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Tag: Rauf Aregbesola

  • I am not happy paying civil servants half salaries – Aregbesola

    I am not happy paying civil servants half salaries – Aregbesola

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Sunday said he was not happy paying half salaries to civil servants and political appointees in the state.

    The information is in a statement by Mr Adelani Baderinwa, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Osogbo.

    Baderinwa stated that the governor said this when Federal Government team on digital switch over visited him at the governor’s office.

    He quoted Aregbesola as saying “economic downturn induced by brazen corruption, wanton theft of crude oil and mismanagement of the country’s resources by the last administration forced the state to what it was witnessing today.’’

    According to the governor, no reasonable person or government will be happy not performing its required responsibility.

    He added that “we are not happy paying modulated salary to our workers in the civil service and political appointees. We are compelled by financial reality.

    “Contrary to the lies around , it is not all our workers that receive half salary.

    “Workers on levels 1-7, being the most vulnerable and the largest chunk of the workforce are being paid full salary.

    “Workers on levels 8-10 receive 75 per cent of their salary, while levels 12 upward collect 50 per cent of their salary.

    “The workers have shown maturity, support and understanding. We acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices and support of the workers.”

    Aregbesola, however, said the financial burden on the government was incurred to provide infrastructure and develop the state.

    NAN

  • Our problems will persist until we find enduring solutions to identity – CHAMS GMD

    Our problems will persist until we find enduring solutions to identity – CHAMS GMD

    Chams Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading companies has evolved over the last 3 decades from computer and hardware maintenance to the provision of enterprise technology solutions in identity management and identity transaction systems for the public and private sectors.

    Recently, it facilitated the identification process for the government of the state of Osun. The initiative called ‘Kaadi Omoluabi’ has received several accolades and commendations from the Osun citizenry and other stakeholders within and outside the state.

    Mr. OLUFEMI WILLIAMS, the Group Managing Director of the firm, in an interview with The Nation reporter MOSES EMORINKEN sheds some light on the relevance and ubiquitous benefits and solutions of data capturing to the social, economic and political problems bedeviling the country.

    What is the relevance of the Omoluabi Identity Card to the Osun citizenry?

    As His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the executive governor of the state of Osun mentioned at the launch of the initiative on Tuesday, the Identity Card Initiative is about knowing the people that he governs. There is no way the government can plan or manage the affairs of the state, especially with respect to what the people want without detailed understanding of biometric statistics.

    It also helps the government measure the effectiveness of the services it delivers to the people.

    It creates a platform for any member of the state to conveniently transact with the government and vice-versa.

    For instance, if the government wants to build new schools or construct new roads, it can easily make objective and informed decisions about which part(s) of the state needs these infrastructural facilities depending on the population of the people, where economic transactions are preponderant, etc.

    It allows government institutions to have interconnected database. It cuts out the duplicity in registering and capturing biometric data of its citizenry. This initiative provides a unique number that can be used for such purposes.

    We did it for students and the impact was major. Immediately, the cost of managing, sponsoring and promoting affairs around the educational sector was optimized. Before then, there were haphazard approaches because of the paucity in statistics.

    Now, with the touch of a button the educational details of a child for can be generated. This leads to measurable results over time.

    How long did it take CHAMS to come up with this solution?

    This is the forte and core competence area of CHAMS. We have participated in similar projects in the past. We have been on this project for four years. The reason was because the government had more pressing project at the time before very recently it decided to take up the Identity Card Initiative.

    This novel innovation in identity capturing is not only opened to indigenes of the state but also to residents within the state.

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    What is the level of response of the people of the state to this initiative?

    The responses have been very encouraging from members of private organisations and the civil society. They believe that the initiative is very timely and custom-made for the people and government of the state.

    Does CHAMS have plans to diversify into other real sectors?

    Our core focus lies in delivering intelligent business solutions. However, there are two major industries we intend to dominate in the next few months, they are – Agriculture and Health acre. For now, that is all we can reveal.

    Is it possible to have a central database for the biometric data of Nigeria to avoid proliferation and duplicity?

    This can be answered in two ways – technical and political. I have an authoritative response to the former but with little or no political explanations for the later.

    Technically, one of the projects awarded for data capturing in 1976 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo would have solved it. However, the problems of awarding and re-awarding contracts have brought us to where we are today.

    The only solution is what the Federal Government is trying to do – which is harmonization. There is a need to harmonize these databases together. The process will be challenging but not impossible to do. At the moment there exists huge repository of data at the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ), sim card registration centres, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ), states etc. There are solutions and technologies that can harmonize data effectively.

    What exactly is CHAMS as an organisation doing differently?

