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Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • We’re committed to workers’ welfare, says Aregbesola

    We’re committed to workers’ welfare, says Aregbesola

    sun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration remains committed to workers’ welfare.

    He spoke when the Area Comptroller, Oyo and Osun Command of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), Muhammed Bawa, visited him.

    Aregbesola said the government has not been able to pay salaries because of its dire finances.

    He, however, said no one can suggest or establish that the administration is reckless.

    The governor said an efficient and effective Customs Services is a veritable tool for improving the economy.

    A sure way for the country to protect and expand its economy is by ensuring that local industries are protected adequately.

    The governor said for West Africa’s  economic development to be fast-tracked, there must be a free Customs zone in the sub-region.

     “Nigeria, at this time, needs an effective and efficient Customs to improve and expand the economy of the country,”he said.

    Bawa said his command came to Osun to educate auto-dealers on how to legally run their business.

    He admitted that Osun, unlike other states, has fewer cases of illegal importation being a landlocked state, but noted that many illegally imported vehicles still find their way to the state.

    He said: “We have come to this state to meet with motor dealers; we have come to advise them to enhance understanding and compliance to rules and regulation of the land.

    “We want to reach them so that most of the illegally imported vehicles do not come to Osun, and it wouldn’t be seen as being a harsh decision when customs officials perform their legitimate functions.”

  • PDP’s advice infantile, says Aregbesola

    PDP’s advice infantile, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described as infantile the Peoples Democratic Party’s advice to the government to sell a helicopter in its fleet to pay outstanding salaries.

    Osun PDP through its Director of Media and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi,  in a statement yesterday advised the government to “sell an helicopter Governor Aregbesola said he procured for the state and stop frivolous trips to Cuba to have funds to offset the seven- month workers’ salaries arrears”.”

    The party said: “What this administration told us was that the helicopter was for surveillance, but we have since discovered that the chopper is only serving the travelling needs of Mr. Aregbesola and his family.

    “This remains one draining pipe that must be blocked.

    “We also advise the governor and his aides to stop travelling in chartered aircraft.

    “If President Muhammadu Buhari could  travel on commercial airlines, there is need for Governor Aregbesola to follow suit.”

    But in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said the advice  clearly shows how the PDP has become degenerated in its thinking process for its leaders to come up with the selling of a “mere helicopter” in order to pay workers’ salaries.

    He said: “The PDP’s advice ought to have been dismissed and never dignified with a response but for the unsuspecting  public who might be tempted to think there is any substance in the proposal.

    “It is disheartening to see how PDP leaders think. They screamed ignorantly about two years ago that Osun State procured an N8 billion helicopter.

    “We had asked them to find out the cost of a Boeing plane let alone a helicopter which was only leased and it was to beef up the Osun Swift Action Squad (SAS) for its aerial surveilance.

    “This was clear to all in the state that the helicopter was procured as part of the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s comprehensive security measures to drive criminals far away from the state.

    “So, for the PDP in its narrow  and pedestrian thinking to tell us to sell the helicopter is a sign of intellectual laziness.”

    The governor said the allegations that the helicopter is  for his personal use lack any evidence.

    “It is obvious the PDP, after it has reached its final bus stop , is merely looking for something to keep it relevant.

    “ What could be relevant in a party that never had any touch with the people? What could be relevant in a party that cannot even organise itself to give credible and virile opposition?

    “It is therefore certain that allegations such as Aregbesola financing Lagos, Ekiti, and Muhammadu Buhari’s elections are not only laughable; they demonstrate the fact that the PDP cannot even be rescued from its self-inflicted tragedy. It is a party eternally rejected,” Aregbesola said.

  • Aregbesola beyond reproach

    There is nothing more difficult to carry out, not more doubtful of success, not more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order and only lukewarm defenders in all those, who would profit by the new order. This lukewarmness arises, partly from incredibility of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new, until they have actually experienced it.

