● Says committee not out to witch hunt past administration.
OSOGBO- 16/04/2024
The Secretary to the Osun State Government, who doubles as the Chairman of the Osun State Asset Recovery Committee, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye in a press conference held at the Exco’s Lounge of the Governors office today assured the people of Osun State that the committee would adhere strictly to the rule of law while carrying out its mandate.
Igbalaye while addressing the press said due diligence will remain a priority. He further stressed that the press conference was called to have a clear picture of the situation, stating that Osun people should not see development as a means to which hunt the past administration.
“It was imperative for the committee to go through due process after the inauguration. Government properties like vehicles, buildings which were illegally possessed must be returned to the Osun state Government immediately”
The Osun State SSG while speaking reiterated critical observations by the Task force in a meeting held on Teusday, 5th March, 2024.
“At its meeting held on Tuesday, 5th March, 2024, the Task Force observed as follows:
i. That due diligence should be done with a view to ascertaining vehicles / assets that were lawfully permissible to be taken home from those illegally taken away;
ii. That the Executive Governor had the prerogative power to allow any political appointee go home with his/her official vehicle, having served for at least a period of two (2) years and payment of some amount of money into the coffers of the government, and if the vehicle was less than four (4) years old, the appointee would pay 10% of the residual value of such official vehicle;
iii. That the approval granted by the immediate past Executive Governor for the release and eventual ownership of the official vehicles (kia cars) allocated to members of the immediate past Osun State Executive Council followed due process; and
iv. That the letter of permission written by the immediate past Head of Service, directing political appointees of the immediate past administration togo home with the official vehicles allocated to them was, however, illegal.”
“Consequently, all government assets/ vehicles that are hitherto in the possession of the political appointees of the immediate past administration, which are not captured in the express provisions of the paragraphs ii and iii above, are deemed to have been illegally carted away, and such must be returned to the Osun State Government immediately.”
Responding to questions of ease and means of of recovery, the SSG maintained that the task force consists of legal and security representatives who are mandated to make sure that operations are carried out in respect to the rule of law.
“We have legal and security representatives. They are on this committe to make sure that the rule of law takes preeminence”, he concluded.
The SSG assured everyone that as another meeting is due in a few days, the public will be kept abreast of developments as events continues to unfold.
Signed:
Kehinde Adeoye,
Media aide to the Secretary to the Osun State Government.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has signed the budget 2024 bill into law with a promise to ensure full implementation for the benefit of the state and her people.
The total approved budget is Two Hundred and Seventy Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand Naira and Four Hundred and Ten Kobo (273,908,997,410)
In a short statement after signing the appropriation bill into law, Governor Adeleke said the budget tagged “Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery” is crafted to fast track the revitalisation of the various sectors of the state economy.
“Our focus is to put the state on the path of sustainable development, hence we are rebuilding all the sectors namely education, health, sports, roads, agriculture, creative industry, digital economy ,general infrastructure alongside women and youth focussed programmes and policies.
“I commend the State Assembly for prompt processing of the appropriation bill. I also laud my team for their cooperation with the various assembly committees in the budgetary process.
“We will ensure implementation as stipulated to reconstruct the society and ensure recovery of critical sectors”, the Governor noted while signing the bill into law.
Signed Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor
I organise this event as a major landmark in our push for the making of a new Osun State. Our administration is using this gathering to prove to the world that a new Osun is possible. The main purpose is therefore to unveil a Multi-Billion Infrastructure plan to address the huge deficit the state is experiencing.
Sound infrastructure is a condition for economic growth and development. The difference between a growing economy and a dormant one has to do with how developed the state infrastructure is. In the case of Osun, I have used the last 11 months to address the over 90 percent infrastructure deficit our administration inherited. But more still needs to be done, hence the ambitious plan to launch this infra plan that covers roads, health, water , schools among others.
Osun as the cradle of Yoruba nation must move quickly on the ladder of development. We can and must surpass those presently leading among comity of states. We should carry first in new age sectors like digital economy, sound infrastructures and others. We must overcome our inherited burden and chart a path of 21st century growth for our people.
By today’s event, our administration is building the confidence of the investing public. Osun state is ready and open for business. By investing so much in infrastructure upgrades, we are laying the foundation for effective public private partnership. We are getting set to key into infra financing opportunities as long as it will not add to the financial burden of the state.
Let me declare here that the infra plan I am about to unveil is purely state sponsored without any loan from financial institutions. I must also add that we are hitting the ground running immediately after this launch. We are complying with all procurement laws and due process.