    Every business goes through series of transformations. For CHAMS, we have evolved overtime according to the overwhelming changes in the needs, expectations and taste of consumers. We started as a Computer Hardware and Maintenance Company, to Networking and then to Smart Card Technology. It was the Smart Card Technology that led to the formation of value card; which was the first successful payment card in Nigeria.

    After a while, we moved into Identity Management because we realised that the problem(s) of this country will not disappear until we solve the processes of identity. Identity is like the Certificate of Ownership (C of O) for land. The (C of O) is an ordinary document, however, because we believe that the (C of O) represents a land somewhere, we can conveniently do a transaction with it. The same things can be done with the identity number to represent a person.

    The next phase for us is to translate the business from just Identity Management into intelligent businesses that can be built on identity. We have the human capital to deliver. We have a bunch of experienced, versatile and energetic executives to drive the processes.

    What should we expect from charms in the next 5 years?

    We would have dominated two industries and be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

  • Ekiti, Osun governorship polls hold July 14, Sept 22

    Ekiti, Osun governorship polls hold July 14, Sept 22

    Governorship polls will hold in Ekiti State on July 14 next year and on September 22 in Osun state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) announced the dates yesterday as it rolled out the programe of activities on the elections.

    The tenure of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose will end on October 15, 208 and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will vacate office after two terms November 28, 2018.

    According to the timetable released by the electoral body, a run off election, if necessary, will take place within seven days after the announcement of results in line with relevant laws.

    The timetable, signed by the Commission’s secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, indicated that INEC will  issue notice for the Ekiti election on April 4, 2018, which is not later that 90 days before the election. Political campaigns will commence on April 15 while collection of forms by political parties for issuance to candidates will come a day after.

    Political primaries and resolution of disputes arising from such is slated for 15April-14 May, 2018.

    Notice of election in Osun State will be released on June 23 while campaign for the electionwill start on June 25.

    Collection of forms for the Osun election has been fixed for June 25, while primaries and resolution arising from disputes must be conducted between June 24- July 23.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Prince Solomon Soyebi  said INEC was guided by the  provisions of section 178(1)and (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended, and section 25(7) and (8) of the electoral Act,2010 in arriving at the dates.n

    He also  restated that the Commission’s  earlier warning to intending aspirants and their parties that the release of dates for elections did not amount to notice for campaigns for votes. He warned that parties which infringe  on provisions of the Electoral Act as amended  would be sanctioned.

    “Anybody who deviates from the Electoral guidelines by engaging in public campaign ahead  of the date for commencement of campaign is committing electoral offence and will be prosecuted.

    “All political parties and their candidates are hereby enjoined  to cooperate with us,” Soyebi said.

  • Ripples over weekend attack on football fans

    Ripples over weekend attack on football fans

    •’Suspected hoodlums may be from Osun’

    Ondo State yesterday alleged that 20 indigenes were, at the weekend, attacked in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, shortly after a football competition between the state’s Sunshine Star and Osun United.

    Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, who addressed a news conference, alleged that Sunshine supporters sustained injuries when suspected hoodlums  from Osun State attacked them.

    According to him, 40 vehicles, inscribed with Osun logo, were mobilised to the stadium.

    He added that those who assaulted Ondo visitors were suspected loyalists of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, identified through their uniform.

    He said trouble started after the match ended 3-1 in favour of Sunshine Stars.

    Ogunleye, who said he was present, alleged that Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola contacted the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode when the perpetrators were arrested by the police.

    Two of the victims, Messrs Ayodele Folorunsho and Felix Olowa, who sustained injuries on their heads, were brought to Cocoa Conference Hall, venue of the news conference.

    They recalled that  cutlasses and stones were used on them, saying they lost their mobile phones, shoes and clothes.

    Ondo Information and Orientation Comissioner Yemi Olowolabi, who was also at the conference, said the attack on his people was unfortunate.

    He called on Aregbesola, rulers and eminent personalities in Yorubaland to intervene to avoid friction between the two states.

    Although Olowolabi did not link this to the attack on the Osun Commissioner for Regional Integration, Mr Bola Ilori, he, however, decried the situation and stressed the need for peace between the two states.

    Ilori, an indigene of Ondo State, but a serving commissioner in Osun, was attacked last Thursday at the International Events Centre, Akure, at the public hearing on restructuring and true federalism, organised by the APC.

    His shirt was torn, but was rescued by his supporters, who came with him to the event.

  • Raji was compassionate, loyal – Aregbesola

    Raji was compassionate, loyal – Aregbesola

    The Governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday described the late Lateef Raji, who was a commissioner in the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, as a compassionate man who touched many lives.

