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Category: Politics

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Adventists Government High School, Ede has emerged winners of this year’s annual quiz competition organised by the Redeemers University, Ede to mark the 2017 library week.
 

 

The competition, where students made the to answer questions in various subjects which include: English Language, Mathematics, Literature in English, Economics, Geography, Commerce among others produced Osogbo government high school as first runner up.
With this feat, one can easily say the huge expenditure into the education sector of Osun is yielding positive results when students of public schools are outclassing private school students in academic competitions.
The keenly contested competition saw students of Osogbo Government High school proving that the huge investment of government in the education sector is not a waste as their opponents from private schools in the competition were no match for them.
It got to a stage that the organisers of the competition could not hide their surprise at the academic performance of the students from Osun public schools whom many present at the avenue thought would come last.
A spectator, Mr Falade Toriola who was visibly surprised at the academic prowess of the Osun public school students said he never expected students of public schools in the state to show so much maturity and brilliance in answering questions.
He said he is even more surprised that they could defeat students of private schools who many had thought would emerge winners at the competition.
Mr Toriola added that the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has indeed turned around the education sector in Osun to the extent it is no longer necessary to go and pay exorbitant school fees in private schools which is now a waste of money.
According to him, “Sincerely speaking, I am amazed at what I have just experienced here today. For students of public schools to perform excellently well in an academic competition involving private school students.
“I have attended many academic competitions around Nigeria and I have never seen where students of public schools take students of private schools to the cleaners like this, this is amazing.
“I think the various interventions of the present administration in the education sector is beginning to yield positive results and kudos must be given to the governor.
“With this, I think it is no longer necessary for people to take their children to private schools where they pay huge amount as schools fees, public schools in Osun now stand shoulder to shoulder with the best private schools in the land” Mr Toriola stated.
Mr Festus Olajide who was represented at the event by the state acting Librarian, Mrs. Adefunke Kolawole stated that the outstanding performance of the students was a testimony of the potency of the qualitative and functional educational policy of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s Administration.
He then called on members of the public to support government efforts and policies aimed at taking education to higher level in Osun.
“This is a testimony to the fact that the huge investment of Aregbesola in the education sector is yielding positive results. Osun public school students can now compete with their peers from anywhere in the world.
“This competition which we have just witnessed is of very high standards and Osun public school students won it with ease against students from private schools, it goes a long way to underline the fact that things have improved tremendously.”We are proud of these students and are proud of the achievements of the present administration in the education sector”, he added.

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From the legislative perspective, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam in this interview with ISRAEL AFOLABI spoke on the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the last seven years. Excerpt