    It is in this perception that the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola found himself when he came on the scene in Osun State; when its progress was at the lowest ebb, in fact, inert. But the Ijesa-born politician, was determined to go the whole hog and make Osun State an Eldorado, no matter what. Only an administration with the heart of steel and grim resolve could accomplish such feat.

    Setting out to achieve his avowed goals expectedly met with resistance from those, who profited by the old order of doing things in Osun State. It was themselves first and the larger populace last. To the glory of God, Ogbeni Aregbesola has opened up Osun to certain level of socio-economic development. In the course of his first term in office, far-reaching infrastructural facilities were put in place to international standard with frugality. Roads, hitherto considered unpassable and difficult to rehabilitate, saw the magic wands of Aregbesola and residents of such areas heaved a sigh of relief.

    For the first four years of Aregbesola in the saddle, workers’ salaries and pensions were paid as and when due and his government was regarded as worker-friendly. Even certain percentages of the workers’ salaries were paid as 13th month bonus. But now, that the world is witnessing economic recession, Governor Aregbesola should device a means, and a solid one too, whereby payment of workers’ salaries and pension would not suffer unduly. It is said that a labourer’s wages should be paid before his or her sweat dries up.

    Here is an ‘unusual’ governor, who like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of blessed memory, do not lay claim to monopoly of wisdom. Like other South-West APC governors, he is steadily transforming the state to the applause of the citizenry.

    Aregbesola, should continue firing from all cylinders, to take Osun State to the Promised Land. There should be no looking back, even where detractors are busy putting one hurdle or the other on his way. Such is the price to pay for leadership, though it could be a bitter pill to swallow.

    I am quite convinced, that with the new administration of Muhammed Buhari, Osun, with pragmatism and political wizardry of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will partake of the largesse that would accrue to states.  Osun State’s progress, some narrow-minded people alleged, was retarded in the last four years because of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s “unrepentant antagonistic postures” toward former President Goodluck Jonathan. Whatever that means! But now, that APC is in control, Governor Aregbesola should curry the favour of the Federal Government and attract federal projects to Osun in quantum. And if need be, the governor should re-appraise the on-going Gbongan-Akoda, Osogbo-Ilaodo roads under construction, and do the necessary things with the Federal Ministry of Works or hand over such projects to the Federal Government, using his excellent relationship with President Buhari for the good of the people of Osun State. If Governor Aregbesola, spends four terms in office, he cannot finish the development projects in Osun State. He should tread softly, try his best and leave the rest for others.

    What Governor Aregbesola needs to do in Osun State, right now is to re-order his priorities and make human capacity development, the centre-stage of his administration, while continuing to plug all loopholes that are areas of wastage to the government, even if those who profited by such old order are not happy. He should not care a hoot about their grouse, which are unjustifiable.

    Once again, let us engage in politics of love, affection and development in Osun State. We should continue to wish our leaders well and pray for them as a demonstration of our obedience to Biblical and Koranic injunctions. We should not behave like that man in Ekiti State, who pointedly wished our then Presidential candidate dead. May God forgive him and indeed, those who orchestrated evil machination against the Governor’s son – Kabiru, whose services are needed in his own little ways to the development of Osun as a bonafide citizen.

    To accelerate the state internally generated revenue, Governor Aregbesola should embark on aggressive property tax collection, to boost the state’s revenue. Despite the economic down-turn, gigantic and imposing structures, homes to the nouveau riche, are springing up at Osogbo GRA and other locations in the state capital and other choice areas of the state. If those involved could have so much to erect such structures, they should spare the state something substantial as property tax. After all, such locations in GRA enjoy the best of road network and electricity supply, as they are on dedicated lines from whatever you call it. Are the numerous ‘five star’ hotels that now litter Osun State paying up the correct taxes to the government, Ogbeni Aregbesola?

    Osun shall certainly excel and be a model for other states to emulate. It should be many steps ahead of others. We all have our patriotic roles to play. We are ready to do that, if the governor provides a level playing ground to do so. He should not give room to those who will tell him only those things that are sweet to his ears. They cry Hosanna today, crucify him tomorrow.

