Osun recorded a 10% increase in its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR in 2016, a report by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS has revealed. This is as Lagos continues to dominate the table with the highest IGR generated in the country.
 

 
Lagos with a population of above 20m, generated a whopping sum of 302,425,091,964.78 and earned 81,097,954,616.12 from federal allocation, FAAC.
In the NBS report published yesterday and titled ‘Internally Generated Revenue At State Level (2016)’, it was gathered that Osun recorded an improvement in its Internal revenue by 10% between 2015 and 2016. (14th State in % Growth).
Osun with a population of just above 4m, generated the sum of N8.07bn in 2015, but recorded an improved figure of N8.88bn in 2016 representing a 10% growth in a space of one year.
It was also noted that Lagos, Abia, Kano, Benue, Bauchi, Osun and Akwa Ibom emerged top 7 earners of Self-Assessment tax across the country.
An economist, Dr. Taofeek Tijani who spoke to this reporter revealed that economic activities slowed down in 2016 due to several factors, chief amongst being the recession that gripped the nation by its throats. He, however, noted the prospects are good for 2017.

Meanwhile, several states internal revenue service boards continue to aggressively implement tax laws in order to boost their state’s IGR. Recall the Osun Internal Revenue Service, OIRS yesterday shut over 82 organisations that refuse to pay their taxes to the state government.

Osun State Government has commenced mass enforcement of payment of taxes, levies and other charges due to the state by sealing off premises of tax defaulters across the state.

No fewer than 80 establishments including private schools, hotels,  clubhouses and centres, filling stations among others were consequently sealed off by combined team of State Internal Revenue Service and security operatives.

Armed with a court order allowing the seal off of the affected establishments, the revenue staff immediately seal off any establishments that failed to effect of their tax and other levies due to the State.

While carrying out the mass enforcement payment of the tax owed the state, some guests who lodged in some of the affected hotels were asked to remove their cars before the sealing off.

The exercise made owners of the affected establishments to source for money and pay off their dues to avoid sealing off.

While some complaint that they were not properly served nor given notice before the action, other said that the time they were given within which to pay was too short adding that the market is dull in the state.

But the Acting Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Bicci Alli said that the defaulters were properly served notices before the mass enforcement begun.

He disclosed that the state was being owed about N30billion as tax and levies.

Alli said that the affected establishments were given notices and reminder of the need to pay up their taxes and levies due to the State saying that the expiration of the notice the agency approached the court to secure an order allowing the agency to seal off any defaulting establishments.

The revenue boss who added that after the secure of the court order,  another 14 days ultimatum was given to allow them ample time to make payment to the coffer of the state.

Alli maintained that the state government embarked on the action in order to boost its purse for the completion of various ongoing infrastructural projects across the state.

While noting that tax default is criminal, Alli said that the government is not only enforcing payment of taxes but to ensure compliance by all citizenry across the state.

He explained that what the state is demanding from the people is not new taxes and levies but existing ones adding that the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola want to complete all ongoing projects and the only way to achieve this is through buoyant resources that could be generated internally.

Our progenitor, the great Oranmiyan who has become a phenomenon in Yorubaland traversing the old Oyo empire up to the present day Ile-Ife was a Prince, a King, warrior and custodian of cultural authority during his heroic days. Many centuries after he left, another symbol of peace, progress and prosperity for the Yoruba race emanated with unquenchable zeal, implosive passion and a thoroughly-defined concept for unusual governance in the state of Osun, Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola appeared on the political scene. The Oranmiyan of our time.
 

 
 
Arguably and interestingly, ever since he assumed the position of the chief executive officer in Osun, he has come under tense and heavy criticism, largely orchestrated by the opposition. However, the radiating love between him and his people (citizens, residents and electorates) previously; recently and presently remain uncompromised and waxing stronger still and that is the fact.
 