 
OSDF: In assessing the Rauf Aregbesola, APC-led administration in Osun in the last seven years, what will be your take?
Salaam: It’s been seven eventful years and it has been promises made, promises kept. We could all see that the first tenure was used for strategic planning, methodical execution and serious development spadework.
Aregbesola long before assumption of office had drawn up his plans for the development of the state. He started from the scratch, laying foundation for intangibles in terms of identity and self awareness – state anthem, flag and crest that tell our story, qualitative education, roads and infrastructure, empowerment and innovation and we are glad that some of the programmes were copied by the federal government and some international bodies.
Besides, the State capital, Osogbo, our collective heritage and centre of convergence has been turned to a city proper and it can now be compared with any beautiful state capital in the federation, unlike a glorified village that was bequeathed to this administration.
As for the state parliament, we are glad to be part of the development, as our cooperation provides synergy between the two arms of the government to work together, because we are all craving for development. I think Aregbesola has blazed the trail in the delivery of solid and intangible dividends of democracy in the last seven years.
OSDF: How would you rate the state Assembly under your watch?
Salaam: Excellent. Yes, I mark the parliament under my watch the best ever at the risk of being accused of blowing my trumpet. The reality on ground attests to the fact that we have done our best for the state in the last few years.
It is very convenient for members to embark on selfish agenda by making some of the celebrated projects impossible, giving excuses based on constituency projects or any other issue, but members suppressed their individual’s interest for collective good of all.
Yes, our governor performs so well, but I give the credit to God and the fifth and sixth House of Assembly under my leadership.
OSDF: Which sector of government would you laud for doing well?
Salaam: I think education got the attention of the government and government invested hugely on it, but I am not surprised, because if a better generation is to be anticipated and seen the better way to go is to restructure education.
Infrastructure got a good attention and there is a huge investment in it too, but because Osun is big, it will take some years of consistency for us to brave the weather of bad road completely. Besides, the ten kilometre road project for each local government in the state has become a novel that must continued.
One thing is that, the programmes of the government are intertwined and to stand on one will be hard, but without derating, education and infrastructure development seem to be the master piece.
OSDF: How do you describe critics of Governor Aregbesola on his style the running of the state?
Salaam: I think we should be tolerant of the opposition, though the opposition most times do overstep their bounds, they still must play their role as opposition; what is not tenable is destructive engagement they indulge in on some occasions and I think the electorate are wiser now. So, those who are criticising Aregbesola administration are doing so for political relevance, I will only advise them to be reasonable and talk with facts, not fallacies.
OSDF: How many laws have been passed so far since you assume Speakership? 
Salaam: We have passed not less than 45 bills to laws and we are still working on some. But let it be known that our jobs transcends just that, it also include dispute resolution, go-between government and institutions, oversight functions and some others.
OSDF: What is the relationship between the Assembly and the executive now?
Salaam: Our relationship is perfect. We have a way of interacting on any given issue and members of the executive arm respect us as a legislature, that’s why some cynics dub us “rubber stamp”. Do we care about that? No! Besides, our relationship has given the state the best of development you can think of.
OSDF: What can you tell the citizens of this state as a leader?
Salaam: I am to thank our people for making good governance possible and I still want to implore them to continue to support our government, because continuity of our tendency as a party in power is what can fast track development in every nook and cranny.

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Mixed reactions have continued to trail the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the State of Osun, as the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola clocks seven years.
 
 
 