     

    • Lawal, a public affairs analyst, write from Ede, Osun State.
  • ‘Aregbesola’s son wasn’t arrested’

    ‘Aregbesola’s son wasn’t arrested’

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has said it did not arrest the son of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Kabiru, for alleged money laundering on May 12.

    The Acting Public Relations Officer, MMIA Command, NCS, Victor Ogagbo, said yesterday that the report was false.

    Ogagbo said some people inquired about the “arrest”.

     “I told them that the governor’s son was not arrested at the Lagos Airport.

    “The report is false. We did not arrest him. People made enquiries and we told them it was false,” Ogagbo said.

    The Osun State government also refuted the claim.

    In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, the government said Kabiru neither travelled nor was he detained by security agencies for money laundering.

    The statement reads: “It has become pertinent to inform Nigerians that there is no iota of truth in the story, claiming that Kabiru Aregbesola was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

    “We have discovered that the authors of the wicked and malicious lie are doggedly pursuing their agenda by engaging in an aggressive push for the falsehood to reach a larger population, especially using the social media.

    “The younger Aregbesola neither travelled  nor  did he have any encounter with any security personnel.

    “It is obvious that these evil minds are out to tarnish an innocent young man’s image  in order to get at his father.

    “Governor Aregbesola is a disciplined family man with  well-behaved children.

    “The public are therefore urged to dismiss this falsehood.”

  • We’ve lived within our means, says Aregbesola

    We’ve lived within our means, says Aregbesola

    •Governor inaugurates sixth Assembly

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said his administration has lived within its means in trying to fulfill its financial obligation to workers.

    The governor said this in his address titled: “We shall overcome” during the inauguration of the sixth House of Assembly.

    He said his administration has not exposed the state unnecessarily, contrary to the claims of some people painting the present administration as financially reckless.

    Aregbesola added that the present administration will stop at nothing to ensure that people enjoy life abundantly.

    “The problem began in 2012 when our expenditure increased as a result of the hike in minimum wage.

    “This was when we applied the increase to junior workers only. Then, our total emolument rose to N2.7 billion from the N1.4billion that I met in November 2010.

    “By December of that year, it hit N3.5 billion. At the same period, our statutory allocation increased marginally from N2.1 billion to N2.5 billion. By July 2013, our total emolument hit N4 billion; our statutory allocation was N2.1 billion. By then, we had extended the increase to other workers.

    “The summary reveals that in the last two months of 2010, we received a net allocation of N4.2 billion and paid N3.6 billion. This left us with a net gain of N573 million from our statutory allocation.

    “In 2011, we got N29.9 billion allocation and spent N25.8 billion on emolument with a net gain of N4 billion. However, in 2012, we got N28.4 billion and expended N31.6 billion on emoluments.

    “This left us, for the first time, with a deficit of N3.2 billion. The following year, 2013, our statutory allocation had dropped to N26.4 billion while our emolument rose to N36.9 billion.

    “This gave us a N10.4 billion deficit. Last year, our statutory allocation reduced to N19.3 billion and by this time we were defaulting on some of our obligations on emolument, which had also dropped to N22.4 billion, but still left us with a deficit of N3 billion.

    “In summary, between November 2010 and December 2014, we got a total statutory allocation of N108.3 billion and our expenditure on emolument was N120.4 billion.

    “It left us with a total deficit of N12 billion.”

    Aregbesola added that, aside from expenditure on salaries, if other emoluments are to be included, the total recurrent expenditure will be N206 billion and statutory allocation N108.3 billion.

    He also noted that adding other accruals from Abuja, it will add up to N176.5 billion, leaving the state with a deficit of almost N30 billion.

    After the inauguration, Speaker Najeem Salaam was re-elected for a second term.

    Also returned were  Akintunde Adegboye (Deputy Speaker) and  Timothy Owoeye (Majority Leader).

    Oladejo Makinde was elected Minority Leader.

    Folorunso Bamisayemi was elected Chief Whip.

