…harps on developmental journalism
Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday congratulated the Abiodun Olalere-led Osun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, on their successful election.
 
 

 
Aregbesola asked Abiodun Olalere, who returned as the Chaiman of the council, to strive to set new standards that are capable of giving journalists in the state a greater dignity in the discharge of their assignments.
In a statement congratulating Olalere by the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola urged him to ensure the promotion of the sanctity of fairness and truth in journalism as a major agenda of his tenure.
The governor charged the newly returned NUJ chairman not to be found wanting in his responsibilities, reminding him of the sacred duties of journalism as the mirror of the society.
The Governor advised him and his executive council to ensure adequate professional conduct among journalists, saying professionalism must be the hallmark of every member as the nation enters in to the era of change.
The governor charged the NUJ boss to see to the training and re-training of journalists for them to be able to discharge their constitutional duties without fear or favour, let or hindrance.
He expressed the optimism that the EXCO should add value to the profession, urging him to ensure the promotion of developmental journalism in the country.
According to him: “the EXCO led by Olalere no doubt, has huge task before it. And this is to ensure that it struggles to ensure that journalists discharge their duties with all the fairness, truth and sense of responsibility required in a just society.
” You should not allow personal interests to affect your reportage and professional conducts. When these are achieved, Nigerian journalists would be seen as true professionals that nobody can use for selfish political agenda.
“Under the new leadership, the profession must enjoy the respect and dignity it deserves. Reports by journalists must be seen as one with depth, fair, balance, truth.”
The governor commended the NUJ for the peaceful and democratic way its new leaders have emerged, saying that all hands must be on deck at ensuring the survival of democracy in the country.

 Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the redeployment of Permanent Secretaries in the State with immediate effect.
 

 
The new postings, according to a circular signed by the State Head of Service, Mr. Olayinka Owoeye, became imperative due to the re-organisation of the Civil Service from eighteen to twelve Ministries coupled with the creation of some new Departments and Agencies.
According to the posting instruction, there is need to re-invigorate the Public Service for the challenges ahead especially the effective execution of 2016 Budget.
According to the Head of Service, Mr. Kayode Adegoke will replace Mr. Christopher Fawole of the Parastatal Monitoring Office who is retiring from the service while Mr. Muftau Oluwadare will man the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural and Community Affairs.
Mr. Sunday Olajide has been deployed to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to replace Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran who has retired from the Service while Mr. Ayanleye Aina is now in charge of the Office of Human Resources and Capacity Building as well as overseeing the Public Service Office.
Architect Adewale Ojo is now the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Physical Planning while Engineer Olusegun Aduroja moves to the Hospitals Management Board as the Permanent Secretary.
The letter of posting shows that Mrs Olajumoke Bello is now the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture while Pharmacist Omolara Ajayi has been moved to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs.
Dr. Adeyinka Eso is now the Permanent Secretary in charge of the State Ministry of Health while Mrs Adebimpe Ogunlumade mni, now takes charge of the Ministry of Finance.

The Osun State House of Assembly has recommended the reinstatement of 36 lecturers, who were recently sacked by the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ila Orangun, Osun State.
This was contained in a statement made in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Olatubosun Oyintiloye.
 

 
Oyintiloye quoted the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, as saying this while receiving a Save-Our-Soul message from the leadership of the Osun State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun Tertiary Institutions.
The speaker assured the lecturers that any of the sacked lecturers, who had a genuine case, would be recalled.
The statement reads, “The intervention of the House has started having positive effect, due to the call for the files alone. The number of affected lecturers in the College of Education, Ila Orangun has reduced from 72 to 36.
“We can assure you that we will look into the files of the affected staff, ensure that justice is done and make sure that nobody is unjustifiably sacked.
“What we cannot assure you is that all the affected staff would be recalled, because, we all know that we will definitely have some that have committed one offence or the other.”
He added that after the review of the cases of the affected employees, appropriate recommendation would be made to ensure justice.
Salaam told the leadership of the workers’ union that the decision to sack the lecturers was not the making of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, stressing that the governor meant well for the state.

The State Ministry of Education has directed Public and Private Schools in the State of Osun to observe  Mid-Term break tomorrow Friday (11th February, 2016) and Monday (15th February, 2016)  respectively.
 

 
According to a release signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, the break is in line with the approved school calendar for the 2015/2016 academic session.
The release therefore enjoined Parents and Guardians to monitor their Children and Wards for judicious use of the Two days declared as holidays.
The release added that academic activities would resume in all Public and Private Schools across the State on Tuesday, 16th February, 2016.