While some major stakeholders including religious bodied scored the administration high as a result of its series of developmental programmes and policies across the state, the opposition political party, PDP said, the administration has not performed to the expectations of the people.
Aregbesola was sworn-in as the governor of the state on November 27, 2010 after the Court of Appeal in Ibadan validated his victory in the April 14, 2007 governorship election. After the first four years term, he was re-elected for second term in 2014.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), the Osun Muslims Community, Baptist Conference, Traditionalists and Labour Leaders among others have showered commendations on the administration.
The APC, in a statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, urged the people to “give thanks to God for using Ogbeni Aregbesola and the APC government to bring to Osun, the kind of development that the state had never seen in 26 years.
The party, while calling on the citizens to engage themselves for the next few days in counting their blessing, said, this is because an era of unprecedented happenings in the state is approaching a climax, and it is time the whole state should take stock.
“Is the change we have experienced, good or bad, worthy or unworthy of our people? Now is the time to count our blessings to see what God has done for us. Unless we take stock, we will not appreciate what God has done for this state by installing Ogbeni Aregbesola as governor.
“Is Osun better today than it was 10 years ago? Is it a good thing that this state is peaceful? Had God been kind to us for the good roads, the wonderful schools, the enabling environment for profitable business, the unprecedented human capital and environmental developments which Ogbeni Aregbesola-led APC government has effected in Osun these past seven years.
“Look around you and ask yourself this question: why did those who had had the God-given opportunity to rule this state fail to do what Aregbesola  had done and is still doing? Would you in good conscience be kind to yourself if you condemn and vilify the man and the government that have brought all these about?, the APC queried.
“Would the people of the state be fair to themselves if they refuse to acknowledge the fact that whoever it was that brought this development to Osogbo was a kind, thoughtful and progressive person?
Speaking on behalf of the PDP, the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and a leader of PDP, Honourable Adejare Bello said, though, Aregbesola has good intentions, but his ‘Lagos style’ of awarding financing, and executing the projects and governance is not working well for Osun.
In terms of physical projects, Bello said the administration had done well, but quickly added that the projects were executed at too exorbitant costs.
According to him, the DMO office had last August claimed that the state debt profile was N179 billion, saying for a state like Osun, without major source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), it would take a long time for the state to pay off and come out of such debt.
He commended the mega schools being built by the state government, but stated that the under-utilisation of the buildings across the major towns in the state might make the projects to be counter-productive.
“Sincerely, Ogbeni Aregbesola would have been a fantastic administrator, because he had good intentions to develop the state in a hurry, but his approach, in my view is totally wrong. How can you claim such a huge achievement with such huge debt and claimed to have moderately outperformed others”, Bello queried.
From the religious perspective, the President Osun Baptist Conference, Pastor Paul Kolawole, commended the administration of Aregbesola for the development of efficient road network, as well as the efforts of the government to uplift the educational standard in terms of physical structures.
He also lauded the administration for its efforts to secure employment opportunities for youths, as well as stabilisation of peaceful co-existence through security of lives and property, saying the administration has made meaningful impacts within the last seven years.
The clergy then commended the government for stabilising the workforce, saying though, some section of the state workforce are facing challenges of modulated salary, but the situation in the state is better than other states in the country.
In his own, the President, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWAOS), Oba Olawumi Bamijogbin, described Aregbesola as a messenger of peace, who would not condone injustice or infringement on people’s right as enshrine in the constitution, saying, for so long, “we the traditional worshipper are been label as heathen and so we are concealed to the dustbin of history, but this government had harmonised the aggregate of traditional worshippers in the state, foster unity among us and other religious bodies”.
The traditionalists also commended the administration for its prudence, proactive stance, foresight, vision and the doggedness in terms of opening of rural roads, investment in Agriculture, provision of security among others.
Also, the 1st Vice President, Osun Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, lauded the administration for the development that had been attracted to the state in the area of infrastructure, education, youth employment, security and community development.
He said the situation was pathetic in virtually all sectors of governance before the advent of Aregbesola administration, but he has turned it around for the better, saying, no one would ever though that the transformation that has been brought to the state could become a reality.

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August 2014, I landed in Osogbo, Osun State after several years in Lagos State. Everything looked same until I got to Olaiya, the popular junction in Osogbo which is the State Capital. I looked around and asked the driver; Where have you brought me to?

Looking at my confused face and probably getting that this is someone who had not been in Osogbo in a long time, he said smiling; We are in Olaiya now, the last bus stop, seems you have not been in Osogbo in a long time, this is the new Osogbo o.”

Truly, this is the new Osogbo. This is the news I have been hearing, the changed Capital, changed by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola led Administration.

I alighted from the bus and looked around, savouring the new scent and change, the new atmosphere, the new Osogbo. It was really a beauty to behold.

I remember the once rowdy Olaiya Junction, the filling station, the market, the saw mill, the slum. Everything gone except a well packaged market and now where that filling station, that saw mill, that slum once were, now stood the recreational center named “Freedom Park “.

This was different from where and what we heard in the news, it was all about Aregbesola demolishing buildings, creating havoc, rendering people jobless but this was beautiful.

My perspective about everything changed then, the papers lied, this was not just beautiful but also a superb creation.

Aregbesola had not only turned a once slum into a beautiful abode, he had also given a new face to Osogbo and to Osun in general.

All through my stay, I couldn’t believe the transformation that had taken place, a transformation one couldn’t have imagined. I had thought the Olaiya junction would be as littered as it was but that was all changed.

Aregbesola had and still continues to give a new face and identity to Osogbo and Osun State in the realm of the world.

The information I got is that he had planned a boulevard for that particular location, but for the bad finances, he would have turned it to a more beautiful scent than it is now.

