The government of Osun on Monday formally inaugurated the use standardised weighing scales in all its markets as the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the move was to make the state the preferred destination for commercial activities in the sub-region.
 

 
Aregbesola said his administration will not relent in its goal of developing economic activities in the state.
The unveiling of the “Osuwon Omoluabi”, was held amidst a huge crowd of market men and women who thronged the Nelson Mandela Freedom Square in Osogbo venue.
He pointed out that Osogbo ‎in the 60’s and early 70s was a great centre of commerce because of the railway that passed through the city‎.
The Governor emphasised that “Osunwon Omoluabi” policy is backed by law, saying Weights and Measures constitute item 63 on the Exclusive Legislatives list of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He noted that the laws made in this regard include Weights and Measures Act CAP W3LFN, 2004, Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act CAP P25 LFN, 2004; Weights and Measures Standardization of Indigenous Measures Regulations, 1992 and the Weights and Measures Fees Regulations.
Aregbesola noted that all hands must be on deck to revive the economic status of the state, adding that the state had in the past attracted sellers and buyers from neighbouring states, as far as Akure in present day Ondo State and that only Ibadan was greater in trade and commerce than Osogbo in the region.
‎The Governor held that the  launch of standardised weighing scales is in continuation of the provision of the infrastructure of the mind which we began at the inception of his administration, when it rebranded Osun as Ipinle Omoluabi.
‎Aregbesola stressed that “Osunwon Omoluabi” will eliminates cheating and other underhand practices that have become the hallmark of trading in most markets.
He averred that the use of standardized scales in markets across the state will give rise to a chain of economic benefits, adding that market expansion for dealers in weighing scales is assured as the programme will increase the demand for the product.
Aregbesola assured that jobs will be created for service providers in the areas of maintenance and repair of scales, adding that 178 OYES cadets have been trained in the maintenance and repair of scales in the first phase of the Train-the-Trainers Empowerment Scheme which is an integral part of the Standardised Weighing Scales Programme.
He said, “In the quest to be competitive and make more profit, which is greed, traders now devise varying means of short-changing buyers. Measures are deliberately reduced through cutting, filling with candles and wax, and sleight of hand.
“Scales are tilted fraudulently while husks, chaffs, barks and other rubbish are included in goods sold, with the intention of reducing the actual values of what the buyers take home.
“One of the tragedies of this immoral practice is that foreigners began to distrust our export because, for instance, cocoa graders put top grades at the top of the sack, leaving poor quality at the bottom, and in the process, collect money for the top grade.
“Those who are in the business can tell you what loss they suffered because the foreigners distrusted their products and classified all cocoa coming from our land as inferior, irrespective of the grade”.
Earlier In his opening remarks, the former Commissioner for Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the standardised weighing scale across markets in the state became necessary to mitigate challenges noticeable in commercial transactions.
Jayeoba-Alagbada said in order to erase cheating in the process of exchange of commercial goods and checkmate other market forces challenges, government decided to formally introduce the standardised weighing scales.
According to him, training workshops had already been conducted in the markets all over the state on the effective use of the scales.
He stated that the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the day-to-day administration of the programme.
He said: “I need to emphasise that market women and men had been fully mobilised to key into this emerging commercial revolution.
“Both the leadership and the followership of the associations of market women and men had agreed, not only to comply with the right use of the scales and measures but to continuously carry out peer reviews with a view to ensuring flawless implementation of the standardised weighing scales and measures programme.
“I want to place it on record that, but for the grace of God and the dogged determination of Mr. Governor, this launch and indeed the entire standardised scales and measures programme would have been a mirage.”
The President General of Osun State Market Women Association, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, said the standardised scale became necessary owing to imbalance in measurement and fraud in commercial activities.
Asindemade said the Kongo measurement introduced to the market in the old Oyo State became the standard measurement in Osun when it was created.
According to Market leader, the old measurement was gradually subjected to abuse and fraud to the extent that individual seller used his or her yardstick for measurement, thus the need to re-standardise and unify it.
She however warned that the introduction of the standard scale should not translate to increase in commodity price system in the market.
“It is in a bid to correct the anomaly in measurement and scale that the Government of Osun introduced the standardised weighing scales in markets in the state so as to forestall fraud and cheating in measurement.
“As we welcome this innovation, I call on my constituency – market men and women – to cooperate with government to make this a success.
“Besides, introduction of this weight and measurement does is not and should not lead to increase in price of commodities in our market,” Asindemade said

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is of the opinion that June 12 should be declared Democracy Day and not May 29 because that was the day Nigerians laid aside their differences and voted a leader.
 