Fundamentally, Rauf Aregbesola is a mountainous movement, better described as an unstoppable revolution. It is a promulgation of enduring legacies for today and the coming generations: these and more he professed, he has demonstrated over the years in deeds, words and actions.
 
Traveling down memory lane, just thirty-two months ago, the most vindictive and politically intimidating election since the advent of the 4th republic was conducted on August 9th, 2014 in the state of Osun: political scientists often refer to it as an over – militarized supervised ballot of  a little above 700,000  electorates were well above 70,000 security operatives stretching from masked DSS to army officers, mobile and regular policemen and several other paramilitary agencies terrorized and intimidate innocent and law abiding Osun electorates but the Osun people rose and stood against tiring oppression, frightening influence and terrific intimidation with the broom mentality of purposeful unity, Aregbesola won clearly .
 
His dexterity and the natural instinct of participatory governance is legendary. He posits with enormous humility that he remains the only governor who can confidently boast of two large territories in different domains of Osun East senatorial district and Lagos West senatorial district where he can make himself available for an election if he so desires to run after the expiration of his tenure as governor on November 27th, 2018 and that is fact.

 
Putting the issues in clear perspectives, the success story of infrastructural development under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos State between 1999 – 2007 and beyond which epitomizes symbolic revolution in massive infrastructural development, the futuristic implementable ideas of visionary designs under successive administration which have become a working template is the “large syndrome and mentality of Aregbesola” in the eyes and perspective of an average Lagosian . It cannot be waved away, it cannot be brushed aside and it is documented with indelible ink in the annals of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure at the Centre of Excellence.
 
Till date, his unflinching loyalty, strength and noticeable discipleship to the Tinubu political dynasty makes him the delight of the politician and a force to reckon with in the political landscape of Lagos and beyond.
 
Is Aregbesola actually a large political heavyweight in Osun? How? When? Where? Well, his mode of governance is patently unusual, reversing the old trends and bringing the government in its entirety and totality closer to the governed by expressly surprising the over 4million teeming populace in Osun through the constitutional and conventional roles of entrenching the depth of democratic principles with legacy projects. The visible synergy with the people is unexplainable as he remains the only African leader who has demonstrated love with the downtrodden and average citizens through “THE WALK TO LIVE” initiative, a street credibility mechanism to promote physical fitness, a precursor to stable health to disembark every bodily channel predisposition to disease. He has walked over 100Km with his people under this concept.
 
The construction of new 70 state-of-the-art educational facilities for elementary, middle and high school pupils/students, with a complementary renovation of additional 1500 classrooms. Timely approval and construction of over 1000klms of rural and urban roads, our government alone has served 200,000,000 plates of nutritious meal as at December 31st 2016 with 250,000 dished out daily under the O-Meal scheme with O – REAP (Osun Rural Enterprise and agriculture programme) a platform for peasant and mechanized farmers to translate their farm produce into profits and prosperity as the bedrock.

 
Undoubtedly, a chunk of our Osun success stories have now metamorphosed into a national template for implementation of the blueprint of APC Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government. The school meal feeding programme termed O – MEAL is been test run in 16 states of the federation, O – YES (Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme) produced 40,000 jobs within 6years, reduced the statistical rate of unemployment according to the publication of the National Bureau of Statistics, even the World Bank recognized this singular effort and international awards are uncountable in this regards.
 
The highly responsive Osun Special Ambulance scheme (O – Ambulance) don’t discriminate between Fulanis, Ibibio, Efik, Igbira or Oyos when discharging effectively their statutory duties of saving accident victims and offering emergencies services to the residents of Osun , our records showed that 12,000 lives have been saved from untimely death within four years of operation. Our drive to make our state more environmentally friendly by rehabilitating mentally deranged persons combed or dumped on the streets of Osun is yielding joy for hopeless families, 160 or more of such homes are praying for the Aregbesola administration.
 
