The  school uniform controversy in Osun State is being blown out of proportion in my view. This is an election year and in politics, the players can go all the way to stage manage many things. There are some questions we should address.
Why is it that the photograph as published in a national newspaper had all the pupils wearing religious outfits in the front roll? How was the photograph taken? Was it taken by the school authority and sent to the press? How was the journalist allowed to take the picture at the school assembly? Why are these issues coming up now that Osun governorship election is close?
Truth is, Governor Rauf Aregbesola needs to be sensitive to some of the public views about him but this latest one in my view has political undertones. Imagine the issue of people dressing in masquerade regalia to school. How does one confirm they are pupils? That sounds so unreal.
Kareem Ibrahim,
Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna,
Kaduna State. 

The State Government of Osun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been commended on the support given to Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) .
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs who is also the Project Coordinator, OSUN RAMP (O’RAMP), Engineer Adelere  Oriolowo, gave the commendation during a visit to the Ira –Ikeji-Ile – Ara-keji – JABU road being proposed to be financed by the State government.
According to him, the (O’RAMP) project is a World Bank and French Development Agency’s (AFD) assisted project that was declared effective on 22nd November, 2013 and expected to rehabilitate 500km rural roads in the state within the project life cycle of six years.
He stressed further that, his team had earlier visited some of the on-going projects such as the 11.2km Ita-Oni – Onikoko road, 3.5km Ilesa/Akure Expressway – Ayodeji Road, 9.5km Okinni – Igbokiti – Idi-Emi – Pakiti road – O-fish farm road, 9km Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP) Farm road, Kuta among others to ascertain the level of completion. Other projects visited were the Completed 3-span bridge at Sasa River abandoned several years ago.
Engr Oriolowo then thanked Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the support given on Community-based Routine Road Maintenance noting that the system has assisted in maintaining the standard of the road at the 12km Iwo – Pataara road, 10.8km Idiroko/Akinleye road and 5km Esa-Oke road.
With him on the trip  ,which also took him to the  Olura of Ira’s palace, Oba Julius Fatanmi,  are Mr Oladoja Adedokun,
Development Communication Specialist and other staff of the Ministry.
OSUNNEWS

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola welcomed by Baptist High School Students, Iwo, on his arrival to the peace meeting on dress code crises, at the School Premises, Iwo, State of Osun on Monday 11-02-2014

In her bid to promote healthy living among school children and make clean water available , the state government has stated her commitment to the preservation and conservation of water in the state through the Project Water Education for Teachers (PWET) Initiative.
The state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, gave this assurance while receiving experts from the Nestle Water and Star Bright Consulting Firm, the two partners in the project, who were in her office on a courtesy visit.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said government of the State  is pre-occupied with the promotion of health and education of the children in the state and will stop at nothing to ensure that children in the state maintain good hygiene in their schools and homes.
According to the Deputy Governor, teachers and pupils should be taught on how best to preserve and conserve water so as to be able to teach those around them describing this as the best way to produce healthy children in the state.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said commitments of the state government in giving healthy life to children in the state has been demonstrated through her participation in the Global Handwashing Day and O-MEAL initiative which have contributed immensely to the promotion of healthy living condition of children in the state.
The Deputy Governor then said the state government will collaborate with willing partners with laudable programmes aimed at advancing education and health programmes in the state.
Earlier in his address, leader of the delegation and Nestle Water Branch Manager, Mr. Omotayo Latunji, said the Project Water Education for Teachers (PWET) is aimed at preserving and conserving water through the teaching of teachers and pupils.
He said only 2.5% of water available on earth is fresh with its 29.9% available for consumption adding that competition for its usage has attained an alarming rate thus prompting the need for proper preservation and conservation of water for coming generation through PWET.
Mr. Latunji said the programme, launched in Lagos on October 26, 2012 and ongoing in 113 primary schools in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo States, will go a long way in reducing the scourge imminent from scarcity of water in the State saying PWET is already working legitimately, efficiently and harmoniously with communities in 60 countries across the globe.
Present at the parley were stakeholders in education in the State as well as President/Chief Executive Officer of the Star Bright Consulting Firm, Mr. Emmanuel Olu-Ayeni.
 OSUNNEWS

Mr Oladepo Amuda, the Special Adviser to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Works, on Monday said the Osun government would spend N30.5 billion on road construction projects in the state. Amuda spoke in Osogbo during the 2014 budget defence before the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
“The budgeted sum will be used in the construction of 93 kilometres of roads in all the local government areas of the state,’’ he said. The special adviser explained further that three kilometres of road would be constructed in each of the 30 LGAs in the state.
Amuda said the 93 kilometres of road projects would be in addition to the ongoing 10-kilometre road projects in the LGAs. He said further that six billion Naira had been provided in the 2014 budget to commence the project.
Amuda however said the Ministry of Works might come up with a supplementary budget later in the year to finance the project. He also said about 900 kilometres of road projects were being executed presently across the state. The Special Adviser commended the state governor for his commitment to infrastructure development.
“This commitment has resulted in the economic development of the state,’’ he said.
PUNCH