 
In his address to mark the 23rd anniversary of the annulled election, the Governor insisted that June 12, 1993 was the day Nigerians voted the acclaimed winner of the Presidential election, M.K.O Abiola without recourse to religion or ethnicity.
Aregbesola said, “We will never drop our commitment to June 12. Nigerians, in their heterogeneity, on June 12, 1993, voted for Chief Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality.

“It was a pattern that made mockery of the fabled fault-lines and fissiparous tendencies of the Nigerian federation and projected a nation united behind a popular leader.
Noting that May 29 only symbolises the day the military handed over leadership of the country to a democratically elected government, Aregbesola explained that the unity with which the multi-ethnic groups spoke and acted on June 12, 1993 is what is being celebrated till today.
“May 29, in 1999, was the date the military handed over power to civilian administration and will remain symbolic for the transition to civil rule and the opportunity it presents for realising a truly democratic government that approximates the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a leader that will lead them to the Promised Land of security and life more abundant,” he said.
The governor, however, stated that the country had to wait for a long time after the annulment for the emergency of President Muhammadu Buhari, a leader that would take the country to the Promised Land until.

“We waited for 16 years for that leadership to emerge and we thank God for the election and coming to power of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“A government with a human face is here at last. He represents the aspirations and symbolism of June 12 in that he also got a pan-Nigerian mandate that once again defied the divisions in our country.
“He represents hope for change and national rebirth. He is on that path. God willing, he will lead us to the Promised Land,” Aregbesola said.
Aregbesola said despite the many imperfections associated with democracy, it remains the best form of government.

Osun State Government has  officially launch the use of standardized weighing scales called Osuwon Omoluabi for accurate transaction of businesses in all markets across the state today. One of the aides of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagbada, who made this known, in a statement in Osogbo, stated that the programme was held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park at Old Garage in Osogbo, the state capital.
 

 
According to him: “The programme was put in place to ensure that the accurate weighing scales are introduced for usage for commercial transactions in all the markets across the state to discourage cheating of customers in the markets.” He noted that “the existing measures are based more on rule of thumbs than any degree of accuracy and consistency.
The existing measuring standard are not accurate and full of inherent shortcomings often observed by the market men and women themselves.” Alagbada further explained that, standardizing scales will eliminate all inherent shortcomings, mistrust, incessant arguments and disagreements that are currently common place in commercial transactions.
“The standardized scales and measures will positively impact on the economy of the state by bringing unprecedented ease to trade and commercial transactions in the state.” “This will no doubt increase the pace and volume of transactions among traders and consumers, thereby increasing the volume of commerce.”

The Osun State Commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Alhaji OyedokunAdebamigbe, has warned the newly appointed executive members of the group to desist from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the association, saying that the violation of the constitution of the body might lead to the termination of their appointment.
 