Very importantly, our administration is ensuring localisation in the implementation process. Local content in terms of sourcing of materials and workforce are key to transfer skills and economically empower our people. This is in line with the five point agenda of our administration which seeks to boost the local economy. High local content is married with a strong maintenance plan to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure.
With the flagoff of today’s infrastructure development, we are poised to further boost the State Economy as 95% of the Projects shall be executed by local content. Osun Money will be spent in Osun. We are determined to eliminate capital flight as witnessed in the past.
Before unveiling the infra plan, I invite you to watch what we have done in some critical sectors in the last 11 months.
We could show you more but for time constraints. You saw the schools before and after. You saw the medical outreach and how several thousands benefitted. Of course, the roads were captured. You saw the boreholes and how they are serving our people. After showing you a glimpse of what we have done within the infrastructure sector in the last 11 months, it is my honour to unveil new projects and infrastructure for the state.
1. Rehabilitation of 345 Health Centers in the 332 Wards in Osun State: Rehabilitation will include, Provision of Potable water, new toilets, and bathrooms, Beds, Mattresses, Bedsheets, renovation and painting of buildings, new curtains, and Solar panels/Inverters for 24 hours electricity etc. Our approach is to take medical services to the doorstep of our people wherever they may be.
2. Phase two of Portable Water Provision in 332 wards of Osun State. Which includes, Overhead Tanks, dispensing taps, generators, or solar panels. Under Phase One as you have seen, 332 water projects were completed. They are all functioning. Under the new plan, another set of underserved areas across the 332 political wards will be served with water projects.
3. Phase two of rehabilitation of 31 schools in the 30 mother local governments of Osun and Area Council. This includes portable water, new roofs, new toilets, renovation and painting of buildings, and Provision of desks and chairs. As you have seen in phase one of the school rehabilitation, our approach is to take a school and completely rehabilitate the buildings completely with desks and other learning facilities.
4. As a follow up to the completed rehabilitation of selected schools, the government has commenced the process of recruiting new teachers to address teachers’ shortage in our schools. Currently, a need assessment is ongoing to determine the teachers’ requirements across subjects and schools. This will help to determine the number of teachers to recruit.
5. Construction/ Rehabilitation of 45 roads of at least one kilometer in each of the 30 mother local governments, making a total of 45 Kilometers. As you saw in the preview, we have earlier completed about 45 kilometers of roads across the LGAS. These new roads are fresh projects for phase two.
6. Dualisation of Roads: In a bid to ease traffic jams and reduce road accidents, we are dualising some roads in some major towns to start with. The listed towns include Osogbo, Ede and Ilesha.
7. Construction of five Flyovers to ease traffic accidents and traffic jams. The identified projects are as follows:
● Osogbo – two namely Okefia and Lameco junction ● Ikirun- One ● Ife- one, Mayfair ● Owode Ede- One
8. Street Lightning: We are to install street lights in all major towns, especially Osogbo as the State Capital. This is important to enhance security surveillance and boost the night economy.
9. Imole Medical Outreach
Two medical outreaches were conducted in two locations in each of the three Senatorial districts in the last ten months. Various surgical procedures, including cataract eye surgeries, were done during the outreaches. The outreaches will be conducted once per quarter in the years ahead
Ladies and Gentlemen and my good people of Osun, all these projects shall be completed within 12 months by the grace of God.
It is therefore my honour and privilege to flag off the multi- Billion Naira Infrastructure Development of Osun. I implore the good people of the State to cooperate with the Contractors that will be handling these projects with the best of hospitality.
For further technical details on these infra plans, I will now call on team lead for each of the sectors to speak on costing and other requisite details
● Senator Ademola Adeleke Executive Governor of Osun State delivered his speech at the unveiling of the multi billion naira Osun State Infrastructure plan.
Pledges support of Canada Government to Osun on Climate Change
OSOGBO- 22/08/2023– osunstate.gov.ng
High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christoff, on Tuesday stated that he is impressed with the focus and performance of the Ademola Adeleke led Osun State Government adding that Governor Adeleke should be commended for his effort in the improvement of the mining sector.
The High Commissioner who is on a visit to the historic and tourist centres in Osun stated this at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo stressing that the framework for a beneficial relationship between Canada Government and Osun would be worked upon.
Chirstoff who spoke on how Canada can support Osun on Culture, Tourism, Global Investment and mining stressed further that Osun state government should be commended for its effort on Climate Change adding that other states in Nigeria are looking to emulate Osun in that regard.
He said, “I’m impressed with the focus of the Governor, and everybody who is working with him, the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government and every other persons who have made presentations earlier .
