It has come to the notice of the Government of the state of Osun that the young and able bodied employees of the state that voluntarily opted out of the service of the state en-mass in December 2012 are planning to embark on a three day protest over the delay in payment of their pension arrears. The referenced group of retirees voluntarily opted out of the state’s service due to their unwillingness to join the Contributory Pension Scheme mandated by the previous PDP administration.
This was disclosed today in Osogbo by the State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Wale Bolorunduro.
The Commissioner stated that while the government believes that the referenced group of retirees has freedom to express their concerns, it is regrettable that the previous Head of Service approved the forceful retirement of the group of the retirees, he did not consider the cashflow implication when granting the approval of the forceful retirement thus leading the government not to make adequate provision for the associated obligation. This incidence spontaneously led to an increase in the government monthly pension payment from N250million, met at the inception of our administration to N600million.
The Commissioner for Finance also pointed out that the last administration failed to automate the manual  processing of retirees benefits to take care of the surge in number, thereby leading to delay of processing the Authority to collect (ATC) papers of the retired staff hence some people who retired since December 2012 were unable to submit their Authority to collect until later month such as November 2013. This is the genesis of the pension arrears. He then stressed that the Government has however kept pace to pension-roll them as soon as their Authority papers are submitted.
Dr Bolorunduro disclosed that the total pension arrears arising from the aforementioned have been ascertained to be N1.4billion hence Mr. Governor recently approved that necessary machineries be put in place to ensure this outstanding balance is settled by leveraging same with one of our financial partners.
In this light, the government is hereby appealing to the retirees affected by this forced retirement to be patient and reciprocate the kind gesture of the current administration, which has been pay-rolling and paying them, while gradually clearing the arrears of their pension.
The Government wishes to further add that the delay in settlement of the pension arrears is mainly due to the dwindling revenue from the Federation allocation.
He then assured that the Government of the state  under the able leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is a listening government who also feels highly concerned by the plight of the concerned retirees and is frantically working to ensure that the accumulated pension arrears is settled very soon.
OSUNNEWS

I want to commend the Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, for the ongoing work on the Gbongan-Osogbo Road. The road is of great importance because it is one of the major roads that lead to the state capital.
Before now, the road was so narrow and full of pot-holes. We shouldn’t forget that many administrations have ruled Osun State, with none giving it a thought to rehabilitate the road.
I am, therefore, happy that it is during the tenure of Mr Aregbesola that the road is being rehabilitated.
Apart from this, I want to commend the governor for the good work he is doing in Osun. The people are appreciative of his efforts towards making the state one of the most developed in Nigeria.
This alone will secure him a second term in office when elections are held later in the year in the state.
Lukmon Suraju,
Folasayo Street, 
Ode Omu,
Osun State.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State of Osun, Mr. Wale Adedoyin has said government will support Osun Pig Farmers Association so as to raise the bar in the standard of pig farming, create wealth as well as job opportunities for Osun Citizens.
Mr. Adedoyin made this statement yesterday during an interactive session with members of the Pig Farmers Association at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s Conference Room, Abere. The Agric Commissioner enjoined all pig farmers in the State to work with government as a unit so that, the enormous benefits that are expected in the pig farming business would be achieved, thereby boosting the State economy.
Earlier, in an address, the Chairman of Osun Pig Farmers Association, Rev. Adebomi Michael on behalf of his members thanked Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his support towards the pig farming business while promising to make judicious use of whatever support they receive from the State Government.
OSUNNEWS

Despite continuing harmattan, higher temperature resurfaces in the state of Osun. This is contained in a weather forecast compiled by the Meteorological unit of the state’s Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, New Secretariat Complex.
According to the forecast, in the early hours of 5th February, 2014, light breeze, cloud and cold shall usher  in a sunny afternoon and evening while light air, partial cloud, thunderstorm, slight harmattan cold and clear weather are expected later in the day and night.
Thursday 6th February, 2014 shall open up with light air, cloud and early morning cold while a sunny afternoon and evening shall usher in gentle breeze, dry thunderstorm, partial cloud, clear weather and harmattan cold, later in the day and night.
On Friday 7th February, 2014, early morning cold, light breeze and partial cloud shall precede sunny afternoon and evening, while gentle breeze, dry thunderstorm, partial cloud, clear weather and harmattan should be expected, later in the day and night.

