The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the citizens of his administration’s determination to place the state to an enviable height never known in history.
Aregbesola also reaffirmed that the current government in the state would not in any way be deterred by the current economic crisis in its bid to promote functional and quality education.

 
Governor Aregbesola gave the assurance while addressing the people during the official commissioning of St. Micheal’s R.C.M Government Middle School, Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
Aregbesola disclosed that the school being commissioned in structure, furnishing and landscaping  cost the government a total sum of N164 million.
Aregbesola noted that committing such huge sum on a school is a clear sign of commitment to basic education particularly in the face of the obvious lean resources of the state.
He said his government was not building the schools across the state for showmanship, but rather for the development of the new man intellectually, socially and morally, saying new man is placed in the centre of society, who views his own development as part of and for the development of society.
According to him, “this is a non-parasitic and non-oppressive man who regards his or her own existence in light of the growth of others; he or she views whatever he acquires to be subsumed in the overall interest of others.
“He is a man in himself and a man for society. This is the Omoluabi essence. Everything we have done in the school reform is for the building of this man.
“We are also developing a man of the future who will take a pride of place in a competitive digital and knowledge driven world. From these schools will emerge world renowned scientists, diplomats, educationists, jurists, clerics, statesmen, inventors, academic and entrepreneurs.
Recounting some of his achievements in education sector, Aregbesola said his government has successfully provided e-Learning tablets (Opon Imo) for final year high school studebts in the state just as free school uniforms for pupils in public school were provided.
According to him, “Our free school feeding and health programme (OMEALS) has been adopted nationally and had won applauds across the globe. The food programme is not just to develop the brain and confidence of our pupils, it is also a way of poverty alleviation for parents who do not have the means to send their pupils to school”.
He said the state was bent on revamping , reviving and resuscitating the education sector, stressing that his government has transformed the old ramshackle buildings into architectural masterpieces that will make school and education attractive to the pupils and their teachers.
The Governor explained that the middle school, like the others building in the state, has the maximum capacity for 1000 pupils, 28 classrooms, an ICT room equipped with 30 computers, 24 toilets for pupils and teachers, three head teachers/principals’ office, one staff room, one facility manager office, a multipurpose hall, food court, library, sick bay, security/reception gatehouse and recreation zone.
He disclosed that his government since inception has been building a total of 170 state of the art schools with 100 of them at elementary, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools, saying out of these, 14 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed.
He said, “Some are already commissioned while others are receiving finishing touches and waiting to be commissioned too. We are going to complete them before the expiration of our tenure. None of our projects will be abandoned.
Aregbesola who condemned in its totality the insinuations that the female students across the public schools should be allowed to wear religious  garments in place of uniforms to schools, said any student found with uniform contrary to an authorized uniform for public schools would be legally dealt with.
Governor Aregbesola bemoaned over the move purported being sponsored by an unnamed religious group in the state, instigating secondary school students to wear religious garments to schools in place of the official uniforms, adding that the current government would not condone any act of indiscipline.
According to him, “the government therefore cannot support or be seen to be supporting a particular religion. The government is a democracy, not a theocracy.
“It is not the role of government, through the schools, to lead a child in a particular religious direction. That will be for parents and religious institutions, in private capacity, until the child is grown enough to make a decision on religion.
“For this reason, our government will not hesitate to deal with anyone flouting the court order on the wearing of Hijab by the female Muslim students.
“It is our believe as a constitutionally rooted government to continuously respect the law of the land as well as other constituted authorities before taking any decision as it amounts to subversion of the educational needs of a child for him or her to be drawn into and used for political purposes.
“I want to make it clear again that the fundamental role of government in schools is to equip every child with the intellectual and moral requirement needed to be useful for himself or herself and society.
He therefore warned residents not to allow themselves to be used as instrument in the hands of the opposition, just as he called for religious tolerant.
Earlier, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye Tomori, said the numerous developments going round the state  were clear manifestation of what the present government stands for.
Mrs. Tomori who doubled as the state commissioner of Education said the prompt intervention of Governor Aregbesola in education sector had really snowballed into greater performance of pupils and students in both learning and character.
She disclosed that the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola had successfully equipped the state pupils and students the needed facilities, saying Aregbesola has provided enabling environment capable of facilitating smooth teaching and learning process.
“The commissioning of this school at this special economic period symbolizes our avowed commitment to turn around the education sector.
“The exercise also confirms the actualization of our mission statement in the provision of structurally and architecturally designed schools coupled with the adequate provision of the state-of-the-art facilities to improve level of quality education.
Speaking on the various achievements recorded in education by the current government, Mrs. Tomori hinted that 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 17 High schools are already either put into use or at completion stage.
According to her, “Our laudable feat in all sectors shows that we are unstoppable as we have been treading the path to greatness as we assumed office.
The Deputy Governor said the commitment of government towards the building of edifices around the state was in furtherance of the fulfillment of its electioneering campaign promises made to the good people of the state.
“Building state-of-of-the art schools being equipped with modern facilities to enhance teaching and learning is indeed one of the many recommendations of the education summit held in 2011 to arrest the rot in the education sector.
“The edifice we are commissioning today is in no doubt the architectural masterpiece of our administration in the quest to build a new man of greater intellectual capacity.
“This school is purposefully built and tailored towards functional, efficient utility service delivery.
“Our government believes in the development of a complete and total man as such requires us to strengthen our education system in such a manner that common man can access.
“For this purpose, our government would not in anyway condone any act of indiscipline in our schools.
“We shall maintain high level of discipline in all the public schools, as this noble gesture calls for collective support of parents and teachers towards the achievement of greater future for our children”, Mrs. Tomori stated.
She therefore called on the pupils, teachers and parents to imbibe good maintenance culture towards the utilization of the school so as to justify the huge investment being made in education by the current government.
In his remarks, Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, Prince Felix Awofisayo, charged parents and guardians on the need to complement government efforts with regular tax payment.
Prince Awofisayo who implored the parents to prioritize the welfare of their children and wards towards the actualization of brighter future, said quality education remains only sustainable legacy a parent could bequest on his child.
SUBEB Chairman applauded Governor Aregbesola for setting an unforgettable legacy and standard for the state in all aspects of the economy.
In their separate remarks, the Alademure of Ibokun, Oba Festus Kayode Awogboro; Chairman of the Chairmen, Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Yisa Ojewola; Chairman, Community Based School Management Committee, Chief Olasoyede Fadeyibi, Member representing Obokun State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye among others, commended Governor Aregbesola for being aggressive towards the promotion of functional, quality and qualitative education.