We cannot exhaust all existing channels to salute the doggedness, patience and understanding of the rank and file our entire workforce, the labour unions for standing unceremoniously with us in solidarity, our performance was slowed down due to the economic recession where funding militated against our lofty dreams to make Osun the destination of anything unique, attractive and outstanding. We are marching on.
 
The succession conspiracy theory can’t distract our government, the model of finesse for emerging and performing successors under the Tinubu dynasty is not accidental, Babatunde Raji Fasola was thrown up less than 3 months to the defunct Action Congress (AC) 2007 Governorship primaries, same applied to Akinwumi Ambode whose entry into the race was less than a year. The baton will be passed to a worthy apostle of the 6point integral action plan of Aregbesola in due course.

 
Rauf does not give in to hypocrisy or pride as erroneously analyzed in some quarters, but a firm grip of the political firmament in Osun as this was again displayed at the just concluded 7hour all night interactive session tagged Ogbeni till Daybreak where a random sampling showed residents glued to their television sets despite the leprous and epileptic power supply. The audience within and outside is explosive in numbers, the attendant unscreened and uncensored phone calls were stimulants and complementary as encomiums were showered on the Ogbeni himself, even the unregulated social media coverage showed positive feedback.
 
Conscious efforts to resuscitate the Osun economy to boost the revenue generation through the agricultural and ICT revolution is commendable, the Cocoa processing industry in Ede is back on her feet after 15years of collapse, the chocolate liquor from the firm is touching grounds in China and  Europe. Recently, the collaborative effort of the government of Osun and RLG consortium which birth RLG Adulawo Ilesa in 2013 recently harnessed a contract sum of USD31.5m to produce setup boxes for TV digitization.
 
Aregbesola is reinventing the wheels of Awo legacies, approaching the mechanism of sustainable development through agriculture, infrastructure, social intervention and education for the benefit of mankind, he is purpose driven and remarkably focused on his set goals, he cannot be distracted by rabble rousers as every available parameter by both government and private establishment clearly reveal indices, statistical figures and empirical data of progress in human capital development, poverty reduction, infrastructural development, agricultural prosperity, etc. Saboteurs of development and political scavengers should halt all moves to replace Aregbesola with retrogressive element as they are whipping a dead horse; they have lost the battle al binitio.

Osun Governor,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has cleared the air over reports making the rounds about his senatorial ambition in Lagos State.

The governor told a gathering in Osogbo, the state capital that he has not made any decision yet, to run for political office after the expiration of his tenure in November 2018.
 

 
He however, noted that he won’t need to take permission from anybody when the time to decide comes, saying if Nigeria was sincere about regional integration, the question of where any politician chooses to contest for election would not raise any issue.
“If I want to contest, I can contest anywhere. If we are genuine and sincere about regional rearrangement, then why are we concerned about where a man comes from? Rauf can appear when the time comes anywhere in the region.
“But let me tell you that there is no such decision yet. When I leave office, we will still have clear six months to election. In other words, we still have time to decide,” Aregbesola said.
He also debunked claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State is in disarray over who succeeds him in 2018, saying the party is strong and firmly rooted in the grassroots across the state.
Cohesive Political Structure
The governor denied the insinuation of disagreement among party members, stating that there was no form of disaffection among members and loyalists of the party.
“We are united, connected and we are working so well. There is no part of our party’s organisation, administration and management that has suffered in any way. Our party is not in any way being threatened.
“If a party in power for six years is working so well and the opposition is scattered, dismembered and uncoordinated as our opponent is now, where is the fear of threat to our party?
“If there is an incumbent government as peacefully co-existing as we are, then we can brag of such a party. There is no threat from anybody, we have a very cohesive political structure in Osun,” he noted.
Governor Aregbesola further assured the people of the state on Tuesday that the major key to continuation of the milestone developmental programmes and projects of his administration was for them to identify and vote the right candidate to succeed him in 2018.
He said the APC would ensure that its candidate in the governorship election has in-depth understanding of the administration’s six-point integral action plans

The coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the first executive governor of the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke has begun sitting yesterday.
 