Pursuant to the State of Osun Debt Management Office (Establishment) Law 2012, the Debt Management Office, hitherto operating as a department under the Ministry of Finance has been reconstituted. This is contained in a release signed by the Ag. Director General, State of Osun Debt Management Office, Mr. Tunde Adejumo.
The reconstitution according to the statement became imperative so as to fortify the office and give it the required statutory backing and autonomy. The release further stipulates that according to section 27 of the law, the powers of any Ministry or extra-ministerial Department over any debt involving the state shall, by virtue of the law and without further assurances, be vested in the office as from the commencement of the law (June 28, 2012).
The statement also stated that, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the immediate implementation of the law and has consequently approved the appointment of a Director General for the office. The release further stated that, it has become mandatory for all Ministries, Agencies and Departments of the State Government of Osun to refer all issues relating to borrowing in consonance with the law to: State of Osun Debt Management Office, Finance Building State Secretariat Complex, Gbongan Road, Abere
 

Government of the State of Osun has announced the names of successful applicants for allocation of lands at Mokore, Ago Owu, Iwo, Pataara and Esa-Oke farm settlements.

 A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the Office of Economic Development and Parnerships, Hon. Oluremi Ajibewa directed all successful applicants to verify their names at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Securirty, Abere, Osogbo from Monday February 10, 2014.

 The statement further admonished applicants to also listen to Osun Radio for the list of successful candidates.

 All successful applicants are to commence collection of allocation papers at the O’ REAP Coordination office (OEDP) from Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

OSUNNEWS

The Executive Council of the State of Osun at its fourth meeting in 2014 has ratified two bills for onward transmission to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage to laws.
In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, the bills are those asking for the amendment of the Cooperative Societies Law Cap 31 Laws of Osun State and the one on Provision for Registration of Hotels and Restaurants.2013 in the state.
The Cooperative Societies Laws, when amended and passed into law would have twelve parts and would ensure the promotion of membership entrepreneurial capacities to generate adequate surplus for their membership.
It would facilitate the smooth administration of cooperative societies in the state, ensure the appointment of a Registrar, Asset Registration and provide for   duties and privileges of registered societies.
Similarly, the proposed Bill for provision for the registration of Hotels and Restaurants 2013 when passed into law would guarantee the state citizens rights of access to hotels and restaurant operation.
The bill would also provide for regulatory framework for the institutions and other social services, as well as set standard norms for service provision and tariffs.
However, the two bills will become laws only after their passage and ratification by the State Assembly and final assent by the Governor.
OSUNNEWS

Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, has restated the commitment of the state government to fully digitalize Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) in no distant future.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori gave this assurance in her address at the Motivation and Award Party organized for board members,management and staff of OSBC family held within the premises of Ile Awiye,Oke-Baale, Osogbo.
Reading from her speech titled; MOTIVATION, A KEY INGREDIENT FOR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE, the state Deputy Governor described members of staff as greatest asset of any organization that is willing to succeed in her service delivery adding it is incumbent on organizations to place high priority on welfare of their members of staff with a view to bringing out the best from them.
Appreciating OSBC family for being a worthy partner to the state government through wide coverage, the corporation has accorded activities and programmes of the state government since its assuming office three years ago. The state Deputy Governor commended OSBC for all her educative and informative programmes as well as balanced news reporting.
Speaking on performance of members of staff of the corporation together with comparing the corporation with sister corporations across the country, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori rated OSBC 89% in terms of performance and urged members of staff to be dedicated to duty and join hands with the board and management of the corporation to become one of the best in the country.
She then enjoined staff of the corporation to be result oriented, make punctuality, neatness, hardwork and dedication to duty their watchwords in the New Year saying viewers of OSBC should find the station worthy of appreciation.
In his address, OSBC Board Chairman, Mr. Kola Akanji, appreciated the state government for equipping the station with latest working tools, appointment of new members of staff together with training and re-training of staff which have transformed into making television and radio stations of the corporation the toast of all.
He said the entire OSBC family will leave  no stone unturned in the quest to continue to educate, entertain and inform her listeners and viewers adding that dedication of members of staff is guaranteed.
In his keynote address, Director General of the corporation, Prince Soji Fadehan, thanked the state government for her unprecedented support to the corporation as well as the untiring effort of Chairman and Members of OSBC Board to make the corporation sit among the best in the country.
Prince Fadehan thereafter tasked members of staff to double their efforts and give their best to duty saying the proposed digitalization of OSBC is a challenge to them all and could lead to success if all hands are on deck.
OSUNNEWS

The government of the State of Osun wishes to state that it is aware of reports of the situation at the Baptist High School Iwo, in Iwo Local Government Area of the State, by a section of the press.
Preliminary investigations reveal that 92 out of the 2,500 student population in that school were involved in a protest over the wearing of hijab.
In view of the development, government has therefore invited parents of the 92 students involved in the protest for a meeting at 4 p.m. on Friday in Osogbo with a view to finding a lasting solution to the issues.
The government also wishes to state that a panel of inquiry is to be constituted in the immediate to investigate remote and immediate causes of the perennial disturbance at the Baptist High School, Iwo.
The panel is to comprise representatives of the relevant organisations such as the All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Schools (ANCOPS), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Parents Teachers Association and community leaders with the officials of the Ministry of Education.
It must be stated that the government recognises protest as a legitimate avenue for registering grievances in a democracy which must be peaceful and decent. However, it will not condone acts of indiscipline in any form from any quarters.
We restate our commitment to the total reform of the education sector just as we are determined to bring reforms to other aspects of our people’s lives in Osun.
Osun a Dara
PREMIUMTIMES