  • Supreme Court upholds Aregbesola’s victory

    Supreme Court upholds Aregbesola’s victory

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

    A seven-man panel of the court, led by Justice John Fabiyi, unanimously upheld the concurrent decisions of the election petitions tribunal and the Court of Appeal on the petition filed against the outcome of the election by Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Justice Centus Chima Nweze, in the lead judgment, held that the two appeals by Omisore (SC/204/2015 and SC/204A/2015) were without merit and dismissed them.

    He upheld the decisions of the tribunal and Court of Appeal, saying the appellant failed to lead credible evidence to support his claim of malpractices in the election.

    Justice Nweze upheld the cross-appeal by Aregbesola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the effect that the tribunal was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction over Omisore’s petition, which was filed outside the seven days allowed by the Electoral Act.

     

  • Salary: Aregbesola urges workers to be patient

    Salary: Aregbesola urges workers to be patient

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has pleaded with civil servants to bear with the government over the delay in the payment of their outstanding salaries.

    He appealed to them to tread the path of dialogue and peace in their demand.

    The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon,  said the government had started exploiting all possible avenues to source for funds.

    Aregbesola said despite inadequate and delay of federal allocation, the state is making moves to source for funds and offset the backlog of salaries.

    He, therefore, appealed to the agitated workers to be patient and not consider industrial action as the last option.

    “Industrial action should not be the last option. The workers should tread the path of dialogue and peace. We are all stakeholders. We need to reason together to resolve this salary issue peacefully. We hold our workers in high esteem.

    “Workers are very important to us and we are always interested in their welfare. It’s the unfortunate situation on ground, which is a general problem that is painting the Osun government in bad light.

     “But efforts are seriously being made by government to address the issue positively.

    “In the past, we used to pay salary before month end because we never waited for federal allocation. It was when the alternative fund avenues had been exhausted that we started waiting for federal allocation.

    “Though we have been promising to begin payment of salaries, but have not been able to fulfill the promises. This is not intentional. It is due to the unfortunate disappointment from the Federal Government, which has failed to live up to expectations. But the government is trying its best to address the issue.”

  • Aregbesola faults NMA over open letter

    Aregbesola faults NMA over open letter

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday faulted an open letter written  by the the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association( NMA) wherein it claimed that the state government has  been paid its allocations up till March this year.

    In a statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, the state government disputed the allegations made by NMA, describing it as unsubstantiated.

    “The attention  of the government of the State of Osun has been drawn to an open letter purportedly written  by the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association over unpaid salaries of its members.

    In its open letter, the NMA claimed that it has information that Osun government has been paid its allocations up till March this year and cannot therefore understand why salaries of its members and those of other workers are not paid.

    The NMA needs to be reminded that when a state that was receiving N4.6billion as monthly allocation began to experience sharp decline down till about N1.1billion monthly, it is instructive that the state’s N3.6 billion salaries and other compulsory payments would suffer delays.”

    The state government linked its poor financial situation to the drop in allocations from the FederaL Government.

    “Since July 2013, the shortfall in revenue had started showing its ugly face and since then, the state had been augmenting allocations from the Federal Government with resources from its savings.

    This was why even at the time when the Federal Government could not pay its workers, the Osun government still continued to fulfill its obligations up until it exhausted the reserve.”

    “In case the NMA is unaware, the FAAC meeting for the distribution of the March allocation was held less than two weeks ago while the states await the funds to drop in their coffers.

    That also presupposes that the claim of six months salaries being owed must be checked properly. If workers in Osun have been paid up till November, it is therefore appropriate to take cognizance of the fact that December, January and February are being owed since neither the allocations for March or April has been paid into the coffers of the government.

    The NMA has also claimed that it is aware that “contractors and political office holders have been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accruing to our state from the federation account”.

    While it is regrettable that workers’ salaries have suffered delay, it is equally germane to remind the NMA leadership and its members that the claim of the little revenue coming to the state going into satisfying the needs of political appointees and contractors is false and cannot be substantiated.