Osun now has a place where people can recreate, unwind and enjoy to complete the chain of an healthy life after the hustle and bustle of the day.

Aside the fact that it promotes healthy living, it also makes the environment more serene and habitable for other residents especially the market men and women that ply their trade along the area.

One beautiful story about the capital of the State of Osun is of its roads, schools and inter-connected infrastructure that has changed the narratives.

Before Aregbesola, Osogbo used to look like a glorified village turned state capital but now looks that of befitting state capital with all basic attributes setting in place gradually.

From 2010 till date, the story of Osogbo has changed, and so, as the story of the entire State of Osun changed, with Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola that has now placed Osun on the pedestal of greatness, the one people savour to live in, do business in and develop with government.

Indeed, I say Kudos to Aregbesola as he Celebrates Seven Years in the Saddle!!!!! Osun a dara!!!

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Public School students in the State of Osun on Saturday honoured the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as he clocks 7 in the seat of power.

The calisthenics Display held at the Osogbo Township Stadium was electrifying as different slogans were carved all to edify, salute and appreciate the transformation Osun has witnessed in the last 7 Years.
 
Here are photos from the event as captured by Aregbesola’s Documentary Photographer, Dolapo Julius.
    

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Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has pledged to do more in the last 365 days of his tenure.
He said this will be evident in the massive infrastructural development the state will witness in the home run of his administration.
Speaking on Saturday at the Osogbo Township Stadium during the Calisthenics display in honour of Aregbesola’s 7th year in office, the Governor, said, “We have just 5days left for this month (November) to run out but we have just two days for this my tenure to clock 7years, which means I still have 365days for my tenure to windup. I want to tell the good and virtuous people of Osun that the remaining days of the tenure shall be filled with wonders.”
Aregbesola promised to remain committed and diligent in delivering from his mandate to the people.
Governor Aregbesola applauded the parents and other stakeholders who made the calisthenics programme a scheme to be envy in the state’s education sector.
The calisthenics program, he said, “Against all criticisms and allegation which is politically motivated when we started this program in 2013, yet the program still survived it through ardent commitment of both the parent of the school pupils and their coaches. Since 2013, 28,000 school pupils participated in the program which is a huge success. If God’s willing we shall all do to advance this stride especially during the 2018 children’s day coming up in May”.
He therefore called on public and private schools who want to participate in the calisthenics programme to do so without further delay.
At the end of the display, schools from Osun Central Senatorial District came first with a N2 million prize while Osun West came third winning N1 million with Osun East ending as runners-up collecting N1.5 million.
He said the monetary prize given to the schools is aimed at improving sport facilities in different schools across the state just as he underscored the importance of Extra-Curricular activities in the all round development of a child.

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Hurray!!! The Government of the State of Osun under Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is Seven.  In many parts, it is worth celebrating. Seven years of Hard work, Seven Years of Progressive Leadership, Seven Years of Growth and Indeed, Seven Years of Building Legacies that are Indelible and Strategic for the Next Generation.

 
 
