyone. The then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (now the Emir of Kano) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had alleged that over $40 billion oil sales was not remitted into the Federation Accounts. That was when oil was selling for over $100 per barrel. This tragedy was compounded with the eventual fall in oil price to circa $40. We now know where the money went.

But our predicament began in July 2013 when our Statutory Allocation from the Federation Accounts took a nosedive from N4.6 billion to N2.6 billion. Before then, the monthly expenditure we inherited was N1.4 billion salaries and N200 million pensions, making a total of N1.6 billion every month. However, with 100 per cent increase in minimum wage, relativity and addition of 8,500 retirees to the pensions roll at the state and local government, our monthly emoluments rose to N3.6 billion, including a monthly pension bill of N520 million. Our finances therefore took a jolt when our statutory allocation fell in 2013 and continued in a freefall which got to the nadir of N466 million in April this year.

The change in government gave us a reprieve, with the magical disappearance of oil money being gradually stemmed and a small lift in oil price, making it to hover around $45; our monthly allocation has steadied around N2.2 billion. The President has also graciously arranged a bailout of N34.9 billion for us. Although this has helped us to be able to pay salaries up to July this year, it is a far cry from the N88 billion we demanded. That amount would have enabled us to offset all outstanding indebtedness on emoluments and other obligations.

We have opened all our books; we have been honest and transparent on our financial status and we have not held anything back. We have run an open government. Nevertheless, I want you all to know that in spite of the reprieve we got, we are not yet out of the woods. The challenges ahead are still enormous. By this I do not mean our obligations on salaries and pensions; that will be a small minded understanding of government. For the government to function effectively, it must not just pay salaries, it must also empower the workers to do their work (which is the overhead cost) and more importantly, it must constantly be conscious that its raison d’etre is the delivery of public good through the provision of social services; and it is for this reason that workers are hired in the first place.

When we therefore look at the responsibility of government through this whole gamut, we must rise beyond the sterile debate of reducing government finances to just paying salaries.

In light of this, it must be clear that we are in a tough time. Even then, as Robert Schuler once wrote, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do’. The time calls for toughness on our part. We must look critically at the next 24 months, steer the ship of state through this stormy weather and land at a safe harbour.

On the part of our workers, we must be prepared for a more efficient service rendering. We must change the attitude from government job being seen as social security to a profitable venture; not venture for financial gain but business for social service. We must be business minded. The positive impact of every agency of government must be felt in its own area of assignment and responsibility. In education, your products must be found to be worthy in learning and character. In healthcare, your work must be reflected in a healthy citizenry. In agriculture, it must be in undisputable food security and banishment of hunger. There must be real works to show for public works. The time has come for us to start measuring performance.

We must also do away with a bloated workforce, eliminate laziness and redundancy, block all avenues for embezzlement and leakages and make government work.

We are entering into a period of adjustment, where we must get much from little and achieve more with less. We must rise to the challenge of the time. It is a call to duty and a clarion call to action. If we are not prepared for the challenge, we are going to be worse off than we are now in two years. But God forbid!

From all of us, we must recognise and reconcile to the need to pay our tax. Paying tax is the first obligation of citizens to the government. I have been making the point long before we had the financial challenge that every government must be run from the tax generated from the people. From our own taxes, we should be able to pay salaries, run government and develop the state. The allocation we receive from Abuja should be a sort of legacy fund tied to specific legacy projects. There is nowhere in the world where government is successfully run without the citizens paying tax regularly and responsibly.

We are calling also on the Diaspora to join hands in the development of our state. They can be part of our efforts at education, through the soon to be established education trust fund. In spite of our efforts, there are a lot still to be done in education, in order to secure the future of our children and create a well-informed society.

Comrade Hassan Sunmonu has graciously accepted to head the committee being inaugurated today. He is a man of integrity, wisdom and uncommon passion for people. I have no doubt that with other distinguished members of the committee, the task on hand will be met with a resounding success.

I congratulate members of the committee and wish you success in the service of the people. I thank also all the workers in the state for their understanding, forbearance and unalloyed support through these times.

*Being the full text of speech delivered by the Governor of Osun at the inauguration of the Hassan Sunmonu-led Standing Committee of Labour/Government in Osogbo on Friday, October 9, 2015.