 
The Coroner,  Chief Magistrate    Olusegun Ayilara has earlier summoned the Adeleke family, Chief Medical  Director of Biket Hospital, Osogbo, Chief Medical Director, Lautech Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Executive Secretary, Ede South Local Government, and the Commissioner of Police State of Osun.
However, the Adeleke family was evidently  absent at today’s sitting but the Coroner  promised to re-invite them.  The Legal team  from Ministry of  Justice was led by Barrister Iyiola Olajubu.
The Coroner  stated  that anyone who is interested in presenting evidence before it should swear an affidavit on such claim before such a person can appear before it.
The Coroner adjourned the sitting to Monday 15th   May, 2017, when the evidences will be taken.

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has declared that he has not chosen anyone to succeed him ahead of the 2018 governorship election.
 

Aregbesola stated this during an all night interactive programme tagged: ‘Ogbeni Till Daybreak’ on Saturday in Osogbo.
“There is no aspect of our party’s organisation and management that has suffered in any form in respect of who will be my successor.
“We are united, connected and working so well for the progress of the party. We are the most cohesive political party in the state,” he said.
He added that no opposition in the state can match the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If the only opposition party we have in the state is disorganised, dismembered, then where is the fear for 2018 election?” Aregbesola asked.
He also debunked speculations that he was planning to contest for Osun West Senatorial election in 2019.

The Osun government has disclosed that state callisthenics programme, will now be part of extracurricular activities that will avail schools from the 9 federal constituencies in the state to compete against each other.
The Director of Development of Social and Grassroots Mobilisation and Guidance, Office of the Governor, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, who made this known, recently, while briefing Journalists in Osogbo, said the calisthenics programme will now have new templates which include a wider spread, adding that it would afford more students opportunity to participate, and instill discipline in the school children.
He said the new template as approved by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, would not only allow interested private school to participate but would also be voluntary, adding that though the state government will be responsible for the training funding, support would be sought from social and corporate organisations as sponsors.
“Efforts are underway to institutionalise the programme in the state school academic calendar, ” he said while commending the state governor’s effort towards re-branding the education sector.
Ojo said the introduction of callisthenics into the public schools is an integral part of a rejuvenated education system in the state and that it has enhanced organisational capacity and understanding of systems by the students.
He added that the programme apart from instilling the spirit of teamwork, discipline and promptness in over 5000 pupils that have been participating since its commencement has also helped in boosting the economy of the state.
Echoing a similar view, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Festus Olajide thanked Aregbesola for introducing the programme, saying callisthenics game has enhanced organisational capacity and understanding among the youth.
Olajide explained that education is one of the grassroots requirements that determined the future of youth, adding that all hands must be on deck to encourage young one acquiring it.

At the popular audience participation programme, ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break,’ in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has rendered account and solicited support from the people for his programmes as the state prepares for a succession battle. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.
How should a poor state be administered in a period of national economic adversity? Focus, financial creativity and adjustment, resolve, courage and commitment to the vision of a greater tomorrow may serve as the bridge between despondency and survival. The audience at the popular accountability programme, ‘Aregbe Till Day Break,’ in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, agreed at the weekend that Governor Rauf Aregbegbe has led the state from economic despair to a new period of hope through sheer administrative prowess.
 