 
Perhaps, why will Aregbesola celebrate in a state that owes salaries, indebted to pensioners and has a huge debt profile? Despite these red flags, it is still worthy of mention that the dynamic transformation Osun has witnessed in the last seven years has put it on a pedestal of expected greatness in years to come.
For those who knew about the intrigues of the three and a half years legal battle that eventually returned him back to office and the tremendous achievements recorded so far, it is no clear understatement that the present government has done a lot in taking Osun far beyond where it was in November 2010 when it took over.
During the electioneering in 2007, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had his developmental agenda which he enveloped in a small book titled “MY PACT WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OSUN” where he discussed thoroughly his six point integral action plan namely; Banish Hunger, Banish Poverty, Banish Unemployment, Promote Functional Education, Restore Healthy Living, Enhance Communal Peace and Progress.
Since he assumed office, he has pursued his programmes vigorously with doggedness, commitment and vision to achieve more. And with 90 days in office, Aregbesola did the unusual, he employed 20,000 unemployed indigenes of the state who hitherto have no job with #10,000 as their monthly pay. The effortless commitment to the people did not stop there, the Governor continued to roll out programmes which are of immense benefits to the state.
With his O-symbol, several policies and people oriented have been rolled out and are still rolling daily as if his 8-year mandate will not end one day. In the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme O’YES, various interventions to gainfully engage the Youths after their 2-year period were instituted in collaboration with other government programmes like O’REAP, OYESTECH, O’HUB and so on.
In Education, Aregbesola re-jigged the sector by introducing a world class education reform programme, a baby of the Education Summit convoked by his government about 6 months into office that has resorted into mega schools, the award winning Tablet of Knowledge, OPON-IMO, O’Calisthenics, O’Uniform, O’MEAL that has fed over 350,000 elementary school pupils for the past seven years which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has also adopted into its own Social Investment programme and many more that is earning the state accolades nationwide and internationally.
The government through its passion for excellence in all fields and ramifications ensured that 65 medical students of the Osun State University who were hampered to continue with their clinical studies in the university due to accreditation issues completed their medical education in Ukraine with thorough and adequate intervention,
In the Health Sector, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola upgraded the nine state hospitals in the state with the state hospital, Asubiaro in Osogbo refined to the status of a specialist hospital. Numerous interventions have been done in the realm of Free Eye Surgeries, Provision of Basic Drugs in health facilities, giving health grants, containing the break out of epidemics and the rest despite the daunting finances.
One of the areas where the present administration has received so much accolades is in Road Construction, one which has earned the Governor the name, ONA BABA ONA meaning the Extraordinaire Architect of Road Construction. In the last seven years, major roads have been built with the government rehabilitating, reconstructing and putting in place new ones. The efforts on Road Construction has been felt so much more with over 300 kilometers of township roads cutting across all the 30 local governments, 33 local council development areas, 2 area councils and 2 administrative offices.
Still on roads, 222km of rural roads have been done with support from World Bank and the French Government under Rural Access and Mobility Project RAMP that now connects the state together. Major roads also like the Gbongan-Osogbo road under construction with the Chief Bisi Akande trumpet interchange bridge, November 27 Interchange connecting two divisions of the Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bye Pass, the dualisation of Osogbo/Ikirun/Ila-Odo, Kwara State boundary road and the very strategic, Ola-Iya/Asubiaro/Ita-Olokan Road that has just been completed.
Another beautiful thing is that not just that roads are constructed, the roads are of immense quality with thick bridges that can stand the test of time for years. In the history of the State of Osun, it is the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration that will construct a road that has in it 7 big bridges within 7 years. That is unprecedented you”ll say.