“There is a lot of talent here, and I think is high time investors started looking at coming down to Nigeria and Osun to see for themselves what I have seen since I got here yesterday.
“In the areas of culture, tourism, global investment and mining there is so much that we are doing in Canada and we can create an opportunity for partnership, like its been said in all the presentations.
“In the area of mining, Governor Adeleke should be commended for the improvement made on mining regulations and also in the mining sector of the state and also in Climate Change, thank you for taking the lead, I am sure all the other states are looking at taking the same steps”.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, the Deputy Governor of Osun State urged the High Commissioner and his team to ensure that the relationship that is about to be created is not left to rotten away and should be built upon with continuous communication.
He stressed further that the doors of Osun state government is open to global investors for collaborations and partnerships adding that a fair and leveled playing ground as well as adequate security will be provided.
“Please I want to urge the High Commissioner and his team to ensure that this relationship we are building today doesn’t just end at the visit but we build upon it by communicating regularly such that results are seen in terms of partnership and collaboration between the Osun state government and Canadian Government.
“Being a new administration, the door of Osun state is open to foreign and global investors and I can assure you that a fair and leveled playing ground as well as adequate security will be provided to all Investors”, he said.
Earlier in the meeting, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism- Hon Abiodun Ojo; Commission for Agriculture- Hon Tola Faseru; Commissioner for Innovation, Science, Communication and Technology- Hon Maruff Ayodele Ayofe; Special Adviser Global Investment to the Governor- Hon Yemi Owolade and Special Adviser to the Governor on Mining and minerals resources- Prof Lukman Jimoda had made series of presentations to detail the areas of opportunity for investment in Osun state.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed Spokesperson to the Osun state Governor.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Caretaker committees for Local Government Council Areas, Local Government Development Areas and the Area Office in Osun state after securing approval of the State House of Assembly.
The Governor had written to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly , seeking approval for the appointment of the Caretaker committees.
The Governor’s letter in part reads as follows:,
“In view of the urgency of need for a functioning local government system and the arising necessity due to non-existence of legitimate and democratically elected Local Government Executives across the Local Government Councils in Osun State, I hereby forward the attached list of Caretaker members for all the Local Government Council Areas, Local Government Development Area and Area Councils across Osun State, for your consideration, pending the holding of Local Government elections in line with the relevant provisions of the law.
“I seek your expeditious approval so as to properly re-shape and direct the administration of the third tier of government in Osun State”, the letter partly read.
The letter which was later considered by the lawmakers was followed by the screening and confirmation of the nominees.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of the Caretaker members is fixed for Wednesday August 16th at the Car park of the Bola Ige House, Abere , Osogbo by 10AM.
Signed Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor.
Following the last Friday’s Court of Appeal judgment, which affirmed the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the duely elected Governor of Osun State in the July 16, 2022 Governorship polls, workers in the public service of the State, this Monday morning, trooped out in their thousands to solidarise with the Governor and to congratulate him on the victory.
Workers who converged on the main entrance of the State Government Secretariat, Abere to usher in the Governor could not hide their feelings as they rejoiced,sang and danced with thunderous chant of the Governor’s slogan,”Imole,imole,imole”.
In his highly elated interactive reaction, which was laced with sacerdotal prayers and heartfelt prophetic utterances for the workers and the State, Governor Ademola Adeleke appreciated God for using the appellate court to upturn the election petition Tribunal judgment which had earlier sacked him from office, enthusing “this shows that the people of Osun gave me the mandate.”
He also thanked the entire workers and the people of the State for standing behind him throughout the difficult time, affirming that the victory cannot be stolen by anybody through the back door.
He therefore pledged that he will not disappoint the workers and the residents of the State in giving them the much needed dividends of democracy.
Governor Adeleke further assured the workforce of prompt payment of salaries and entitlements,as and when due.
Speaking earlier, the duo of the Trade Union Congress Chairman (TUC), Osun Chapter, Comrade Adekola Adebowale and his counterpart in the NCSU, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo congratulated the Governor for the well deserved victory saying, “It is an attestation of the fact that your victory is a popular mandate.”
The two labour leaders used the opportunity to recount some of the achievements of the Governor within 100 days of taking over the mantle of leadership in the State which,
according to them,were :prompt payment of salaries and arreas to workers, renovation and rehabilitation of roads across the State, sinking of boreholes and other infrastructural developments across the nooks and crannies of the State.
The duo, on behalf of workers,however pledged workers support for him, assuring that they will work with him to actualize all his good intentions for the State.