The Government of the State of Osun has reassured the people of the state that the present administration would be the next state in the South-West after Lagos State to establish an International Airport.
Speaking on behalf of the State Government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Engr. Oladepo Amudah, dropped this hint during an unscheduled on -the -spot-assessment to the MKO Abiola International Airport.
According to him, the International Airport is going to be one of the best in the world, having been certified by International regulatory bodies like International Air Transport Association, International Civil Aviation Organization and Association of Airline Operators.
Engr. Amudah stressed that, the on-going project which has gulped N4.5billion has the capacity of 300 hectares of land, 3km runway, fire stations, powerful terminal building and a control tower.
The Special Adviser used the medium to dismiss blatant lies recently published in a newspaper that the airport does not exist in the state.He therefore called on the people to visit the site anytime to see the gargantuan project.
Engr. Amudah, eulogised Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for embarking on road, rail and air infrastructure which are core areas for any economic development, adding that in the next few months, the first plane will land on the new airport.
Responding, the Project Director of the company, Engr. Aminu Sulaimon, commended the State Governor for embarking on this laudable project.
OSUNNEWS

The Commissioner of Police, State of Osun Command has lauded the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on its development strides across the state.
The commendation was made by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr.A. I. Charfe who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba when the Management team of the Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA), led by its General Manager, Alhaji Ganiyu Oyeladun paid the command a courtesy call.
The General Manager (OWMA) in his address, appreciated the cooperation enjoyed so far by the Agency from the police and further solicited that, the trend continues as both agencies need to be in synergy to be able to win the environmental sanitation crusade.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charfe assured further that, the police would not shirk in its responsibilities to ensure that, the activities of OWMA continued to enjoy their support. He opined that OWMA as an act of parliament is backed by law and that, it was only natural for the police to support its activities as law enforcement agents.
OSUNNEWS

The Government of the State of Osun has commended the Slava Yeditepe Construction Company Limited which is handling the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Bypass, Osogbo for their impressive performance.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Engr. Oladepo Amudah, gave the commendation on behalf of the state government when he paid an un scheduled on-the-spot assessment visit to the project site.
According to him,  the 18km road dualization project that started at Round- about, Iwo Road, will involve 150mm stone base, 70mm asphalt, construction of new culvert and bridges, construction of railway underpass, construction of inter change and provision of street lights which will terminate along the New Ikirun  Road, around, Osogbo City Stadium, has now reached an advanced stage.
Engr. Amudah posited that the present administration led by Ogeni Rauf Aregbesola will ensure social and infrastructural transformation that the state has never witnessed since its creation adding that, the people of the state should continue to extend their hands of cooperation to the present administration.
OSUNNEWS