Moving to Agriculture, the government through Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme, O’REAP has empowered many, created opportunities for farmers as well as establishing opportunities for agriculture to thrive. In the sector, some members of the OYES who were enlisted to the O’REAP Youth Academy were sent to Germany on the bill of the State Government for thorough training on modern best practices in agriculture. Aside this, farmers were given lands with opportunities abound in O’BEEF, O’BOPS, O’CATTLE, O’HUB, O’PIG and others that have impacted positively on the citizenry and those involved.
About 20,000 Youths were given jobs in the first phase of O’YES. After 2 years, they were replaced with another set of 20,000 after the volunteers in the first phase were trained in several skills that helped shaped focus for the next challenges they were to face. A good example is OYESTECH which provided participants the opportunity to be trained in useful computer technology and mobile phone assemblage with repairs coming up. Selected Youths were sent to Ghana for training to come back and impact on others that has continued to yield positive results till today. A brainy intervention is the institutionalization of RLG Adulawo Technology City in Ilesa where mobile phones are assembled and other technological driven apparatus are done; all with efforts from the dynamic Rauf Aregbesola.
In commerce, Market Men and Women are incorporated into government’s programmes and policies. About 33,000 residents of the state have been empowered through the Osun Micro-Credit Agency, an agency of government that provides soft loans for small scale business owners in the state. Aside this, modern international markets like the Ayegbaju, Aje and Dagbolu International Market(s) which is still in focus have in a great deal transformed the state’s commercial sector. The Dagbolu Infrastructure Market which is still in focus is to be one of the foremost warehouses in the country. The newly introduced Standardized Weigh and Measures to promote efficiency, prudency and restore Trust into Trade activities is also a plus.
The Osun Free Train Ride that has conveyed over 350,000 passengers from Lagos to Osogbo during Christmas, Easter, Eid-El-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir festivals has contributed in no small quantity to the economic situation of the state during festivities. Aside the free train, the just-concessioned Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola International Airport, Ido-Osun when completed will be another blessing to the state’s economy. Apart from the numerous commercial benefits, it would also be helpful to local trade, employment opportunities, hospitality and many more.
On Security, Osun is the 13th safest in the federation with much more focus on ridding the state of crime. There is also the relative peaceful disposition between farmers and herdsmen that has plunged several parts of the North to serious danger with the committee put in place by the present administration. Businesses especially in the hospitality realm are springing up, The cocoa industry in Ede is being revived. The GDP has improved tremendously with Small and Medium Scale Enterprises given the opportunity to rise.
The State of Osun especially Osogbo, the state capital has been reformed physically. With the beautification efforts put in place by the current government, the state now looks cleaner, neater and beautiful. One of such is the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, a former den of rascals that has turned to a beautiful amusement park that becomes a destination for birthdays, picnics and relaxation.
This write-up would not be complete without the support of the Civil Servants who have shown unequalled commitment to the course of the state. They have in hard times shown their doggedness to the course of developing Osun and making our State great. Despite not receiving full pay, they are avowed, diligent to duty. The State will never forget this sacrifice made when the nation’s economy nosedived which did not hinder the development vision of the visioner per excellence, Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.
The government also appreciates the section of Pensioners who believe in this dream of rebranding our state while calling on those who keep condemning government every time to see reasons why Aregbesola has taken time with much more efforts to transform our state. Government is indeed committed to fulfilling all financial obligations when the state’s economy improves.
What Aregbesola has done in the last seven years is worthy of note and indelible as Osun in the next three to four decades will continue to savour what this man has been able to do. His successor will not have to reconstruct the roads, schools, bridges and other infrastructural projects he has done, they will have no other option than to build on the Existing Legacies and Mirror In the Future.
Special Thanks To Royal Fathers, Community Leaders, Market Men and Women, Artisans, Members of the Progressive Party, the APC and the Entire Citizens of Osun who believed in his re-election that has now culminated in the development witnessed and the legacies developed for the future.
Happy 7th Year Anniversary to the Progressive Leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola!!!!!
Osun To Tin Dara, Ko Ni Ba Je Oooooo!