    Aregbesola gave the description at the 8th day Fidau prayer organised for the deceased by his friends and political associates in Lagos.

    Represented by Mr Bola Ilori, the governor said Raji was a great mobiliser who would be sorely missed by many.

    “Raji was a compassionate fellow who touched the lives of so many people he came across.

    “Also, he was a loyal party man who did a lot for our great party, APC.

    “His demise is a great loss to us in the party and to us in Osun State.

    “We are greatly pained by his death and we pray for his peaceful repose and fortitude for the family to bear the loss. “he said.

    The governor expressed special condolences to the wife and children of the deceased, and promised that he would always be in touch with them.

    Also showering encomiums, a former commissioner in Lagos State, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, said Raji was a good friend and a sophisticated politician.

    “I was the commissioner for Information in the cabinet of former governor Babatunde Fashola while Raji was Special Adviser on Information.

    “He was a jolly good fellow and a complete gentleman.

    “He was a very good politician and touched so many lives when he was alive.

    “Raji lived a fulfilled life. I am going to miss him,” Ibirogba said.

    He prayed for the peaceful repose of Raji’s soul and that God should be with the family he left behind.

    Mr Kayode Opeifa,who was also in Fashola’s cabinet with the deceased, described Raji as a friend and a colleague.

    He said the deceased was loved in the party and by cabinet members.

    “His exit is painful. We will all miss him. He was a vivacious fellow and a great party man,” Opeifa said.

    The Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Mr Muse Ariyo, said hosting the prayer at the council secretariat was not enough to appreciate the great work of Raji.

    He said the deceased left an indelible impact on the lives of the people in the area and his life and times were worth celebrating.

    “We are pained by his demise and we pray that Allah grant his soul peaceful repose,” he said.

    Dr Said Timehin, who gave the sermon, urged Nigerians, especially leaders, to touch the lives of others.

    “Everything in life is vanity. So we should stop all this primitive accumulation.

    “We should spend our money on Allah’s course and humanity, just like late Raji. ” he said.

    Timehin described Raji as a compassionate fellow who made impact on people’s lives.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were offered for the peaceful repose of the deceased at the programme.

    The prayer attracted prominent APC faithful, including the state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale.

    Politicians from other parties, officials of the state government and residents also graced the programme.

    NAN reports that Raji died on Aug. 14, at the age of 55.

    He has since been buried in his Ido-Ani hometown,Ondo State according to Islamic rites.

  • NUGLE appeals to Aregbesola to support LGA autonomy

    NUGLE appeals to Aregbesola to support LGA autonomy

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has appealed to the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola to support Local Government Autonomy.

    Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, NULGE President made the appeal at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

    Khaleel said that this was imperative as the governor’s support was necessary for granting the Local Government Autonomy.

    He expressed sadness over what he described as “misconceptions on Local Government Autonomy” by the governor

    He said the Osun State governor had come to symbolise himself as the most formidable foe against the freedom of local governments in Nigeria.

    He said that the Aregbesola was defending his position when he said local governments should not have autonomy in his well-publicised lecture during the 2017 NULGE Week of Osun State Chapter.

    “Ogbeni Aregbesola erroneously declared that local governments do not deserve to be autonomous because the Yoruba wars, particularly the Kiriji war, was fought for federalism recognised only two tiers of government; namely the federal and the state.

    “This is a distortion of history. The historical fact is that the popular Kiriji war was fought because the Ijesha and Ekiti people did not want the regime of recklessness imposed on them by Ibadan warlords.

    “For historical records, local administration and empire buildings started with Yoruba civilisation. Local governments have been in existence before the Berlin Conference of 1885 to 1886 when the entire area of Nigeria was partitioned to Britain for colonial exploitation.

    “In fact, when the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914, local government administration, as we now address it, had flourished very well in all parts of Nigeria.

    “The Clifford Constitution of 1922 did not talk of any Federal or State Government; yet till 1945, local administration in form of local governments flourished in every inch of that era of colonial Nigeria, such that government was receiving the patronage of people and it was providing services.

    “Therefore, the reference to Kiriji war as a protest not to recognise local government as a tier of government did not exist in reality. It only existed in the imagination of Aregbesola.”

    The NULGE president, however, applauded the leadership and members of 8th National Assembly for overwhelmingly adopting two of the three key bills on local government autonomy.

    He said that NULGE hoped that the two chambers would reconcile their differences on the issue of scrapping State Independent Electoral Commission(SIEC).

    He faulted the belief from some quarters that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be solely responsibility for the conduct of Local Government elections across Nigeria.

