Over three thousands people have so far benefitted from the free train service of the Osun state government in celebration of this year easter festival.
 

 
Some of the passengers lifted from Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan touched down in osogbo, the state capital, Friday Night, while others boarded at the osogbo terminal to joined those travelling to Ilorin for easter celebration.
The free train service which usually comes every festive period in Osun according to one of the beneficiaries Augustus Osita , has continued to lessen his financial burden during the period.
“I’m happy. I joined the train at Ibadan and it was a smooth journey. I thank the governor for this and hope that he can do more for the people.”
Oluwole Oladepo while commending the gesture, hoped that it will continue, even after the expiration of the Aregbesola’s administration in the state.
“I had a very good journey from Lagos and this is not my first time of enjoying Aregbesola free train ride. I’ve been following the train since inception. I just hope that the next administration will continue the service for the benefit of the masses”

“With the free train service, I’ve been able to move many of my property down here from Lagos, because, I want to start my own business here”
The director commerce and industrial promotion in the state ministry of industries, commerce, cooperative and empowerment,Mrs Mary Asaolu, while giving the statistics of the passengers, said, the ministry will ensure that the free train system during festive period is projected into the next administration in the state.
“Two of my staffs went to Lagos and traveled with the passengers, from the data I just got, about 2,125 people were lifted from ido terminal in Lagos, by the time they lifted people from Abeokuta and Ibadan, we have over 3000 passengers”
“Free train service during festivals in Osun state has come to stay. We’ll make sure it’s projected into the next administration. And let’s just continue to pray for Governor Aregbesole for his efforts”.
The train is billed return to Lagos on Monday April 17.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged Nigerians on the need to keep hope alive in spite of the daunting economic challenges being faced by the country.
 

 
He said it is in this that the citizens can be galvanized towards contributing their quota to the overall progress of the country.
This was the summary of the Governor’s message to Nigerians as Christians all over the world celebrates Easter to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ.
The Governor, in the message signed by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon urged Christians to reflect on the import of Easter celebrations in their dealings, not only with other Christians but with people of other religions.
He said Nigerians must eschew bitterness and all forms of violence, stressing that the progress, peace and security of the nation are anchored on good neighborliness and peaceful co-existence.

The statement reads further, “I urge you all to let the significance of the celebration reflect in our relationship with one another both Christians and the people of other religions. There is no doubt that these are tough times in our country but we must all keep hope alive that life will be better”.
He reminded Christians that having gone through forty days of fasting and praying, Easter was a better time for them to purge themselves of those weights that “have impeded our progress as a people over the years by demonstrating love in its fullness not only to one another but also to our society.
“The major lesson of Easter is for us as Christians, to reconsider the reality of our faith. The passion and death of Jesus underscores the love of the Father who gave his only begotten son in love for us and the willingness of the Son to sacrifice himself for others to be liberated from the weight of sin.

Aregbesola, however, reiterated the commitment of his administration to making life better for all citizens and residents, saying that“This is our primary concern as reflected in the numbers and quality of projects being executed across the State and the commitment to the welfare of our people‎.”

Government of the State of Osun has on Tuesday raised alarm over the circulation of poisonous food and drugs in the state.
 

A statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, cautioned residents against the consumption of certain products, which he said can be fatal when consumed.
He disclosed that security report had itemised the products as including: Phi-am smoked mackrel, Purtan’s pride Premium Folic Acid Tablet, and Halcarfiofi Friareli.
He explained that some food and drug agencies around the world had alerted that the products, apart from being fatal source of food poisoning, were also substandard and a serious danger to human life.
Adeoti, therefore, enjoined the residents to beware of the items, and urged security agencies to block the importation of the injurious products into the country. (NAN)

The Government of the State of Osun is one of the three lucky States from the South-West Zone of Nigeria to benefit from Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Eco-Tourism and Zoological Project which favours the boundaries of Ogun, Ondo and Osun respectively.
 

 
The Eco-Tourism and Zoological gesture of the NCF will fetch each of the benefiting States Ogun, Ondo and Osun, a whopping sum of 250 Million Dollars yearly.
This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources, Hon. Tunde Ajilore who led the Shasha Forest Reserve White Paper Implementation Committee members to Area 5 axis of Shasha Forest Reserve with the aim of establishing the boundary of the reserve land, Illegal encroachment
on the land as well as sensitising all illegal farmers and other illegal occupants to see the need to vacate the area.
Hon. Ajilore further disclosed that it’s rather unfortunate that Ondo and Ogun States had signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NCF, while illegal encroachment and unauthorized farming activities on Shasha forest reserve is the only impediment delaying the State of Osun in the signing of the MOU.
He therefore appealed to all affected farmers and other illegal occupants including farmers on 30square miles of the Shasha forest reserve to see their vacation from the land as a sacrifice for the common good of the people of Osun.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor also warned that bush burning, farming, hunting of animals and cutting of under girth timber by licensed timber contractors within the Forest Reserve should stop with immediate effect and anybody caught will be tried according to the Forest law.

May you feel the hope of new beginnings, love and happiness during this joyful Easter holiday.
I hope this Easter holiday fills your home with peace, joy, and plenty of colourful Easter eggs.
Easter symbolises the renewal of life. I wish you and your family the renewal of life, love, and happiness.
Take a minute to watch this special video the State of Osun created just for you. Kindly watch below

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that those clamouring for the autonomy of the local government in the country should remember that it remains an aberration that negates the principle of federalism. Aregbesola also said that the 16 years of intensive internecine war among the different groups within the Yoruba enclave was a resistance against one group lording it over the other and a direct effort at instituting and preserving federalism. He insisted that local governments are under absolute control and ambience of states and that the only organ of the state empowered by the constitution to make laws for them is the state House of Assembly.