    Osun took bonds for various development projects and financial literacy tells us that bonds are issued based on projects attached to them which are monitored by the appropriate regulatory bodies in the financial sector. This means proceeds of bonds taken for construction of schools and other  development projects cannot be diverted to the payment of salaries according to the wishes of the NMA.”

    “As late as last Wednesday April 29, 2015, representatives of the government, led by the Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, still had a meeting with the leadership of the NMA, led by the National President, Dr. Kayode Obembe.

    Therefore, the claim that the Governor of the state “was unexplainably unavailable for mediation and dialogue with all negotiating teams”with the association cannot be true.

    In addition, the state government has been having very fruitful meetings with the Osun State Association of Medical and Dental Officers (OSAMDO) which is the trade union that covers the interests of members of the NMA.

    Governor Aregbesola will continue to do its best in the interest of workers’ welfare while hoping that an end is in sight to the shenanigans that brought about this unfortunate situation in the first place,”the statement added.

    Meanwhile, in his message to Osun workers on the occasion of  Workers Day celebration, Gov Aregbesola described them as the engine room of any administration, urging them to direct their professionalism towards the realisation of the goals and aspirations of the in-coming government.

    “With transparent handling of national resources, the days of revenue crisis in Nigeria would soon be over and workers would once again be assured of their place of priority. We are committed to furthering our achievements in Osun as far as the welfare of workers are concerned.”

  • No plans to stop school feeding programme, says Aregbesola

    No plans to stop school feeding programme, says Aregbesola

    The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said there are no plans to stop the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme called O MEALS.

    Describing media reports on the stoppage as false, Aregbesola said none of the policies that have brought laurels to the state would be stopped.

    Aregbesola said this in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

    “OMEALs has been one of our most socially impactful programmes. How can a responsible government like ours think of reviewing a programme that has been adjudged as one of the best to come out of the best in the country? Does that not stand logic on its head?

    “We have been able to improve our state’s economy through the school feeding of over 250 thousand elementary pupils every school day. The programme has directly employed 3,007 women and over tens of thousands of farmers in the state.

    “Osun is attracting local and international attention for implementing an initiative that has not only increased enrolment in its primary schools, but has also provided employment opportunities for farmers, majority of whom are women.”

    The governor emphasised that the programme has impacted positively on school enrolment with an increase of 38,000 pupils, representing 25 per cent in four weeks of its introduction.

    He added that enrolment of pupils increased from 155,318 on May 31 2012 to 194,253 by June 30 and December of the same year, government decided to extend the programme to cover pupils in primaries 1 to 4 bringing the total number of pupils being fed to over 252,000.

    He also denied setting up a nine-member committee to review the school feeding programme.

    The statement, however, noted that labour unions in the state had suggested that the state should seek alternative sources of revenues because of the current national revenue crisis.  It added that it could not have been interpreted as a plan to stop the scheme.

    Aregbesola had been lauded at an event at the British House of Commons for implementing the school meals programme across the state.

    Aregbesola averred that with Nigeria focusing on a school feeding programme that will boost local food production, create empolyment boost enrollment and thereby enhance learning, the scheme has come to stay.

     

  • Arewa chieftain applauds Aregbesola

    The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members among the Arewa Community in the South West, Alhaji Hassan Isiaka has applauded Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the victory of the party in the zone in the just-concluded general elections.

    In astatement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday, the Arewa leader acknowledged “the singular efforts of the APC Presidential Campaign team in the South West, headed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola which did wonderfully well in the zone.

    “Aregbesola as a reliable team leader is an enigma when it comes to the management of human and material resources as put into practice at the APC campaigns that resulted in grand success at the polls, not only in the South West but all over the nation,” he stated.

    Alhaji  Isiaka specifically acknowledged “Ogbeni Aregbesola’s efforts in judiciously managing the scarce resources available from the Buhari Campaign Organisation at a time when the opposition had laid siege on the nooks and crannies of the zone with ‘Ghana must Go’, in their erroneous belief that the voters could be grabbed with money.”