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Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is a first class citizen in the education sector and history will eventually judge him rightly.

Head of Service in the State of Osun, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade made the assertion today at Owena and Ipetu-Ijesa while on education drive mission to two schools in the area.
It was in his separate address to the principals and teachers of Community High School, Owena and AUD Middle/ High, Ipetu-Ijesa after engaging the final year students of each of the schools in a period of English Language.
He charged them to double their efforts to improve students’ performances, adding that our challenge is to pass the forthcoming WAEC and NECO examinations with distinctions without cheating.
While commending teachers for being the most hardworking set of workers in the State, Dr. Oyebade pointed out that their best is not yet enough considering the unsatisfactory performance of students in the previous external examinations.
The Head of Service then enjoined the education stakeholders to, between now and April next year, concentrates their efforts on the final year students, advancing that they can only give good accounts of themselves through their students performances.
In an interview with the principals of both schools, Mr. Kayode Awe and Alhaji Idowu Bisiriyu who expressed delight to see the Head of Service teach in their schools, promised to do their best to ensure improved performances in the forthcoming WAEC and NECO examinations.

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Local Government budget officers in the State of Osun have been charged to prepare a transparent and realizable budget for 2018.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Mr Muftau Oluwadare gave the charge today while declaring open  seminar for Heads of Budget in the local government on the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).
The State Accountant General, Akintayo Kolawole who was represented by the Director of Final Account, Mr Ojo explained that IPSAS required full disclosure of financial information of government in the budget preparation.
Mr Akintayo said ‘whatever we budget for there must be corresponding figure for it.’ He added that the era of forcing the budget to balance was over saying that there are must be justification for every items in the budget.
The Auditor – General for Local Government, Mr Kolapo Emmanuel advised them to work in collaboration with other officials of the Council to ensure production of implementable budget.
The Director of Finance and Account of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Adewale encouraged budget Officers to make use of excel to prepare budgets.
The Director of Local Government and Inspectorate Services, Mr Kola Adedokun advised them to follow the call circular sent to them to prepare their budget.

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ISAAC OLUSESI writes, LUC, Land Use Charge is a single most salient source of internally raised revenue that will evolve considerable equity in income distribution and solve the problem of expanding urban service system in the State of Osun.

