All residents of Osun State are to be provided with Biometric Personal Identity Cards by the State Government before the end of the year.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this in Osogbo ,the state capital at the launch of Osun state Civil Servants Identity Cards and Bio-metric Automation of “I AM ALIVE” for pensioners.
The Biometric personal Identity card contains the number, designation ,blood group and other necessary information about the holder and it will enable civil servants to have access to 25% of their salaries upfront.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola told the public servants that the introduction of the cards would change the pattern of financial administration in the state public service and eliminate discrepancies in salary administration while assuring other residents of the state that it will soon be their turn.
TV CONTINENTAL

 The Osun State Government said it would be forced to confiscate the base stations of MTN Nigeria, mobile telecommunications’ operator, following its refusal to pay the right of way permit fees due to the state government to the tune of N399.4 million
The base stations had on April 7 been seized by the officials of the state Internal Revenue Service (IRS), but was later released two days after following the intervention of Mr. Emmanuel Seton, one of the top management of the telecommunications outfit.
Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, acting chairman and CEO  of the state IRS, in a standing order statement released in Osogbo, said the state government would be forced to shut the services of the company in the state following the failure of the organisation to pay the outstanding right of way permit fees.
The revenue service lamented that the organisation had reneged on its promises to pay the permit fees on or before  April 8.
The revenue boss who drew the attention of the management of MTN to the assessment bill with reference number HW01/MT/09/66 dated February 19, 2014, and the notice from IRS dated  March 26, in respect of the outstanding payment of right of way permit on the optic fibre operation in the state.
The letter read: “Please be informed that the issue of non-payment constituted one of the reasons why we distrained five of your mast base stations in our state on  April 7, which were released on April 9,  based on the mutual understanding with Mr. Samuel Seton during our meeting on April 8 that the payment should be effected on or before April 15.
“We therefore wish to express our disappointment on the failure of your organisation to fulfill your civic responsibility in respect of this payment despite several demand notices.
“In this regard, we are therefore left with no other option than to confiscate your base stations in our state provided we do not receive payment on or before the close of business on April 25 to the coffer of the state government.”
 

Photos from the official launching of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women Empowerment Programme and Distribution of N600Million Micro Credit to 18,000 women beneficiaries, held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

From left, Wife of Osun Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola; Special
Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural development and
Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Deputy
Governor, Mrs titi Laoye Tomori; Speaker of the House of Assembly,
Hon. Najeem Salam and others, during the official launching of
Osun/Grooming Assisted Women Empowerment Programme and Distribution of
N600Million Micro Credit to 18,000 women beneficiaries, held at
Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); his wife,
Sherifat (5th left); Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left);
wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola (3rd left); wife of
Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi (6th left); Executive
Director, Grooming People for Better Livelihood Centre, Mr Adesoji
Tayo (2nd left) and some beneficiaries with their cheques, during the
official launching of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women Empowerment
Programme and Distribution of N600Million Micro Credit to 18,000 women
beneficiaries, held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on
Tuesday 30-04-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, presenting cheque to
one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Fausat Rasak from Olaruda Local
Government. With them is Special Adviser to the Governor on Water
Resources, Rural development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige,
during the official launching of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women
Empowerment Programme and Distribution of N600Million Micro Credit to
18,000 women beneficiaries, held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo,
State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

Cross section of beneficiaries and some motor cycles. Inset: Governor
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, presenting cheque to Mrs Taiwo
Ayodele. during the official launching of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women
Empowerment Programme and Distribution of N600Million Micro Credit to
18,000 women beneficiaries, held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo,
State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

From left, Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; her Oyo
counterpart, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife,
Sherifat; Osun Deputy governor, Mrs titi Laoye-Tomori and others,
during the official launching of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women
Empowerment Programme and Distribution of N600Million Micro Credit to
18,000 women beneficiaries, held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

Cross section of Aregbesola’s supporters during the official launching
of Osun/Grooming Assisted Women Empowerment Programme and Distribution
of N600Million Micro Credit to 18,000 women beneficiaries, held at
Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 30-04-2014