 
For more than six hours, from midnight, the governor tendered his score card before the people. He was on the popularity weighing scale at the WOCDIF Event Centre, the venue of the event. He responded to probing questions with vigour and aggression. In a sense, the governor was combative. Reeling out facts and figures, he convinced the audience that governance was not a tea party in a period of national distress. Accompanied by Deputy Governor Grace Laoye Tomori and other aides, Aregbesola, after explaining some of his projects, would ask his permanent secretaries and other state officials to shed light on the people-oriented programmes, government’s constraints and prospects of early completion.
In another breath, the governor also brought a personal character to bear on the televised programme. A DJ was on hand for an interlude. So were iterant drummers and praise singers. It was electrifying. Their intervention was to complement Aregbesola’s magnetism and aura and to make people stay awake. ‘Aregbe Till Day Break’ was a carnival-like event characterised by a display of statesmanship and showmanship by the governor.
The governor’s achievements are visible in the nooks and crannies of the state. They are felt from the boundary towns to the capital. Various callers hailed the governor for spreading the projects evenly. But, they also asked for more.
Under his transformationl leadership, cosmopolitan Osun State, which has the largest number of towns in Nigeria, has become a huge construction site. The Gbogan Junction Bridge is a sight that fills commuters with awe. There is no local government where a road project is not on-going. It is a clear departure from the past. In fact, the event was revealing. More towns and villages asked for more roads, which the resources of the state cannot accommodate.
Despite the giant strides in road construction, critics believe that not much has been done. Besides, they have alleged that the contracts were inflated. This drew the ire of the workaholic governor, who gave himself a pass mark. He acknowledged that billions of naira have been spent on the roads, which have the special characteristics of concrete drainages. They are cost-effective and government is prudent and transparent. Some of the roads and bridges commemorate historical dates in the state.An engineer, Aregbesola explained the cost implications of qualitative road construction, which made him a trail blazer in infrastructure battle. He said: “The cost of roads are not the same anywhere in the world. We cannot compare the cost of a kilometer of road in each of the states. Our roads are done with the active participation of officials of the Ministry of Works, with absolute transparency in the rate and cost. The rate is in line with the international standard. You should ask how much they construct roads in other states. You can’t compare our roads with sensational roads. We have not inflated the cost of any of our projects.”
Aregbesola added: “In the history of Osun, the quality of roads we are constructing has never been seen or done by any government. Also, no administration has constructed the number of bridges constructed by our government in the last six years.”
The governor challenged his critics to prove their allegation of contract inflation. He said his personal lifestyle abhorred theft, graft and corruption. “They say I inflated contract. I have no building of my own in Ilesa, my home town. And they say I am inflating contracts. I don’t spend money anyhow. I don’t look at women anyhow.”
The governor praised the House of Assembly for supporting the executive to succeed. Noting that no money can be spent without the approval of the legislators, he said it is their right to claim any project executed by the administration in their constituencies.
To demonstrate the frugality of governance, Aregbesola has bridged the loopholes. Frivolous spending is old fashioned. Even, despite the high concentration of intending Christian and Muslim pilgrims, he has cancelled pilgrimage sponsorship, owing to paucity of funds.
The governor reminded the people of their civil obligations. Describing governance as a collective enterprise, he urged them to pay their taxes and rates.