Governor Aregbesola made these statements while declaring open the 2017 NULGE Week at the Public Lecture organised by the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), held at the Aurora Conference Centre, Osogbo. This war, according to the Governor, was instructive to the extent Yoruba people wanted autonomy which federalism guarantees such that one group would not lord it over the other in the administrative system. The governor averred that the current campaign for the autonomy of local government is capable of destroying federalism and by extension the country at large.
The Governor described the belief gaining grounds that local governments should be independent of state governments as totally strange and anti-federalism. He noted that there are only two tiers of government in a federal system of government, namely the federal government and the government at the federating level. Aregbesola stressed that it is awkward for Nigeria to be the only federation in the world where there is only one police system, noting that it is strange for the federal government and the constitution not to allow for police in the federating units of the country. The governor held that the problems with local government administration in the country can be corrected within the laws of the states. According to him, “Nigeria is not just a republic, but a Federal Republic. A federal state is where every distinction of nationality is recognised, respected and honoured. None of the units of the federation is therefore superior to the other. Every of the units are empowered by law to administer themselves under the general guideline of the constitution. “Few things are awkward about federalism in Nigeria. Nigeria’s federation is strange to the extent that only one police force maintains law and order. In other federations, there will be a Federal Police force and other federating unit police. Nigerian nationality and people must seek to correct this abnormality. “Another anomaly that people, because of their frustration to some aspect of administration, are equally making mistake on and need correction is that a federation has two tiers of government. There cannot be three tiers in a federation. The moment you have three tiers, you no longer have a federation.” Aregbesola emphasised that the problem with the administration of local government can be corrected within the limits of the laws of the state in a federation. He noted that it is not by assaulting the fundamental principle of federalism that the challenges and weakness being faced by the administration of local governments can be corrected. In his speech, the President of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee, Osun Chapter, Comrade Deji Adeyeye, commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for prioritising workers welfare in the state. Adeyeye state that gone are the days that workers in the state were paid once in every three months or sometime once in four months. He acknowledged that the current recession is not peculiar to Osun but almost all the states of the federation. The NULGE boss stated that labour unions in the state are holding the Governor to his words over backlog of salaries of workers above Grade Level 8, who are being owed between 20 and 25 percent of their salaries. According to him, “Once upon a time, workers in the state were paid once in three months or once in four months but our own governor ensured that we moved out of this terrible situation. “Grade Levels 1 to 7 have always been receiving full salary while Grade Level 8 and above were placed on constant half salary. “Not too long after, Grade Levels 8 to and 10 were paid 75 percent of their salaries while staff on Grade Levels 12 and above maintain a consistent half salary. “It is noteworthy that each time we meet with the governor over the backlog of salaries of staff on Grade Levels 8 and above, we have always receive a positive response. “Aregbesola has given is words on several occasion that as soon as fund is available the backlog would be cleared.” National President of the NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, said reports of Governor Aregbesola available to him indicate that the Governor is a workers-friendly governor just as he commended the governor for his commitment to the good governance.

The Acting Executive Secretary, Office of Transportation, Osun State, Engr. Wahab Olayiwola Ibrahim has called on motorists to avoid over speeding and obey traffic rules and in order to support the agency’s efforts to keep residents safe.
 

 
The Acting Executive Secretary told journalist in Osogbo that, his officers will be strategically deployed to all critical areas in the state in order to ensure the free flow of traffic during and after the festive period.
He emphasised the need for every motorist to always obey the traffic light at Ola-Iya junction in Osogbo, saying this would contribute to the free flow of vehicles while they should obey all traffic rules.
While warning his men against corruption, Engr. Ibrahim enjoined all of them to see themselves as dedicated, honest, and God-fearing officers.
The Acting Executive Secretary admonished members of the public found guilty of any traffic offences to always insist on the collection of receipt as P.O.S. is attached to his officers at their different locations across the state.

According to him, “all vehicle particulars like vehicle license, road worthiness with backup hackney permit (for commercial vehicles only), insurance, prove of ownership, change of ownership, Number plate, heavy duty permit, (for trucks), driver license and commercial vehicles in any of the state colour should be up to date as the office of transportation will not tolerate any motorist without his/her valid document”.

Easter holidaymakers have again been offered a free ride to Osun as the Government of the State on Wednesday announced that its free train would move from Lagos to the state capital, Osogbo.
 

 
The Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, which announced the offer said the train would move from the Ido Terminus of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Ebute Metta Lagos on Friday, April 14th at exactly 10 am.
While urging holidaymakers to take full advantage of the offer, the ministry said the train would return to Lagos on Monday, April 17.
The gesture is in line with the Rauf Aregbesola-led government’s commitment to citizens’ welfare.
The statement noted that the government did this to ease movements of the people during the period of the festivity.
The Government, therefore, enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the advantage the free train ride offers them to visit home and enjoy the celebration.

The statement said, “Free train ride as introduced by the Aregbesola government about six years ago is aimed at facilitating the easy movement of the citizenry wherever they are.
“And this programme takes care of both Muslims and Christians whenever it is the time for their festivals. Since its commencement, we can say confidently that it has been a boost to the economy of the state.” the statement said
Holidaymakers who are to enjoy the offer include en route Osun through Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.
Already, millions of people have benefitted from this service since its commitment by the State Government.