It was with fanfare and joy that women in the State of Osun trooped to the Freedom Park venue of empowerment programme of the State of Osun where 18,000 of them received N40,000 totaling N600million.
The programme had in attendance the First Ladies of Osun, Oyo and Lagos States, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, Florence Ajimobi and Abimbola Fashola respectively.
At the official launch and presentation of cheques to women beneficiaries, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, reiterated his administration’s commitment to eradicating poverty in the state.
Aregbesola observed that people’s welfare must be central in the programmes of any serious government.
He affirmed that it is in recognition of this that his government collaborated with Grooming Micro-Finance, Lagos so as to fast track attainment of poverty alleviation goal as enshrined in his government’s six-point agenda.
He stated that his government will not detract from its programmes that give quality life to the people.
He averred that if women in the state are economically active but financially handicapped, there is no way they would be able to contribute to the economic growth of the state. He said this is which is why government came to their aids through the loans.
He said: “As government, we have realised that development is incomplete without consideration to the human aspect.
“Ours is a combination of both infrastructural and human development and today’s ceremony is an attestation to this fact.
“We are committed to making our Omoluabi State a subject of envy among the comity of states and a place worthy of living for all and sundry.
“We have extended government presence across 30 local governments and the Area Office of the state and complete a lot of capital projects some of which are currently being commissioned and which are there for everyone to see.”
He said his government has achieved great feat in the area of poverty alleviation, which according to him, is second to no other one.
He noted that his government’s collaboration with various financial organisations has brought smile to faces of every house in the state.
He promised that his government will continue to support all laudable intervention programmes so that government’s commitment towards poverty alleviation will be fully realised in not too distant future.
In his opening remark, the Executive Director of Grooming Loans Scheme, Mr. Adesoji Tayo, pointed out that the Grooming Centre is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded seven years ago to address the near absence of financial services for the large population of economically active poor people.
He said the assistance ‎will afford such women to engage in small trading and micro productive activities in many parts of the country.
“We operate from 259 branches with staff strength of 1,362, we have 374,145 clients. Just 3 weeks ago, we achieved a billion Naira loan disbursement per week.
“I will also like to state that the programme is not a social welfare or government hand-out, it is not political settlement,” he told the gathering.
The special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development and Community Affairs, Hon. Kunle Ige, said through the empowerment programme, 18, 000 women were beneficiaries of the first disbursement.
Through this loan, economically active poor people and who are vulnerable and engage in small scale commercial activities, are supported and empowered.
“Available data have shown that majority of our women especially at the rural communities are economically active but are constrained financially.
“This is why the current administration has committed so much to poverty alleviation interventions to reduce this ugly trend and make life more meaningful to her citizenry, especially the women,” Ige said

The State of Osun under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has broken into new grounds through maximally utilising information communication technology for governance effectiveness in the State. This is the first of such uncommon thinking in the Country.
The state has launched a smart card which carries the data base of all civil servants in the state and will also serve as credit card, debit card and staff identification. The card has embedded in it the profiles of all government workers in the state. The card is tagged ‘’ I AM ALIVE’’
At the launch on Tuesday, 29^th April 2014, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola while giving his speech at the occasion said the civil servants smart card is to intensify the state’s use of information communication technology for administrative effectiveness. The unique features and benefits of the smart cards include:

• The  card is electronically personalised with biometric features to each of its users
• Through this smart card system, the workers can get their monies paid directly to their accounts instead of through any intermediary points.
• There cannot be mistaking identity in the payment of monies due to the workers
• For the pensioners, it removes the stress of going through multiple verification to get their payment and also blocks the means for cheating them out of their money.
• It eliminates ghost workers in the system
• The card is linked to a credit or debit card and gives the owner access to his or her salary account, which he use to withdraw up to 20 per cent of the salary with or without money in their account
• The smart card can be used not only in Osun but also within and outside Nigeria and anywhere in the world.
• The card carries the fingerprint of card holder with which he can identify him or herself.