 
 
SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE SIGNING INTO LAW OF THE STATE OF OSUN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW, 2015 AT THE EXCO LOUNGE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, ABERE, ON FEBRUARY 10, 2016
 
Protocols,
A GOOD PIECE OF LAW
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this occasion, the signing into law of the State of Osun Public Procurement Law, 2015.
Since the modern government provides wide ranging services to the people and sustains itself, procurement has been its major feature. From the office pin to heavy machinery, government is constantly in the business of buying. At any time, government does not spend less than 30 per cent of its revenue on procurement of goods and services. This is huge, if we consider the amount involved. Procurement is also one way in which the government interfaces with the people and reinflate its domestic economy.
It is important therefore that the resources of government be managed judiciously and the procurement process also be seen to be transparent and equitable. As stewards of public funds, we must be accountable and be seen to have got the best deal for the people with public funds.
Just today, a report in one of the newspapers compared the airport we are building in Osun to similar ones built by other states and concluded that ours is the cheapest, even when we have the longest runway.
A recent similar comparison on the mega-schools we are constructing was done with that of a neighbouring state and also gave us a favourable rating, not just in cost but in quality. It is stuff like this that separates us from the rest.
It is the need to have these values codified into law and make it bounding principles of governance for whoever is in government that motivated us to make this law.
In all, the State of Osun Public Procurement Law, 2015 consists of 81 sections and I will highlight the most interesting parts.
The piece of legislation we are signing into Law today provides for public dissemination of information on government procurement. This guarantees all the citizens, particularly small and medium scale enterprises, ample opportunities to participate in the economic opportunities and benefits embedded in public procurement, among others. It will also ensure probity, accountability, transparency, value for money as well as establish fair pricing standards and benchmarks.
Section 23(1)-(27) of the Law which provides for the Governing Rules on public procurement, encapsulate core foundation of the law. This Section is the result of scientific and well-grounded research into why procurement sanctity has eluded many governments and their agencies as it is no gain saying that where there are no adequate guidelines and safeguards, no matter how well intentioned any policy of government is, it is bound to be abused by unscrupulous elements saddled with its operation. Hence, the Section is coined in line with best global practices in procurement and even modelled to suit our own peculiarities in the State of Osun so as to forestall any act of sabotage right from the outset of any procurement process.
Section 24 compliments Section 23 by providing for Warranties for all procurement contracts. This provision is designed to ensure that requisite skill in service provision is employed and also that genuine materials and other inputs are used in any given procurement.
With this new State of Osun Public Procurement Law, Section 25 makes it mandatory that all procuring entities must have a procuring Office whose functions shall, among others, be:

1. initiate the entity’s procurement process;
2. carry out appropriate market and statistical surveys and prepare analysis of cost implication of a proposed procurement;

iii.     conduct pre-qualification exercise for suppliers, contractors or consultants based on requisite expression of interest; and

1. evaluate expression of interest by suppliers, contractors or consultants and forward lists of qualified submissions to the Board.

Section 32 makes it mandatory that the procurement of works, goods and services by all procuring entities shall be conducted by Open Competitive Bidding, except where otherwise expressly provided in the Procurement Law.
Perhaps the most innovative provision in the new State of Osun Procurement Law, 2015 is the provision for E-procurement as contained in Section 61. The Section provides that the Board shall design and set up a secure electronic portal to be known as the Osun Government Electronic Procurement System, not later than 12 months from the enactment of this Law or at such time that the Governor may consider appropriate. The Portal shall be the primary source of information for all public procurement matters and opportunities within the purview of this Law and Regulations issued hereunder.
The special time that we are in demands financial engineering ingenuity.  We must not only squeeze the financial water out of stone, so to speak, we must get so much out of little. The Public Procurement Law, 2015 we are signing into law is therefore within the larger framework of public finance management policy of the government which is aimed at reducing the cost of governance, bringing transparency into the procurement process, reducing waste, and ensure value for money.
We have sent other pieces of law to the House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law. These include the Revenue Administration Law, which is meant to set up an autonomous agency for revenue collection. There is the Fiscal Responsibility Commission Law which is designed to ensure fiscal discipline and prudence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
There is also Land Use Charge Law, which has just been passed into law by the House of Assembly, to harmonise all property tax laws, including tenement rate, for the purpose of ease of collection.
These legal instruments will assist in a great deal to turn around the financial fortunes of Osun and enable us to get the best out of our resources and our people, for the good governance of the state and the best service of our people.
I want to assure the people of the state that the challenge we face is not beyond our capability and God has given us the means to surmount them.
Let me reiterate once again the need for productivity and hard work by our people. Let all the young people find something productive to do, especially in agriculture. Let every person engaged in any endeavour, be it public or private, add value to his or her work and let us all pay our taxes as and when due.
Let me thank those who helped in the making of this law, beginning from the officials of the Ministry of Justice, the honourable members of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Bashir Ajibola and other men (and women) of goodwill.
I thank you all for your kind attention.