    Khaleed said that NULGE and the Nigeria Union of Teachers had settle their differences on the issue of LGA autonomy.

    “NUT is part and parcel of the National Action Committee responsible for actualisation of LGA autonomy,” he said.

    He said that the three years tenure proposed by the National Assembly for LGA elected officers was a welcome idea.

  • Buhari commiserates with Aregbesola over mother’s death 

    Buhari commiserates with Aregbesola over mother’s death 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commiserated with the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, over the passing away of his mother, Saratu Aregbesola.

    In a telephone conversation, President Buhari expressed sympathy with the governor, describing his mother “as a great woman who was a pillar of discipline to her children.’’

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said the matriarch of the Aregbesola family deserved great honour for “the sacrifices she made to bring up her children on the path of sound moral character and commitment to good reputation.’’

    He said that the governor’s mother contributed immeasurably to the building of a respectable pedigree for her family by raising disciplined and humble children like Governor Aregbesola.

    He prayed that Allah would bless her soul and reward all her good deeds with paradise, and also comfort the family she left behind.

  • Osun bye-election defeat won’t affect APC – Speaker

    Osun bye-election defeat won’t affect APC – Speaker

    The Speaker of  Osun House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, says the electoral defeat suffered by the All Progressives  Congress (APC) in the July 8 senatorial bye-election will  not affect the fortunes  of the party.

    Salaam,  in a statement issued on Thursday in Osogbo  by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika, described the defeat as  an electoral set back and a wake-up call.

    The speaker, who said the development would strengthen  the APC  for  future elections, promised that all the loopholes identified during the poll  would be critically addressed.

    The APC caucus in the assembly, he said, however, passed  a vote of confidence on Gov. Rauf Aregbesola.

    Salaam said the enduring achievements of the governor in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and health could not be ignored.

    “APC administration under the leadership of  Gov. Aregbesola has saved the state from cheap death that could be caused by flood through proactive measures.

    “It secured the state from criminals that almost overran financial institutions located in the state before he took the mantle through coordinated security architecture.

    “Our loss in the election cannot affect the fortunes  of our party and government but rather,  it is  a weight shedding exercise to renew its pact with the people for better delivery.

    “We affirm our strong faith in the party, ‘’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 97,480 votes to defeat Sen.  Mudashiru Husain, the APC flag-bearer,  who scored 66,116 votes during the election.

    Adeleke won in nine out of the 10 local government areas in the senatorial district.

  • God will choose my successor – Aregbesola

    God will choose my successor – Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said on Friday that God would choose his successor.

    While responding to the request of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, to pick somebody from the town as next governor of the state, governor said “all the major towns in the state are all clamouring for the position but it would only go to where God wants.”

    Aregbesola said the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a proof that God is the utmost decision maker.

    He said: “In all the towns I have visited in the state since my commencement of my tenure as governor and during this campaign except Ede, they have all urged me to make their indigenes governor.

    “But with the experience of Senator Adeleke, I cannot decide what would happen tomorrow (Friday) talk less of saying what would happen in 2018.

    “Kabiyesi, I leave everything in the hands of God to decide.”

    Oba Akanbi and other royal fathers in Iwoland prayed for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Mudashiru Husain, in Saturday’s senatorial by-election in Osun West.

    Those in Aregbesola’s entourage to Iwo were  Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu; former Senate Leader, Alli Ndume and APC state chairmen in Oyo, Osun and Borno and States.

    Others were – the state deputy governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; members of the National and State Assemblies, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, among others.

     

  • Osun rallies support for Child Rights Act

    Osun rallies support for Child Rights Act

    The Osun government on Wednesday called on parents, volunteers, non-governmental organisations and security agencies to assist  in ensuring successful implementation of  the Child Rights Law.

    The Director of Press and  Public Relations in the State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Dapo Ajayi, made the call in Ede at a training programme organised by National Orientation Agency for community volunteers.

    Ajayi, who said the state domesticated the Child Rights Act and passed it into law, warned that it was now illegal for the rights of children  to be abused.

    “Abusing the rights of children must be stopped forthwith because offenders would be arrested  and prosecuted,’’ he said.

    He called on residents to ensure that children were stopped from hawking goods on the streets during school hours while  their  use as house help at a tender age should be discouraged.

    Ajayi said  government was  committed to the welfare of children, adding that this informed  the provision of state-of-art school buildings and one meal per day for all children in  public elementary schools.

    He  called on parents and guardians as well as community volunteers to pay attention to  children and monitor their activities in order to prevent them from physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

    Ajayi also  called on community  leaders to evolve  communal action that would check  child abuse.