Pictures of the South West Zonal Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Otunba Femi Arowosola; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran;Osun State Chairman of CPRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mrs Adeyemi Kalafite and others, after a meeting, during a recent familiarization tour by the IG at Osogbo, the State capital of Osun

South West Zonal Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Otunba Femi Arowosola; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran;Osun State Chairman of CPRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mrs Adeyemi Kalafite and others, after a meeting, during a recent familiarization tour by the IG at Osogbo, the State capital of Osun

From left, Police Commissioner, Osun State Command, Mr. Kola Sodipo; South West Zonal Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Otunba Femi Arowosola; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase; the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran;Osun State Chairman of CPRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mrs Adeyemi Kalafite and others, after a meeting, during a recent familiarization tour by the IG at Osogbo, the State capital of Osun

The State Government of Osun on Sunday formally responded to the Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka over his decision to resign as the chairman of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo.

In a response personally signed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the government stated that public interest is supreme in all matters.

The Governor called on people of goodwill in Nigeria and beyond to prevail on the highly reverred Nobel Laureate; Prof. Wole Soyinka, not to go ahead with his decision to resign saying that in the interest of the public and the culture of our race to which Soyinka is passionately committed, he must continue in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre.

“Yes, Wole Soyinka has resigned but he himself has conceeded the fact that the Governor must accept it”.

“We cannot accept the resignation even though we hold him in the highest of esteem, because of the responsibilities attached to his chairmanship of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding which is beyond him and even beyond us.

“It has to do with the culture and tradition of our race which we believe that the CBCIU is meant to preserve and promote.”

“We call on all people of goodwill to prevail on Prof. Wole Soyinka an international personage of Culture, in the interest of our race, not to go ahead with his decision to resign.”

The government stated that though the former chairman of the Centre had the vision to build the centre in his capacity then as the Governor of the state, he cannot be the chairman of the Centre in perpetuity as stipulated by the Law establishing the Centre.

The statement noted, “The issue here is not difficult at all. The issue is that for whatever reason, a former governor of our state who had the vision of building that centre was misdirected to believe that he could be the perpetual chairman of the Board of Trustees, a situation that contradicts the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on any public institution.

“There is no way the constitution will permit any individual to, in his individual capacity, head at that level, public institutions in perpetuity. It is not done. It offends the constitution. No matter how powerful you may be, no individual can put himself in perpetual role in a public institution.”

The statement added that the Law which vested that perpetual chairmanship in the former Governor has been amended.

It said, “The law which vested the perpetual chairmanship of the Centre on the former Governor has been amended through the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (Amendment) Law 2012.

“Wherever the public interest is, personal interest suffers, diminishes or does not exist at all. The public interest prevails.”

“To that extent, as far at the CBCIU is concerned, the obnoxious section which gives the perpetual chairmanship of the Board of Trustees to any individual is no longer there. It is null and void and cannot be the point of reference for anybody. Whoever therefore still sees himself in that light is not in any way acting on the legal instrument today in force on that centre.”

The Government said Soyinka’s chairmanship of the Centre is part of a larger responsibility to drive the building of a new heritage centre in the state.

It stated, “His chairmanship of the Centre is a precursor to a higher responsibility of helping us superintend the building of Yoruba World Heritage Centre in Ile Ife which we call the New Ife. This centre is conceived to exhibit Yoruba heritage 500 years before our contact with the Europeans, the experience since that contact to date and the projection of what will be in the next 500 years.”

“The issue of UNESCO and National Commission for  Museum and Monument that still see the former Chairman of the Centre  in that capacity is beyond our own purview.

“The legal position today is that our centre which is here in Osogbo is an establishment by law and the law that establishes it is clear on the structure of management and control. We believe that this has removed all the controversies on this matter.”

The Government also advised the media to always cross-check facts and details of all matters and issues before any report so as to avoid a situation of misinformation that has led to the highly unfortunate situation of our highly revered Nobel  Laureate taking a hard decision to resign.

“Once again, we call on all people of goodwill to prevail on Prof Wole Soyinka to kindly reconsider  his position and avail us his world acclaimed Knowledge, intellect, international network and commitment to black  culture and civilisation,  it concluded.  