 
Adebamigbe gave the warning during the official presentation of certificate of awards to 15 newly appointed state executives and three zonal commandants at the VGN headquarters in Ayetoro, Osogbo.
The commandant, while identifying security consciousness among Nigerians as an antidote to the security challenges  facing the country, he called on Nigerians and the people of Osun State, in particular to report any strange  movement  in their vicinities to security agencies, saying that security matters should not be taken with levity.
Emphasising the need for a more harmonious relationship between the police and the group, Adebamigbe stated that the police and the vigilante group had been enjoying cordial relationship for a long period of time.
According to him, such relationship will help the police in discharging their duty of protecting life and property better.
He maintained that the only way Nigeria could overcome insecurity is to jointly fight the menace to a standstill.
“It is paramount to maintain utmost vigilance in our respective abode. The security of our life and property is too important to be left in the hands of security agencies alone,” he said.
Adebamigbe further expressed the VGN’s readiness to continue to support the Nigerian army in the ongoing fight against the deadly Boko Haram insurgents, and to rescue the Chibok Girls.
Enumerating the group’s achievements, the commandant listed the discovery of Indian hemp farms in a joint operation with the NDLEA and NSCDC at Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of the state, voiding of bank robbery in Modakeke, Sammya Construction Company, Alasan and Ile-Ife and the arrest of the suspects.
He, therefore, advised the newly appointed executives, the zonal commandants and all other members of the group to be loyal to the constituted  authorities, security agents and cooperate with stakeholders in their various communities.
In their remarks on behalf of the awardees, the Deputy State Commandant and the Ijesa Zonal Commandant, Abiodun Oguleye and Bello Wasiu, respectively  appreciated the state and federal commandants for bestowing on them the award of recognition, promising to continue to be good ambassadors of the organisation.

The Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA), Osun State chapter, yesterday denied insinuations it was at loggerheads with Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his administration over the introduction of fees for extra-mural classes for public secondary school students.
 

 
 
Many national dailies had reported a disregard for government directive on the payment of fees for two hours extra coaching for public secondary school students across the state that the PTA has introduced. But the body in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Bisi Olaniyan, and its administrative secretary, Ogbeni Akinlolu Fadare, stated it has not introduced tuition or school fees in public schools in the state.
The association maintained that the leadership of the PTA in the state has always been a good partner of the administration of Aregbesola and will not head for any showdown with it.

The Osun State House of Assembly has enacted laws that will improve the lots of the masses, enhance the economy of the state and development of infrastructure.
 

 
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, gave the above indication in Osogbo, the state capital, while listing the achievements of the House.
He said seven bills, including the ones that would boost the states revenue and block leakages in the finances of the state among others, have been passed.
Oyintiloye added that the House has also paid specific attention to oversight functions, especially where it concerns the completion of ongoing projects across the state, in line with the commitment of the state government.
The Chairman said a total number of seven bills have been passed by the Assembly, while others were at different stages of consideration before the House.
The bills, he said, are: Public Procurement Bill; Land Use Charge Bill; Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill; Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill; Micro-credit Agency Bill; Conservation Fund (repeal) Bill; and the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
According to him, each of bills passed has connection with revenue generation, blockage of loopholes and sustaining transparency in governance.It said: “Osun Public Procurement Agency Bill would enhance due process in the bidding and procurement procedure through probity, accountability and transpaprency; just as it will check undue influence and interference in the procurement process.

“Also, Osun Land Use Charge Bill, is aimed at improving the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through enhanced payment of rate and levies on property to the coffers of the government.
“Osun Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill, on its part, was targeted at helping to take care of the health needs of the people, in line with the cardinal point of the government’s six-point integral action plan, one of which is “to restore healthy living”, through enhancement of efficient monitoring of healthcare system at the state and local government levels among others.
“Also, Osun Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill, would enhance free-flow of traffic and pedestrians; ensure clean and tidy environment; prevent road side traders from falling victims of roadside accident, as well as discourage child abuse.
“While Osun Micro-credit Agency (Establishment) bill, was aimed at using it as effective tool to liberate people from the bondage of poverty; the Omoluabi Conservation Fund (repeal) bill, was aimed at allowing the government have access to the conserved fund to carry out infrastructural development.

“The 2016 Appropriation Bill, which is the budget, was also passed with focus on the completion of ongoing projects across the state and make it revenue-driven, such that the largest percentage of it has been arranged in a way that it will be financed by IGR.
“In considering this bill, experts and other stakeholders were carried along through public hearing on some of the bill and their inputs were put into consideration before their passage”, he said.
Oyintiloye also stressed that the Assembly has passed several resolutions, which includes amendment of State of Osun Signage, Hoarding, and Advertisement Law; and resolution on the petition by a sitting judge of the State High Court Against the Governor over alleged mismanagement of funds.
Among others, he also said, were the reinstatement of the sacked lecturers in fours state-owner tertiary institutions, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
The parliament also noted, there were other interventions made, which include, land dispute between parties; and the issue of demand for compensation by those whose properties were separated due to one development or the other among others.