The project is a tripod arrangement between State Government of Osun, Chams Plc and financial giant, First Bank Plc.
This project has set Osun aside as a leading state in novel ideas which have come to be the hallmark of this government. It is worthy of note that the automation of the State Payroll System singlehandedly raised the internationally generated revenue by 100% without increasing a dime in tax payable by citizens.
The state is also set to issue personalised cards for State public school pupils from 1-6. The card will contain the bio-data of the pupils.
Osun is taking the driver’s seat in innovative thinking and unparalleled strides in state administration in Nigeria.
IT IS A RISE FROM OBSCURITY TO STARDOM UNDER OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA!

What does the governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola want to achieve by preferring the appellation, Ogbeni to Your Excellency? In Yorubaland, the word, ogbeni, which simply means mister, connotes simplicity and courage.
It has been argued in some quarters that the title reflects the governor’s character and view on governance as it relates to the people and government officials.
Unlike previous administrations in the state, it is said that he is not intoxicated by the reins of power; he is rather concerned with how to make meaningful changes in the lives of the ordinary people of the state.
But beneath his unassuming simplicity lies a spirit of resoluteness and unshakeable believe that it is not unnatural for the wealthy to be few. Ogbeni Aregbesola, however, understands that you can’t solve all the problems for all the people all the time, but governance means creating and sustaining prosperity and alleviating poverty. This is the hallmark of the Aregbesola administration, and it cannot be compromised.
As many Osun indigenes will testify, the state is very different today. Unlike what it was under previous administrations, it is a more peaceful, prosperous and a better place to live. But expectedly, the governor is not immune to distraction and poisonous criticisms.
To some, his views are grotesque, defective and deficient. Some have accused him of always playing to the gallery. Some would have people believe that the man is an enigma with a stigma. They distort and misrepresent his steadfastness for stubbornness, his tenacity for dogmatism, his vision for delusion, and his policies for extravagance.
Against all manner of criticisms by the opposition, the governor’s work speaks for him. For instance, his first major decision was to set up the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES), through which 20,000 youths were trained and subsequently gainfully employed. That was in his first 100 days in office. And the gains are still here.
The result of this scheme is that Osun now has the lowest unemployment rate in the country as well as the second lowest poverty rate in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
It is advisable that a scheme of this nature be introduced at the national level as it will drastically reduce unemployment and positively affect the nation’s economy. Other states should also follow suit.
Although Ogbeni Aregbesola was stoutly criticised for attempting to create a new state identity through the introduction of a new logo, state anthem and slogan, other governors followed the trend. Example is the governor of Bayelsa State.
He was also criticised for creating the Islamic Bond (Sukuk) in the state, but it has ushered in an affordable and manageable means of raising finance for capital projects. It was so successful that the bond has been heavily subscribed. To add spice to it, the Sukuk Bond recently won an award in far away Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At the award night of world acclaimed Islamic Financial News magazine, Osun Sukuk won the ‘Deal of the Year’ Award.
By making the day of Hijrah in the Islamic calendar and ‘Isese Day’ state holidays, Ogbeni has preserved the celebration of core traditions and rich culture in Osun. It is no surprise therefore, that Osun is one of the states in Nigeria that can boast of a United Nations World Heritage site.
The introduction of Tablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to students in Senior Secondary Schools in the state has propelled Osun into one of the leading states in ICT-driven education. Millions of naira that would have been spent in buying textbooks for the students has been saved. Opon Imo also won the United Nations World Summit Award in 2013. This is even as new schools are built, free school uniforms distributed to students and pupils while funding is increased.
The process of teaching and learning has taken a whole new dimension.
As part of his education reform programme, the governor merged schools. This action was aimed at improving service delivery, but he faced the worst criticism. He was accused of destabilising the education system in the state. But the people know better.
The governor has also done well in infrastructural development. Among other things, several roads have been constructed; others are ongoing, while some are rehabilitated.
Going by the achievements of the governor, it is a known fact that Osun indigenes, who are tired of politics of bitterness and terror, have vowed never to return to the era of underdevelopment.
As the people prepare for another election, it is expected that the state would not be dragged into the dark days of old. The state and its people must move forward in the right direction. The electorate must be wise to keep political businessmen and women out of the state’s Government House.
The author, Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Governor of the State of Osun, wrote from Osogbo.
DAILY TRUST

The Osun State government says it has spent multi-billion naira on roads infrastructure development and, according to Rauf Aregbesola, the state governor, the whole idea of this development is to transform the lives of the people of the state.