IN furtherance of the United Nations campaign for eco-friendly sources of energy, the Bank of Industry (Bol) at the weekend took the lead with the commissioning of 24 kilo watts of micro-grid so­lar solution in two communities in Osun State.
With this initiative, Osun State has be­come the first State to benefit from Bol’s intervention in the provision of renew­able energy in South West Nigeria.
Managing Director of Bol, Mr. Ra­sheed Olaoluwa disclosed this at the commissioning of the project in Idi-Ata and Onibambu communities in Osun State. Olaoluwa lamented that the 4,500 electricity generated from the national grid was grossly inadequate for a lead­ing African economy like Nigeria with a population of 170 million people, hence the intervention of Bol and the United nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Worst him from the inadequate na­tional grid supply according to Olaoluwa are the rural communities, especially the off-grid areas which have always been without electricity and have resigned their fate to the use of kerosene lanterns, oil lamps, and other types of dangerous and unhealthy sources of light to be able to live their daily lives.
He argued that the situation remained one of the main factors responsible for the concept of rural-urban migration.
The Bol boss disclosed that the bank is starting off with the provision of long-term financing for the installation of off-grid solar home systems in six commu­nities in a pilot phase, as part of its Solar Energy Partnership with UNIDO.
‘‘These communities, with an aver­age of 200 homes each, are located in Anambra, Edo, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger and Osun States. Today, we have come to Osun State in partnership with Arner­gy Solar Limited to commission a 24kw micro-grid solar electrification system in Idi-ita/Onibambu, a community which hitherto had no access to electricity,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, urged the leader of the two communities to judiciously protect the installation and en­sure that payments are promptly made for energy consumed so that the scheme can be self-sustaining thus encouraging the investor to replicate such in other lo­cations within the State.
Aregbesola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Moshood Adeoti said ‘‘As a respon­sible Government, I want the Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs to carry out due diligence on the issue of appropri­ate pricing and adequate supply to each household. This is to ensure consumer protection against exploitation,’’ he stressed.
In his address,Chief Executive Officer of Arnergy, Mr.Femi Adeyemo,said the application of technology for industrial­ization is key to enthroning sustainable economic growth and development.
He explained that the firms distrib­uted off-grid solar rural electrification is orchestrated to help reduce the wide gap/deficit in the energy sector in the country.
LEADERSHIP

Photos of the Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, presenting a plaque to the Managing Director, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Air Commodor Emmanuel Eze during a courtesy visit to the Governor towards the completion of the MKO International Airport in his office, Abere, Osogbo

Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, presenting plaque to the Managing Director, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Air Commodor Emmanuel Eze. With them is the Wing Commander Ridwan Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the Governor towards the completion of the MKO International Airport in his office, Abere, Osogbo

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Managing Director, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Air Commodor Emmanuel Eze (3rd right); Osun Aiport Project Engineer, Engr. Aminu Suleiman; Wing Commander Ridwan Abdullahi (2nd left); Warrant Officer, Sulman Tosho (right); and Warrant Officer, Abdullahi Tukur, during a courtesy visit to the Governor towards the completion of the MKO International Airport in his office, Abere, Osogbo

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Managing Director, Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Air Commodor Emmanuel Eze (6th right); Osun Aiport Project Engineer, Engr.Aminu Suleiman (4th right); Wing Commander Ridwan Abdullahi (4th left); Warrant Officer, Sulman Tosho (2nd right); Warrant Officer, Abdullahi Tukur (3rd right), State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye (5th right) and others, during a courtesy visit to the Governor towards the completion of the MKO International Airport in his office, Abere, Osogbo

The Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, the company handling the MKO Abiola International Airport, Air Commodore Hyacinth Eze has assured that the airport in Osun will be ready for operations in the next eight months.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Air Force-owned company stated this on Wednesday evening when he led the team of engineers handling the project to the governor in Osogbo.‎ The‎ airport at Ido-Osun in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state when completed will be a cargo and aircraft maintenance hub.‎

The Airport will be the first to have hanger for the maintenance of different types of aircraft and helicopters in West African sub-region. He said that the delay in completion of the project was caused by a little hitch, which has now been overcome.
Eze assured that work will be fast on the project site so as to meet the tentative target of eight months being proposed for full commencement of operation of the airport.
According to Eze, “Our company has two on-going projects in the state, one, which is the most important of the projects is the airport named MKO Abiola International Airport.
“It is a project that we started and we have little hitch along the line but today, I am happy to inform you that this project is being revived.
“We have gone up to seventy percent of the work and in another eight months we are hoping that this project will be completed and handed over to the state of Osun.
“In eight months time, we will have a full operational international airport in Osun”.

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with the President General, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo and also the Former Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Gbenga Akano at the courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); President General, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo (2nd right), Former Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Gbenga Akano (left) and Director of Mobilization, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mr. Lanre Opadoyin, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); President General, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo (6th right), Former Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Gbenga Akano (6th left), Director of Administration, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mr. Niyi Aluko (5th left), State Women Coordinator, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mrs. Olokungboye Temilade (4th left), Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Mr. Bola Ilori (5th right), Director of Mobilization, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mr. Lanre Opadoyin (4th right) and others, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); President General, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo (5TH right), Former Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Gbenga Akano (5th left), Director of Administration, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mr. Niyi Aluko (4th left), Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Mr. Bola Ilori (4th right), Director of Finance, Oranmiyan Worldwide, Mr. Toyin Orungbe (3rd right) and others, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

Phillips Consulting held its Inaugural Edition of the Web Jurist Awards for Outstanding Public Sector Websites in Nigeria on Tuesday 29th September in Abuja and the state of Osun’s website bagged the much coveted award for ‘Best Web Content’, standing out for its relevance and currency of content.
This award again reiterates the focus of the Government of the State on transparency and communication. The website which showcases the various projects being carried out by the state also has daily news on the State’s projects and events, ensuring everyone is carried along on every aspect of governance.
 
