Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam has said that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has violated no section of the Nigerian Constitution through the conduct of the local government parliamentary elections in the state.
 

 
 
This is just as Governor Rauf Aregbesola also stated that there is nowhere in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where it was stated that the local government administration must be run through the executive or parliamentary system of government.
The speaker stated this on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 389 councillors recently elected through an election conducted by the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
Salaam stated that the parliamentary system of government is best for a democratic setting like Nigeria, explaining that there is no way the system negates the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said every step the state government took leading to the elections of the councillors are all under the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that the beauty of the system at the local government level is that it will empower the councillors to choose their chairman and other principal officers among themselves.
The speaker however explained that the system calls for a lot intelligence and loyalty on the part of the players because of the fact that powers are not absolutely vested in the hands of an individual.
According to the speaker, “whoever understands the true meaning of democracy in Osun and Nigeria will know that this is indeed another milestone under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“I want to tell you emphatically that this is the best form of government that can be practised anywhere in the world as it will bring government closer to the people.
“This goes a long way to tell you that our governor is a true lover of democracy and he is not self centered, the parliamentary system of government is democracy in its true form and it takes intelligent, disciplined, descent and loyal people to practice it” the speaker emphasised.

Civil servants in the State of Osun have been charged to be advocate of the state government revenue drive through conscious efforts to enlightening the masses who visit their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
 

 
The Acting Chairman/CEO, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Bicci Alli gave this charge  in Osogbo at the public service awards by the State government to appreciate outstanding performance of some civil servants in the various beats of their chosen profession.
According to him, every civil servant in the State needs to see himself or herself as automatic tax advocate wherever they find themselves, adding that they must cultivate the passion to educate people, especially those within the tax bracket and have not paid tax before with a view to convincing them of its importance.
While making analysis on the need and potentials of Osun to be self-reliant financially, Mr. Alli said, “if the approximately 1.96million people that dominate various economic activities of the State like artisans, traders, business men and women are alive to their responsibility in terms of payment of their taxes as and when due, the State would have been out of the current financial predicament”.
He therefore enjoined civil servants to use their professional acumen in supporting the Revenue drive in the State and always call government’s attention to some areas in their various beats which could be lucrative and that can serve as impetus to tincrease revenue in the State.

Civil servants in the state of Osun have been charged to be of help in the task of generating revenue for the State in their various
Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

 
 
The Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Bicci Alli gave this charge at the State Secretariat,
Osogbo at the public service awards and party ceremony organized by the State government to appreciate the outstanding performances of some civil servants in their various agencies.
According to him, every civil servant in the State needs to see himself or herself as automatic tax Advocate, anywhere they are and
that, they should have the passion to educate those that believe that taxes are not worth being paid.
While making analysis on the potentiality that, Osun has to be self and financially reliant, Mr. Bicci Alli said, ‘if the approximately
1.96million of people that dominate various economic activities of the State like artisans, traders, business men and women are alive to
their responsibility in terms of payment of their taxes as and when due, the state will have been out of the current financial
predicament’
Mr. Alli therefore enjoined every civil servant to use their professional acumen in supporting the revenue drive in the State
and always drawing the attention of government to areas that would earn revenue for the government.

The Secretariat Complex of Ife Central Local Government at Ajebamidele, Ile-Ife, the State of Osun has worn a new look, as the outgoing Caretaker Management Committee, led by Barr. Posi Omisakin out of passionate concern and commitment for the well being of the staffers recently renovated the secretariat.
 

 
 
Part of the refurbishing done on the complex are, roofing of the leaking section of the Secretariat which has made some portion of the council almost inhabitable, refurbishment of the burnt offices of Budget, Establishment and Office of the Supervisory Councilor for works, patching of the broken floors within the Council, as well as the repainting of the complex.
According to a statement by the Local Government Information Officer, Mr. Demola Salami, Omisakin was not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that people of the council live in a clean environment by putting in place appropriate measure on environmental sanitation.
Such measures according to him, include procurement of sanitary equipment for market places and communities within the council area, mapping of the wards, as well as evacuation of refuse within the council area among others

The State Government of Osun has debunked the news circulating that there is an outbreak of Lassa Fever which has claimed the lives of two people in the state.
In a statement signed by the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Sola Fasure, the state government urged the people not to panic as the news is totally false.
 