There are fears that some of the roads may not be completed before Aregbesola leaves office. Many felt that the governor was biting more than he could chew. He tried to assuage the feelings, promising that no project will be abandoned. However, he advised the intended beneficiaries and those agitating for more roads to exercise patience. “I can’t even pay salaries. Where are the resources? I am committed to the completion of the roads in Ifon, Orolu and Ede. Even, Lagos that has an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1 billion daily cannot tar all the roads. In Osun, we realise N700 million monthly. If Lagos cannot tar all the roads, Osun cannot. We will try to tar the roads within the limit of resources,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the government for irregular payment of salaries. Aregebsola attributed the gap to the economic condition of the state. He said he could only manage to jerk up the IGR from N200 million to a meagre N700 million monthly, while the Federal Allocation to the state decreased from N6 billion to N700 million. He said the government successfully worked out a mutually agreeable arrangement with workers. One of his aides, who shed light on the modulated salary system, said workers who fall between Level one and seven are paid fully while those between eight and 12 are paid 75 per cent of their salaries. Also, those who are in Level 12 and above receive 50 per cent. The governor promised to revert back to the normal system as soon as the situation improves.
Despite the constraints, the government has continued to defend the education sector with heavy investment. New schools with modern learning facilities are on the increase. Medical students on scholarship in Ukraine are expected to complete their programme this year. Mrs.Laoye Tomori will be a special guest there.
But, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) crisis continue to stare his government in the face. The institution is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun governments. Aregbesola, who attributed the plight of the university to financial constraints on the part of government, urged the institution to emulate the Osun State University by looking inward. “States cannot print money. The IGR is N700 million monthly. It is a far cry from what we need to sustain the state. On assumption of office, we based our projections on the revenue base that has changed, following the drop in oil earnings and allocations to states. It is difficult to fund LAUTECH and other tertiary institutions because of the financial constraint.
“Why can’t LAUTECH operate within its revenue base like the Osun State University? The variation in fee is N5000. There are 12,000 students in Osun State University. There are 30,000 students in LAUTECH. LAUTECH also has postgraduate students.”
Aregbesola owned up that the state has been slow in the issuance of the Certificates of Occupancy to applicants. He assured that the delay will become a thing of the past. “We will change the situation,” he said. The governor also noted the complaints about the Emergency Centres in the state. He said they will be fixed to give maximum service to the people.
The governor said the plan to create an Osun food basket in Lagos was on course. He also said Osun farmers will soon have the opportunity to register their productive capacity on an electronic platform in August. He said the state will maintain its commitment to the education and welfare of special people, who are ignored by the society. He narrated a story of how he came across a mentally challenged person at Ilesa and how she was rehabilitated and restored to a position of optimum performance.
Aregbesola added: “We are the first government that has set up an office for a population with special needs. It is a ministry on its own. It has a permanent secretary,” he said.
A minute of silence was observed for the departed colourful politician, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. The governor paid glowing tribute to his memory.
Two sensitive questions for Aregbesola as the programme were his alleged senatorial ambition in Lagos West District  and succession in Osun State. On succession, he refused to disclose his plan, saying: “I am not God who knows tomorrow. The best deserves to succeed me. I beg God to give the position to someone who will perform better than me. Lets face our work. Lets leave succession struggle for now. The clerics should continue to pray for us.”
He added: “The succession battle is not threatening my party. Our party is as solid, strong and effective as any party could be. Our party has not suffered. We are united, coordinated and working so well. It is the opposition party that is threatened, uncoordinated and in fear.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, debunked the rumour that the succession struggle was tearing the party apart. He said the chapter was cohesive. “Our party is not threatened. It is not time yet. The party is so cohesive and united. The state transited from 30 local governments and one area office to 64 councils without acrimony. It is rare. There is no crack on the wall.”
On his alleged senatorial ambition, Aregbesola neither confirmed nor deny it. But, he said the time was not ripe. He traced his political journey his life and how God used Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to raise him to stardom. He said: “Politics is the resolution of conflict. The good of the people is the priority and it must be addressed, regardless of the method. In 2004, when I said I was coming to Osun to rescue the state, one of my relations said it was a suicide. She did not believe it was possible. The incumbent governor said I was an irritant. From an irritant, I became an Oranmiran. From Oranmiran, I became an Oranmiyan. From Oranmiyan, I became the governor.
“I am large in Osun as I am large in Lagos. If I need to contest, I don’t need to consult anybody anywhere. I thank God, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of the two states. I pray that God will prolong my life to prove to the world that politics is a noble calling and a good vacation. We have commitment to regionalism. We should not fan sectionalism. If we want to have a regional arrangement, why discriminating against a Yoruba man in any Yoruba state?
“I was born in Ikare-Akoko, achieved fame in Lagos and became governor of Osun State. There is no such decision yet. By 12 midnight on November 27, 2018, a Tuesday, I will leave office. There will still be much gap between then and election. We have time to make up our mind.”
Source: The Nation