The governor has continuously expressed his commitment to the use of technology and leading the pack at this year’s inaugural web jurist awards is another endorsement of this relentless endeavour.
To check out the website, please visit www.osun.gov.ng.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday gave out statistics which show clearly that students’ performances in public examinations under his administration have confirmed remarkable improvements in the quality of education in the state.

The Governor described as unfounded the allegation of detractors that the performance of pupils has gone down under his watch.

Speaking at the World Teachers Day in Osogbo, the Governor said a remarkable 61 % improvement has been recorded.

He said, “In 2007, government put forward 36,171 for WAEC examination out of which 2,483 representing 6.86 per cent had credit pass in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.  In 2008, it was 37,715 candidates with 3,813 pass, 10.11 percent, in 2009 it was 39,676 candidates, with 5,545 pass, representing 13.98 per cent. In 2010 it was 43,216 candidates, with 6,777 pass,15.68 per cent. These four years gave us an average of 15.68 per cent.

“However, our administration started sponsoring candidates in 2011, we fielded 53,293 candidates, had 11672 pass, representing 21.98 per cent. In 2012, we fielded 51,463 out of which 11,431 passed, representing 22.21 per cent. In 2013, we also fielded 47,013 candidates, recorded 9,301 pass, representing 19.78 per cent. The average performance for our first three years was 21.32 per cent.

“Compared with the average performance (13.26 per cent) of the three years that preceded us, the percentage improvement in performance during our tenure is a whopping 61 per cent. You can’t fight with figures”. Aregbesola emphasised.

The Governor assured all that his administration will complete all projects it has started in the state including that of the construction of one hundred and seventy new state-of-the-art schools.

In his speech titled “Empowering Teachers, building sustainable society” at the 2015 World Teachers, Aregbesola noted that it is the dream and aspiration of the present administration in the state to turn around education saying, education has been accorded prime importance by his government right from inception.

He pointed out that his administration before the present cash crunch in the country, had scored ‎several firsts in the education sector, with novel ideas that have positively revolutionised the sector in the state.

Aregbesola added that the lasting legacy that his administration is particular about is the building of an enhanced environment of learning.

He stressed that his administration has come to the realisation that school environment largely determine the quality and character of students produced hence the concentration on the provision of such environment.

According to him, “before the present cash crunch, our administration increased the running cost on students. Against the paltry N200 paid by the last administration, we now pay N400 on pupils in Elementary Schools and N500 for those in the Higher Schools and there was timely and adequate supply of modern instructional and learning materials to all our schools.

“Our free school meal programme takes care of about 254,000 pupils in the Elementary Schools. We also gave out two pairs of new school uniforms to all pupils and students in our public schools. We came up with a novel idea, the e-learning tablet, Opon Imo.

“We are building state of the art 100 elementary schools, 50 middle and 20 high schools. 14 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed. Work is ongoing on the rest and they are at different stages of completion. It is our sincere hope that we shall complete them before the end of our tenure.

“We are already having the results. The badly behaved pupils in dilapidated and run down schools are now well behaved when transferred to the new, beautiful schools that give them pride and enhanced personality”. The governor told the teachers.

‎He however added that result of students have not been satisfactory to him, but there has been a significant improvement arising from government efforts.

Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Wakeel Alade Amuda appreciated the governor for his various welfare packages for teachers‎.

He said that “Public‎ Educationis the inherited legacy that your government can be proud of, considering the huge investment made into the sector by your administration.

“We hereby call on you not to relent in your efforts towards enhancing quality education in the state, for this is the last hope of the children of the down-trodden electorate. Proliferation of mushroom private schools will be discouraged with the people’s confidence in the public schools‎”.

‎The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Osun chapter, Comrade Jacob Adekomi congratulated teachers in the state for their efforts to move the state forward.

He also commended Aregbesola for everything he has done for workers and teachers in the state despite the cash crunch being witnessed in th‎e country.

NLC boss said, “We want to thank you for what you have been doing for workers in the past few weeks but like Oliver Twist, we will want to use this occasion to ask for more because there is always room for improvement”.

Also speaking earlier, Osun Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye charged teachers to help government in lessening the burden of educating students by taking seriously the issue of re-educating themselves.

“We must upgrade ourselves as teachers so that we would not be left at the train station, we must be IT literate so that we can be breast of latest technologies and development,” the Head of Service told the gathering teachers.