…Says state’s airport, schools, other projects guided by best procurement practices
In a bid to sustain transparency and accountability in government transactions, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday signed into law the Osun Public Procurement Law 2015.
 
 

 
 
The Public Procurement Law provides for public dissemination of information on government procurement which will guarantee citizens, particularly small and medium scale enterprises opportunities to participate in public procurement processes among others.
The Governor, while signing the bill into law at the Executive Chamber Lounge of the Governor’s Office in Osogbo said that procurement is one way in which the government interfaces with the people and re-inflates its domestic economy.
‎
Aregbesola, considering the volume of government procurement, stated that it is important that the resources of government be managed judiciously and the procurement process seen to be transparent and equitable.
He held that government as stewards of public funds, must be accountable and be seen to have got the best deal for the people with public funds.
The Governor said, “Just today (Wednesday), a report in one of the newspapers compared the airport we are building in Osun to similar ones built by other states and concluded that ours is the cheapest, even when we have the longest runway.
‎
“A recent similar comparison on the mega-schools we are constructing was done with that of a neighbouring state and also gave us a favourable rating, not just in cost but in quality. It is stuff like this that separates us from the rest.
‎
“It is the need to have these values codified into law and make it bounding principles of governance for whoever is in government that motivated us to make this law.” ‎
‎
‎He pointed out that the State of Osun Public Procurement Law 2015 in all consists of 81 sections which will ensure probity, accountability, transparency, value for money as well as establish fair pricing standards and benchmarks.
‎
Aregbesola stressed that government has put in place adequate guideline to safeguard the law from being abused by people.
‎
He said, “No matter how well intentioned any policy of government is, it is bound to be abused by unscrupulous elements saddled with its operation.
“Hence, the Section 23 (1)-(27) was coined in line with best global practices in procurement and even modeled to suit our own peculiarities in the State of Osun so as to forestall any act of sabotage right from the outset of any procurement process”.
The governor added that Section 25 of the new law makes it mandatory that all procuring entities must have a procuring Office with the function of i‎nitiating the entity’s procurement process.
He also noted that the procuring office must carry out appropriate market and statistical surveys, prepare analysis of cost implication of a proposed procurement among other functions.
‎
Speaking earlier on the law, the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties in Osun, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru stated that the‎ Public Procurement Law, 2015 is a well-researched Law in line with the demand for transparency, accountability and effectiveness that the procurement process demands.
He held that the passage of the Law will guarantee Osun citizens’ opportunities to participate in the economic opportunities and benefits embedded in public procurement, among others.
Ajibola also added that the law will also ensure probity, accountability, transparency, value for money as well as establish fair pricing standards and benchmarks.
‎
He said, “The new State of Osun Procurement Law, 2015 is the provision for E-procurement as contained in Section 61 which provides that the Board shall design and set up a secure electronic portal, not later than twelve months from the enactment of this Law or at such time that the Governor may consider appropriate”. Dr. Ajibola noted.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has ordered the immediate reopening of the two Iron and Steel Rolling Mills closed recently at Ikirun and Ile-Ife.
 

 
This was contained in a press release signed by the General Manager and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Alhaji Ganiyu Oyeladun in Osogbo.
The Governor enjoined the two factories to always ensure that gaseous waste emanating from their factories are adequately treated before being discharged into the environment.
They were also advised to maintain a high standard of sanitation and a sustainable approach towards best practices that is in-line with approved standard.

The Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed his administration’s resolve to resuscitate the dearth status of the state’s tourist centres.
Governor Aregbesola said the current excruciating economic system remains a sacrosanct wake up signal for every serious government to look beyond the crude oil revenues.
Governor Aregbesola made the disclosure while playing a host on Committee set up on the Design of Kiriji War Site Road Networks in Igbajo and Imesi-Ile respectively.
Governor Aregbesola who described Kiriji site as significant historic site for all yoruba race, said his government would do all it could to position the site to a world class recreation centre.