It also averred that, the 6th Assembly has been able to strengthen its oversight machinery through standing committees, especially to ensure the blockage of loopholes in the revenue of the state, towards increasing its IGR without putting unnecessary burden on the people, and ensure that the ongoing projects across the state are completed.
It specifically mentioned the audit carried out on the management of IGR by the management of the four state-owned tertiary institutions, saying, the audit showed that there were leakages.
The Assembly noted that it has subsequently passed a resolution to automate the payment of all fees in their campuses, which it said, would block leakages and make the institutions self-sustainable.
It then assured that the 6th Assembly has resolved to improve on its legislative activities and do more of oversight without abandoning the passage of laws that will benefit the people of the state.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called for quick architectural intervention to stimulate the nation’s economy.
Aregbesola also charged the leadership of Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, on the need to intensify efforts at fast tracking rapid economic recovery of the nation through quality of service delivery.
 

 
The Governor made the statement while playing host to the national delegation of the NIA, at government house, Osogbo.
Aregbesola stressed that the nation has gotten to a stage where architectural intervention is required to salvage her economy from the drift of collapse.
The Governor who decried the untapped numerous resources being endowed with the nation, said the time has come for government at all levels to maximize their endowments for greater productivity.
He contented that prompt intervention of government towards building an effective and efficient architectural institution would go a long way in encouraging adequate patronage of locally produced building materials in the country.
Aregbesola who attributed some of the architectural challenges in Nigeria to negligence of “necessity”, contented that government’s intervention on the activities of Nigerian architects would go a long way in building a vibrant architectural institution that would be a model in the world.
According to him, “one of the ways to revive our economy is to invest greatly in resuscitating some of our dearth and dilapidated sectors as architectural institution is of greater importance.
“it is obvious that our economy has been seriously bastardized by the successive administrations, but nevertheless, much has to be done to stimulate our economy for greater development.

The Government of Osun has declared Monday June 13, 2016 as a public holiday across the state in recognition of it as Democracy Day.
 

In a statement, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, stated that Monday, June 13, 2016 has been declared public holiday for the Sunday June 12, 2016 Democracy Day commemoration.
The June 12 Democracy Day is in recognition of the June 12 presidential election won by the late Moshood Abiola in 1993.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took centre stage as the federal government launch the National school feeding programme in Abuja on Thursday.
 

 
Aregbesola, who has been an ardent preacher of the school feeding initiative, reeled out enviable figures of the success that the state had recorded with the O’Meal programme.
” The Federal Ministry of Education consequently selected 12 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), to begin a phased-pilot implementation of the programme. Osun was fortunate to be among them”.
“The programme began in our state as Osun State Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme in May 2006. However, on our assumption of office in November 2010, we undertook a comprehensive review of education, including the school feeding programme, which we re-launched as O’MEALS on April 30, 2012. Its execution began immediately across all the 1,375 Elementary Schools in Osun”.
“In addition to feeding, we also carry out deworming exercise twice every year. This is to prevent the food from being shared with the pupils by worms in the stomach and maximise the nutritional value of what is eaten. This is the health component of the programme”.
“The total number of pupils being fed is now well over 252,000. This comes to about N14.8 million per day, N74 million per week, N325.6 million per month and N3.6 billion per annum. This is reducible to about N50 per pupil. The sum of N601,400 is paid out to the 3,007 caterers as transport fares on a daily basis”.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola aslo stated that elementary school enrollment have reached an all time high in the stated and he attributed this to the successful execution of the O’Meal programme
Urging the federal government to follow the Osun example, Rauf Aregbesola said he was in no doubt as to the fact that the programme was due for national scaling and that the results would be mind blowing.
 
Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme_Governor’s Presentation_09_ June 2016