“From the Land Use Charge Collection Fund, consisting of all land use charge payments deposited in designated banks, the share to be paid to each local government council shall be such percentage of the net land use charge on deposit, being 80 per cent of the gross collection at the end of each month as agreed between the state and local government areas. The state portion shall be remitted to the General Revenue Accounts of the state,” a law, establishing the State of Osun Land Use Charge (LUC) states.
LUC is one of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s numerous inventions in Osun, with considerably enchanting emphasis on greater mobilisation of internal financing sources to eliminate adverse effects of his development finance policy by constantly making efforts to increase the states IGR, internally generated revenue. His LUC aims at cutting down recurrent expenditure, to match the growth of current expenditure with the growth of revenues for the development of the state, having fully convinced self that governance at all levels globally, is hindered or slowed down by acute shortages of financial sources.
Aregbesola is constantly convinced that Osun could no longer afford the luxury of perpetual dependence on the central government inadequate finances which either have dangerous implications for the state political economy even in the face of shared party identity with the centre; or had in the past, directly contributed to incoherence and retardation of the economies of the federating states in Nigeria, especially in the erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre.
There was thus that exigency for a  revolutionary overhaul of the tax lists in Osun which Aregbesola  actually did, heightened by factors  of equity, revenue loss and tax administration efficiency requisite, to upsurge tax revenue from both the existing and additional sources. One of such latest sources to be intensively explored in his dive to mobilise more revenues is LUC, a consolidation of all Property and Land-based rates and charges payable under the Land Rates law, the Neighbourhood Improvement Charge law and Tenement Rates law. LUC will evolve an equitable distribution of incomes and accelerate considerable equity between tax payers in the different income groups and same income groups.
Regrettably, however, the tax structure in the PDP days in Osun was not only abysmally regressive if tax payments were related to the benefits received from the government expenditures. Those who plundered Osun vaults in the PDP days in government were invariably the people in high income position who transferred tax revenues from the low income group to themselves, with obvious regressive consequences. Horizontal equity was also violated in the sense that fraudulent officials transferred income to themselves from honest tax payers in the same income group as themselves.
In summation, instead of using the tax expenditure mechanism to redress income inequities, the PDP government in Osun actually deployed its own paradigm that accentuated them. The PDP government in its widest imagination, never consolidated revenues from sources for assessment purposes. The state was considerably under taxed most effectively in terms. Worst still, the degree of tax evasion was so high, and mal-administration so pronounced that the taxable escaped tax net, that brought the average effective tax rate in the state to its nadir.
Why LUC in Osun? Land use charge is practically most useful to tool-up equity among tax payers, directly attuned to the re-distributional objectives and persuasive resource allocation effects of Aregbesola’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Osun. LUC is a single most salient source of internally raised revenue that will help solve the problem of expanding urban service system at low cost, judging by  the forces of rural-urban migration with accelerated effect on the growth of properties/buildings in the urban centers.
In Osun, the LUC demand notice has gone ‘viral,’ it is everywhere, here and there. The assessed value of the property in the designated areas of the state is subject to land use mill rate, determined by the annual amount of LUC and the assessed value of the property – its classification, land parcel in square meters, land value rate, building quality, building value rate in the neighbourhood; and property code rate, with a view to reinforcing both growth and equity in Osun.
LUC is administratively simple. The authorized assessors are to enter, inspect, survey and assess the property; and issue LUC demand notice and deliver it to the owner/occupier of the property for payment to be made within 90days in any of the designated banks specified in the demand notice. The LUC payment slip carries annual demand notice number, identity number, revenue code, local government code, and the amount payable or paid. What’s ultimately required is that the payer drops the bank copy of the LUC payment slip at the bank, and the other copy deposited at the LUC corporate office, or in the state Ministry of Finance, Osogbo, state capital.
Interestingly, there is discount if the property owner/occupier pays within 40days of receiving the demand notice, and a corresponding 10 per cent increase in the amount payable when the property owner/occupier fails to pay the LUC demand notice within the specified period. It is more interesting that, by fiscal analysis, LUC in Osun is a source of financing public services in the state. It is one basic exchange, with the payment of the land use charge by property owner being traded for public goods and services for accelerated development of the state.
The LUC in Osun is progressive; and on the right track, exempting  substantial properties/ buildings used exclusively as Oba’s palace, public library, public cemetery, public worship, public recreation, non-profit making educational institutes, non-governmental organization work; and any other property being used for benevolent purposes owned by the state, local and federal governments, or any property specifically exempted by the state governor by notice published in the state government official gazette. But the exemption ceases when the use of the property or its use by the owner /occupier changes to one that does not qualify for exemption.
There is a warning. If the payment is not made on non-exempted, but assessed property after 365days, then the property becomes liable to receivership by the state government, and such property under receivership will be advertised in national newspapers. But the owner is entitled at any time to apply for a release of the property upon payment of the outstanding taxes, penalties and administrative charges. However, property owner could go to the LUC Assessment Appeal Tribunal, convinced of excessive assessment of his property. The tribunal, with powers akin a Magistrate Court’s could subpoena the appellant’s witnesses to appear before it, and  also has power to confirm, reduce, increase or annual the assessed value and rule that payment should be made into the state government Assessment Appeal Account.
Meanwhile, the property owner/occupier who mutilates, damages or destroys the LUC identification placed on assessed property/building, or incites another property owner  to misrepresent his chargeable capacity, commits an offence, attracting a maximum fine of #100,000 only or a term of 3months imprisonment, or both. Payments of all such monies including actual LUC demand notice, outstanding taxes, penalties and administrative charges are made on Electronic Banking System of Revenue Cycle Management (EBSRCM) platform, and automated receipt and bank teller obtained.
Good enough. The government of Aregbesola is a government of bio-metrics in all matters and in all circumstances. The government is not inhibited by inadequate availability of data and documented information on the extant buildings in the state. In fact, cadastral maps of properties/buildings in Osun are available on finger-tips, considered requisite for LUC identification and assessment. Neither is Aregbesola stifled by inadequate manpower situation germane to the operational efficacy of LUC. Rather, he’s brimful of emulsifiers for the evaluation of the effectiveness of LUC with no encumbrances to Osun economy.
The expedient LUC could be expanded to inaugurate site value taxation, vacant land taxation and property transfer taxation on land development to induce land use effect, and importantly as revenue raising measure. Such expanded LUC will publicly recover land value increase or land betterment value and influence better planning of land development in the Osun.
The LUC is a must tax to pay.

  • OLUSESI is Assistant Director, Directorate of Publicity, Research & Strategy, All Progressives Congress (APC) State of Osun.

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