Aregbesola attributed the primitive Kiriji War site to what he described as cultural repository asylum, stressing that his government would not hesitate to invest in bringing back to life, the yoruba socio-cultural and ethnical legacies.
The Governor averred that tourism as a lucrative sector has the countless number of potentials to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and as well place the state to a viable position among the world tourist centres.
Aregbesola said the time has come to alternate tourism as a realistic means to revenues from Federation Accounts, reiterating that no stone would be left unturned to ensure its total realization.
Governor Aregbesola who recounted his laudable achievements since assumption of office, said his government has regurgitated the untapped potentials of tourism, which he said has witnessed tremendous changes and as well contributed positively to the socio-economic and cultural lives of the citizenry.
Aregbesola however commended the committee for coming up with such brilliant idea, which he described as monumental initiative, saying the significance was not only meant to jerk up the state’s economic value, but to improve the cultural heritage of yoruba race.
He charged the state Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture to facilitate the project, promising that his government would ensure all round revival of the historic Kiriji War site to attract the deserved economic values.
“I am fully impressed on this well-thought out proposal to improve our cultural heritage. Though our government has been very undaunted, resilient and steadfast in rehabilitating, enhancing and improving the tourism sector, but nevertheless, much still need to be done to ensure that all the tourist sites in the state are revamped for the betterment of our people.
“Although implementing a project like this takes much in terms of resources and timing that cannot be completed or finished in a short period, but notwithstanding, but we will commit necessary human and material resources to ensure that the good gestures are realized.
“Our government is highly interested in initiating some things that will show that Kiriji is not an ordinary site to yoruba person, but rather an historic site that creates importance and significance particularly on our unity, our commitment to peace, progress and development.
“We will do this so as to continuously promoting our cultural heritage for future generations.
To achieve this, Governor Aregbesola charged the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, to get a consultant to assist it into comprehensive research that will enhance and facilitate the smooth implementation of the proposed projects.
Governor Aregbesola called for deep research into all aspects of the Kiriji War which he opined that would enhance the seamless execution of the project.
” This is a good demonstration of social responsibility. I thank the initiator and those who brought this wonderful initiative to limelight and we assure you of fruitful partnership”, he stated.
Governor Aregbesola who urged  members of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, to always show concern towards the socio-economic and infrastructural welfare of the people said, there is the need for them to partner with government for general growth and development.
He said, “As an engineering association, I want you to do more than this because there are some engineering solutions that ought to be recommended for government for better improvement of the society and general well being of the masses.
“You must be part of progress in giving recommendations that would improve the condition of our roads and thereby prevent the avoidable accident and destruction to the lives of the people in the community.
“Always help government to solve problems that confront society. Try to let people and government know that you care about their welfare by either quickly draw their attention before such development becomes a threat or danger to life or even in preventing the development of a threat, you support.
“Let your method of showing concern about the welfare of the people be totally improved in finding solutions to society and community challenges.
He therefore assured members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, his government’s support, adding he would personally do all necessary things to revamp the site for general well being.
He added, “We will partner with you once the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture gets through with other aspects of the projects.
“Once necessary researches and findings are done, we shall look for how to implement your infrastructural proposal to make the site a memorable recreation centre that will attract visitors around the globe.
Earlier, the Chairman, Committee on the Design of Kiriji Road Networks, Engineer David Sola Oni, commended the state government for living up to the responsibilty in spite the nation’s dwindling revenues.
Engineer Oni who described the tremendous achievements recorded in the last five years by the current government as inestimable said, Governor Aregbesola has exhibited his rare passion in all aspects of the economy.
He extolled the significant successes and memorable legacies which he said the present government had successfully made, assuring Governor Aregbesola of utmost commitment, dedication and avowed determination towards the successful actualization of the projects.
Engineer Oni who gave a comprehensive background on the report that produces a map of Kiriji war site at Igbajo and Imesi-Ile, said the war site had farmlands, and various war relics such as spear bullets and other weapons used during the civil war.
He elucidated that the site was the location of war treaty signing in September 23, 1886 between Ibadan and its affiliates and Ekiti Parapo and its affiliates.
Engineer assured that an extensive research and finding had been done on the site, saying the time has come to revival the history and turn the site to a place to be in the world.
He buttressed his point with scientific analyses where the war locations were technically revealed and analyzed.
According to him, “The war locations include: Aga-Ogedengbe, a stone seat of Ogedengbe and Latoosa’s camp at Igbojo.
“Others are; Okuta Orunorunga, Latoosa stool, Fejeboju Stream, Latoosa Grove and the peace treaty site”, he stated.
Engineer Oni therefore urged the state government to urgently expedite action that would fast-track quick implementation.
He disclosed that about 5killometers of roads network would be constructed across the War site, saying adequate implementation of infrastructures around the site would go a long way in positioning it to the vantage place.
Engineer Oni therefore assured the state of effective and efficient implementation of both cultural and infrastructural designs as being promised.

Coordinating Director of the Teachers Establishment and Pension Office in the State of Osun, Mr. Adeolu Oyebayo, has commended the efforts of Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for taking the bold step of addressing shortage of teachers in public schools by deploying qualified teachers from the civil service into the teaching profession.

Oyebayo gave the commendation on Wednesday February 10, 2014, during a screening exercise for civil servants in the state with relevant teaching qualification that were deployed from the Civil Service to the State Teaching Service.
According to him, the government had realized an increase in the number of students in public schools across the state. hence the need to recruit more qualified teachers.
He further stressed that with this development, more qualified personnel will be available in the schools and this will ultimately enhance the performance of students.