The State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro has expressed his concern for the present position of the nation’s economy, now that the revenue from Federation Account has dropped by 40% (forty percent) since July 2013, saying all stakeholders in the nation’s economy should find a way of solving, the financial mess rocking all tiers of Government in Nigeria.

Dr. Wale Bolorunduro made the assertion today in Osogbo while speaking with newsmen.

The financial expert said something urgent should be done to curb the present unfortunate trend of low remittance of crude oil sales, since 70% (seventy percent) of the county revenue come from crude oil.

Dr. Bolorunduro therefore commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for forging ahead in his numerous projects and programmes despite the dwindling income from the Federal Allocation Account which has been affecting all the states in Nigeria in the last six months.

OSUNNEWS

The State Government of Osun has realized the need to reduce her over dependence on oil revenue from the Federation account by improving on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
 

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. ‘Bade Adeshina during his presentation at the House of Assembly, State of Osun.

He added that, the State Government is driving the Internal Revenue Service by repositioning and strengthening it through the appointment of more qualified personnel while beaming its searchlights towards the informal sector.

 The Special Adviser Budget and Economic Planning thereafter assured the House that, 2014 Budget which is christened “Budget of Growth, Enhancement and Development” will be accorded all the necessary attention it deserves in order to ensure its success.

Mr. Adesina therefore called for the support of all stakeholders, including the parliamentarians to join hands as usual with the present administration in ensuring the successful implementation of the 2014 Budget of the State.

OSUNNEWS

Photos from the Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 12-02-2014

National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right); Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Chairman, Bishop Magnus Atilade (left); Former Osun CAN Chairman, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye (middle 2nd row); Director General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Mr Femi Ifaturoti (2nd row-right) and other Bishops, during the APC National Leader’s Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 12-02-2014

National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right); Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Chairman, Bishop Magnus Atilade (left); Former Osun CAN Chairman, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye (middle 2nd row); Director General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Mr Femi Ifaturoti (2nd row-right) and other Bishops, during the APC National Leader’s Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 12-02-2014

National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right); Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Interim Chairman Osun APC, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi (2nd row-right); Interim Secretary, Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun (2nd row- 2nd left); Director General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Mr Femi Ifaturoti (2nd row-right); Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon (2nd row-left) and others, during the APC National Leader’s Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 12-02-2014

The State Government of Osun is committed to achieving a properly planned and harmonious environment within Osogbo, the state capital and her environs.

The Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Arc. Muyiwa Ige disclosed this in Osogbo during a routing site inspecting visit to the sites of the on-going project in the State, which comprises the rehabilitation work at the train station, the market at Igbo-Kenya, the yam market located behind the Technical College,  New MDS market along Iwo-Road, Trailer park, and Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo.

The Commissioner directed the Site supervisor of Sunlek investment Ltd, the construction company in-charge of the perimeter fencing, Mr. Osita Osita to rework the fencing so that no portion of the school’s land would be left out. Arc. Ige, at the site of the routine exercise, also directed some owners of the structure within the proposed neighborhood market, to furnish the Ministry with relevant land documents for verification.
On the encourage of the Commissioner were the General Manager, Capital Territory Development Authority, TPI Wole Ilori, Directors and other staff of the Ministry.
OSUNNEWS

The Government of the State of Osun will not commission any uncompleted or half done project. This was stated  by the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Mr. Stephen Kola-Balogun, while receiving the executive of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in his office.
According to him, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola believes in building structures that are standard and can stand the test of time before commissioning them as the administration cannot compromise standard for commissioning.
The Commissioner said that most of the capital projects embarked upon by the present administration had to be done from the scratch in order to ensure their durability as opposed to what the government inherited from the previous administration.  In his words, he noted that none of the six stadia proposed by past the administration had indoors sport hall.
Thus, the present government had to re-draw its plans and start the reconstruction of the Osogbo stadium afresh. Mr. Kola-Balogun praised the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola for creating a Ministry of Sports for the first time in the history of the state and for making sure that sporting activities are developed across the length and breadth of the state.  The Commissioner therefore charged SWAN to always appraise the activities of government in the sporting sector with a view to drawing government’s attention to its strength and any likely weakness.  He thanked the executive of SWAN for their interest in the Walk-to-live exercise of the government and enjoined them to participate in the exercise as a way of promoting sporting activities.
In his address, the President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) State of Osun Branch, Mr. Yemi Aboderin, praised the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola for his interest in sports development.  He particularly eulogized Governor Aregbesola on the introduction of Walk-to-Live exercise, the construction works going on at the Osogbo stadium as well as sponsoring athletes from the state to various sporting activities within and outside the country.
He therefore pledged the association’s support for the government and promised to give adequate media attention to her activities on sports.
OSUNNEWS