 
 
The State government however disclosed that someone has really died of the disease but added that the deceased was not a native of the state.
According to the statement,”The State Government of Osun will like to assure the good people of Osun that there has been no outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.
“However, a patient from Ore, in Ondo State, with symptoms of Lassa Fever went to Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife for treatment and was immediately transferred to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital where he regrettably died, due to the advanced nature of the sickness. May his soul rest in peace.
“We must note however that the victim was not native to Osun and did not contact Lassa Fever in the state. This will put paid to the false messages going round in the social media that there has been an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Osun which has claimed the lives of two people. This is false. The state government admonishes residents not to panic or engage in rumour mongering.”
Urging the people to be vigilant, the State Government also implored them to keep food away from contamination from rats; and keep rats and other rodents from homes or other places where they can come in contact with food items.
“Lassa fever is an acute viral infection. The virus is transmitted from the faeces and urine of rats when they come in contact with food and the food is eaten.
“This disease is associated with bleeding and can affect any age group. The incubation period, that is, the time from when contact is made with the virus and when its effects start to show on the body, is between 3 to 21 days.
“Any person with severe illness, fever and at least one of the following signs: Bloody stools, vomiting blood and unexplained bleeding from gums, nose, private parts, skin and eyes should immediately go to a hospital.
“Any person who has unexplained illness with fever and bleeding OR died after unexplained severe illness with fever and bleeding should report or be reported to the nearest government hospital or health centre.
“The state government has put a surveillance system in place at all LGAs and State EPR Committee. Residents should take note and observe visitors from neighbouring states for symptoms of Lassa Fever and report to the nearest health centre when and where such are found.
“Residents are required to be vigilant, maintain the highest hygiene standard possible, avoid contact with those affected and report illnesses and deaths emanating from the disease to hospitals and government health centres,” the statement added

Two Non-Governmental Organisations have lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the pace of infrastructure development in the state since the inception of his administration, saying that the projects in the state have dismissed lies being spread by some people that the governor was not performing.
 

 
 
This is just as they appraised the just concluded parliamentary election in the state, describing it as credible, peaceful and fair.
The National Coordinator, Centre for Strategy, Ethics and Value, Mr Ramanus Azubuike and the National Coordinator, Forum for Women and Youth Development Initiative, Princess Tola Olade in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday, noted that the turnout of electorate during the election was impressive.
However, Olade noted that some of the electorate in some areas like Osogbo, Ife, Ilesa and some other places where they observed the election were still carrying temporary voter cards as against the Permanent Voter Card which is the acceptable card for voting.
She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) and the state government to intensify efforts on enlightening eligible voters to go and collect their PVC in other to exercise their electoral right in subsequent elections.
In his remarks, Azubuike commended OSIEC and security agencies on what he described as adequate preparation for the election, stating that the poll was devoid of violence.
Both Azubuike and Olade submitted that it was a wise and progressive move by the state government to go for parliamentary system at the local government level, saying that it is not costly and easier to maintain.
Speaking on the state of development in the state, Azubuike and Olade said the impression they had before coming to Osun was that Aregbesola was not performing and the state is stagnant as being maliciously said by some people.
They maintained that the level of infrastructure development, having gone round Osogbo, the state capital for project inspection, is laudable, commending Aregbesola for what they described as ‘unexpected transformation’ of the state.
The coordinators inspected Oba Adesoji Aderemi-Osogbo East Bypass road which hosts five bridges, workers drive way, Old garage-Ila-Old road dualisation, Nelson Mandela Freedom park, Ataoja Government High School, Fakunle/Unity High School, among others.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Adelani Baderinwa and the Special Adviser to the governor on Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Gbenga Awosode took the coordinators round the state for the project inspection.
Azubuike and Olade urged the people of the state to continue supporting Aregbesola’s administration for his determined efforts on transforming the state, saying that the infrastructure development must continue after Aregbesola’s administration.

In a bid to further enhance service delivery and productivity in Osun Public Service, the State Government has begun the test running of the electronic time management system in five selected MDAs.
 

 
The test run which is expected to last for 8 working days is currently taking place in the Ministry of Finance; Education; Agriculture and Food Security; Innovation Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building.
This is contained in a release from the Office of State and Local Government Reform Project (SLOGOR), signed by its communication officer, Mr Oni Olugbenga.
According to the release, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has made it clear through his GREEN BOOK of his intention to reform the entire Osun public service for better productivity without sacking any worker.
The statement also made it clear that the current reform going on in the public service which include the introduction of time management system was not to witch hunt any worker but to improve on efficiency and discipline which is the hallmark of the present administration.
The statement therefore urged workers to go about their normal duties with diligence and the mind set of contributing their quota to the growth and development of the State.