The State of Osun recorded another first in the deployment of technology for administrative efficiency with the launch of State of Osun civil servant smart identity card and biometric automation tagged ‘I am Alive.’
The smart card launch, which is another first of its kind in the country, carries the data base of all civil servants in the state and will also serve as credit card, debit card and also serves as staff identification, carrying their profiles.
During the launch, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his speech titled: ‘Identifying the Living’, said the civil servant smart card is to further intensify the state’s use of information technology for administrative efficiency.
Aregbesola said the introduction of the smart card will be highly beneficial to both government and the workers in the state.
According to the governor, the smart ID card is electronically personalised with biometric features to each of its users.
This, the governor stated that It will add immense values to the  activities of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government.
He said: “To be sure, it was through the application ICT to our tax administration and revenue collection that enabled us to increase our internally generated revenue by 100 per cent within the first few months of our administration.
“We have since intensified our effort to make ICT an inherent part of our public administrative system. The introduction of this new smart electronic identity card is another component of that overall effort.
“It will expectedly bring about many benefits to all of us; the individual civil servants and the government. It will be given to all workers across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Local Government Council workers.
“The smart ID card is electronically personalised, with biometric features, to each of its users. It will add immense values to the workaday functioning of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government.”
Identifying the numerous benefits of the smart card, Aregbesola revealed that the card will help eliminate many sources of financial waste and leakage employed to deprive government of needed funds as well as helps create an accurate and reliable database for payroll administration and salaries’ payment.
Besides, he averred that possibility of defrauding any workers of the payments due to them is now difficult with the introduction of the card.
Again, through this smart card system, the workers can get their monies paid directly to their accounts instead of through any intermediary points.
Aregbesola continued: “Leave bonuses for example are now tied to each worker’s birthday and paid to their accounts automatically on that day.
“With this smart ID cards, there cannot be mistaking identity in the payment of monies due to the workers. In this system, identity is completely individualised and electronically personalised.
“For the pensioners, it removes the stress of going through multiple verification to get their payment and also blocks the means for cheating them out of their money.
“By clearly identifying the living from the dead, this system ensures that ghost will no longer mingle with our workers or have access to our payroll in Osun. It keeps them where they belong – in the grave. It stops the dead from coming to steal money from the living. It makes certain that only retirees who are ‘ALIVE’ receive payment. This affirms the sense in the project’s title, ‘I AM ALIVE.”
One very interesting feature of this card is that it is linked to a credit or debit card and gives the owner access to his or her salary account, which he use to withdraw up to 20 per cent of the salary with or without money in their account.
The smart card is a tripartite arrangement among the Osun Government, Charms Plc and the First Bank Plc.
The governor also promised that by June this year, all school pupils from age 1 – 6 years will have personalised card that contains all their bio data .
In his reaction, the Director of ICT, State of Osun, Mr. Bambo Bashorun, said the smart card came at a time of security challenges and dwindling resources in the country.
He said that the issuance of the card  will guarantee proper accountability and plug holes through which resources are wasted.
“Creating a data base of all civil servants in the state is so important especially at this time of our challenging national life from increased level of insecurity to dwindling resources.
“With the data base created, the ID card issued and I AM ALIVE process automated, the state had ensured that no single kobo is wrongly allocated to undeserved person in the state,” Bashorun said.
In his own remark, the Group Managing Director of Charms, Mr. Ademola Aladekomo, said the state of Osun has broken another ground in the ICT word in Nigeria.
Aladekomo said the smart card will be given to all civil servants in the state.
According to him, the smart card can be used not only in Osun but also within and outside Nigeria and anywhere in the world.
He noted that the card also carries the fingerprint of card holder with which he can identify him or herself.
For the representative of the Managing Director of First Bank, Mr.M utairu Akinfolarin, said the idea of the card could only be a product of hard thinking.
He commended the governor for successful pioneering of the card, saying First Bank is very proud to be part of Osun technological success.