Renaissance Capital, a leading emerging markets investment bank in Africa, has revealed that Osun, Ekiti, Lagos and Oyo  states are the leading economies  in Nigeria.
Among the ranks include two Oil producing states, Akwa Ibom and Rivers state while Kano, Katsina and Kaduna made the list of highest per-capita income from the northern part of the country. According to experts from Renaissance Capital, consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states with highest per-capita income.
They noted that Akwa Ibom and River states in the South South region and Osun state in the southwest will embrace retail banking, given the opportunities for banks to expand services and employees  in  those states with high per-capita income and high population densities  will provide the footfall required for a bank to open a branch nationwide.  The report states that “We think consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states  with greater purchasing power, as indicated by  relatively high per capita income, including Lagos, Oyo and Osun in the south west and Kaduna and the Niger Delta states.”
On  assumption of office in 2010, the  administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola had  blocked all the leakages that were existing in the state revenue which jerked up the state internally generated revenue from N300million to N1.6billion.  Governor Aregbesola also  promised to put the state of Osun with a population of 4 million on the path of socio-economic development. The formulation of right economic policies has been attributed for the growth in the economy of the Osun from N110 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in 2010 to over N800 billion last year.
The GDP is the measure of economic activity. Thus, there are diverse economic activities which include trade, transportation, energy, mineral, energy, telecommunication, construction, agriculture and  manufacturing,  The ranking of Osun above Anambra, Enugu , Imo and Ebonyi among others implies that the level of economic activities in Osun is higher than these states. The steady investment in infrastructural development like dual carriage roads, power, hospitals and education among others contributed to the growth in the GDP of  Osun.
Aregbesola has also embarked on the construction of  an international airport with the longest runway in Africa. Hence, the activities of various constrution companies on site for these infrastructural development projects contributed in no small measure to the boost in GDP.   Another factor attributed to the improvedment in economic activities is the existence of  six  Universities including Obafemi Awolowo University , Osun State University , Bowen University ,Heritage University , Oduduwa University and Ladoke Akintola College of Medicine The GDP is also rising as result of proactive programme of the following tertiary institutions including Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State Polytechnic Iree, Osun State College of Technology Esa Oke and Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. The State is also targeting N10billion IGR.
NEWSDIRECT

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Monday took a giant step in his effort to boost the economy of the state and create jobs with the opening of a multi-million naira RLG/ Adulawo Technology City in Ilesha with a promise to make the state Nigeria technology hub.
The technology city, which is already in operation, is a partnership venture with West Africa’s leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Phone Company, RLG, and has facilities to train youths in the assembling and repairs of electronic devices including mobile phones and computers, and also manufacture products for sale.
According to the governor who performed the official opening of the company alongside his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Group Chairman of RLG, Mr. Roland Agambire, the commencement of the project at the premises was an evidence that with the right attitude, focus and hard work, dreams can become reality.
He noted that the city was part of his administration’s effort to create job, wealth and improve the living standards of the state through the technology industry, adding that he has no doubt that the city will be the hub of ICT in Nigeria and beyond.
Aregbesola stated that the technology city would be producing mobile phones, tablets, television sets and computer systems and both desktops and laptops computers.
“While in full production capacity, it will directly employ 800 people while over 15,000 indirect jobs will be created round the state through the enterprise from sales and repair points.
“It will positively impact on the state economy through taxes, rates and levies and in addition to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it will create wealth and bring development to the community where it operates,” he said.
The governor noted that the city was also a demonstration of the government’s resolve to partner with the private sector to create enabling environment and provide adequate infrastructure for rapid industrialisation of the state.
The RLG/Adulowo Technology City has the capacity to assemble 5,000 mobile phones and 2, 500 computers daily. It has fully equipped training centre called the RLG Institute of Technology, a Research and Development Laboratory complete with a Green Technology Bio-mass plant which will provide cooking gas for the staff quarters and generate 3KVA electricity.
In his speech, the Chairman of RLG said he was delighted to partner with Aregbesola whom he stated fell in love with the dream and supported it vigorously to its conclusion.
THISDAY

THE Osun State government said on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital, that it has no plan to sack workers in the state civil service and the local government levels.
Mr Peter Babalola, Chairman, Osun Local Government Service Commission, stated this while defending the commission’s budget before the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
“There is no plan by the present administration to sack or retrench any staff, either at the state or local government levels, there is no such plan. The only situation that can attract sack is when an employee absconds from work without permission.
“Just imagine a case of a staff that travelled out of the country without informing the authority while still collecting salary. Aside this, there is no plan to retrench workers in the state,’’ he said.
Babalola, however, said that the commission had improved its services through monitoring the activities of its personnel.
“Now, we have an upstanding local government service as we have involved all stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure good service at the local government areas,’’ he said.

“Whatever reform you are bringing to local government service, should have human face before implementing it, this is because, civil servants are part of the people of the state, and this government must be seen to be considerate in addressing their plights,’’ Oyedele said.
TRIBUNE