As part of activities marking the year 2014 Valentine’s Day Celebration, Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDs (O-SACA) is organizing a free HIV Counseling and Testing for all the youths and general populace in the State.
This was contained in a press release issued and signed by the Project Manager, O-SACA, Dr. Akin Oyebade who stated that the activities is designed to sensitize the youths to avoid risky sexual behaviours, maintain abstinence and remain faithful to one partner.
According to the release, the programme holds between Wednesday 12th and Friday 14th February 2014 at O-SACA’s Secretariat, 79, Odi-Olowo Street, Osogbo by 8:30am daily.
The release enjoined all and sundry  to visit O-SACA’s  office for free counseling and testing, as well as collection of condoms and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials.

OSUNNEWS

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mr. Oladipo Soyode, has charged youths to be eating traditional food to enable them live healthy instead of foreign food that has no nutritional value.

Mr. Soyode who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Olajumoke Bello gave this charge at Osogbo during the Traditional food Festival competition Organized for the food vendors in the State.

The Special Adviser reiterated the efforts of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in bringing the aged long traditional food that have nutritional value to the door steps of the younger generation who may have lost real value of typical african food.

Also speaking at the event,the General Manager, Osun Tourism Board, Mr. Abiodun Balogun challenged the food vendors to be cooking real African food and make use of locust rather than modern maggi to allow the consumers feel the nutritional values.
Highlight of the event were the showcasing of Traditional food from Osogbo, Iwo, Ede, Ikirun, Ife, and Ijesha zones with food like: Iyan Ewu, Iyan Gbere, Eki, Sokun-Sokun, Dodo Ikire, akara Osu, Igbalo, Ojojo, Dele, Efo Ebolo, feregede, isapa, ogunmo, moin-moin, and a host of others.

At the end of the competition; Osogbo zone which comprises of Osogbo, Olorunda, orolu and ifelodun local Governments came first, Ikirun zone which comprises of Ifelodun, Boripe, Ila and odo-otin local governments came second while Iwo zone that comprises of Iwo, Ayedire, Ola-Oluwa, Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan local governments came third.

Present at the Occasion were the Iyaloja of the State of Osun, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, Directors and Staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture and Osun Tourism Board.

OSUNNEWS

The new Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, yesterday assumed duties in the state. Mr Maishanu who hails from Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State succeeded Mrs. Dorothy Gimba who served as the state commissioner for one year. Mrs Gimba who is on course  at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru near Jos, was affected by the recent shake up in the police force.
Maishanu, according to a statement from the spokesman of the state police command, Mrs Folashade Odoro, arrived Osogbo, the state capital, on February 10, 2014. According to the statement, the new commissioner enlisted in the force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1984 and rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police in 2009.
The statement said Mr Maishanu who holds a degree in Management had served at various times as Commissioner of Police in Imo, Niger, Taraba and Ekiti States. He is an alumnus of NIPSS.
DAILY TRUST

The Chairman of Osun chapter of National Union of Road Transport  Workers, Alhaji Isiaka Afolabi, says the union will not indulge in acts capable of destabilising the state during the forthcoming governorship elections.
Afolabi told newsmen in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that INEC had fixed Aug. 9 for the governorship election in the state.
He said the union was an effective organ in the maintenance of peace and good governance without political bias.
He said the union had effectively eradicated motor park thuggery in the state with a view to ensuring peaceful atmosphere. The chairman said there was no more thuggery among its members and that they would not engage in violence during the election. He said the union was committed to good governance and would stand by the government to make life easier for the people.
He commended the state government for providing 50 buses to the union through a bank-guaranteed soft loan.Government must be commended for this initiative and the payment of a one-year comprehensive insurance on each of the vehicles.
“We also thank the government for the payment of 20 per cent bank interest on the loan,” he said. Afolabi said the union would continue to support government in its activities.
PUNCH