The government of Osun on Monday formally inaugurated the use standardised weighing scales in all its markets as the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the move was to make the state the preferred destination for commercial activities in the sub-region.
 

 
Aregbesola said his administration will not relent in its goal of developing economic activities in the state.
The unveiling of the “Osuwon Omoluabi”, was held amidst a huge crowd of market men and women who thronged the Nelson Mandela Freedom Square in Osogbo venue.
He pointed out that Osogbo ‎in the 60’s and early 70s was a great centre of commerce because of the railway that passed through the city‎.
The Governor emphasised that “Osunwon Omoluabi” policy is backed by law, saying Weights and Measures constitute item 63 on the Exclusive Legislatives list of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He noted that the laws made in this regard include Weights and Measures Act CAP W3LFN, 2004, Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act CAP P25 LFN, 2004; Weights and Measures Standardization of Indigenous Measures Regulations, 1992 and the Weights and Measures Fees Regulations.
Aregbesola noted that all hands must be on deck to revive the economic status of the state, adding that the state had in the past attracted sellers and buyers from neighbouring states, as far as Akure in present day Ondo State and that only Ibadan was greater in trade and commerce than Osogbo in the region.
‎The Governor held that the  launch of standardised weighing scales is in continuation of the provision of the infrastructure of the mind which we began at the inception of his administration, when it rebranded Osun as Ipinle Omoluabi.
‎Aregbesola stressed that “Osunwon Omoluabi” will eliminates cheating and other underhand practices that have become the hallmark of trading in most markets.
He averred that the use of standardized scales in markets across the state will give rise to a chain of economic benefits, adding that market expansion for dealers in weighing scales is assured as the programme will increase the demand for the product.
Aregbesola assured that jobs will be created for service providers in the areas of maintenance and repair of scales, adding that 178 OYES cadets have been trained in the maintenance and repair of scales in the first phase of the Train-the-Trainers Empowerment Scheme which is an integral part of the Standardised Weighing Scales Programme.
He said, “In the quest to be competitive and make more profit, which is greed, traders now devise varying means of short-changing buyers. Measures are deliberately reduced through cutting, filling with candles and wax, and sleight of hand.
“Scales are tilted fraudulently while husks, chaffs, barks and other rubbish are included in goods sold, with the intention of reducing the actual values of what the buyers take home.
“One of the tragedies of this immoral practice is that foreigners began to distrust our export because, for instance, cocoa graders put top grades at the top of the sack, leaving poor quality at the bottom, and in the process, collect money for the top grade.
“Those who are in the business can tell you what loss they suffered because the foreigners distrusted their products and classified all cocoa coming from our land as inferior, irrespective of the grade”.
Earlier In his opening remarks, the former Commissioner for Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the standardised weighing scale across markets in the state became necessary to mitigate challenges noticeable in commercial transactions.
Jayeoba-Alagbada said in order to erase cheating in the process of exchange of commercial goods and checkmate other market forces challenges, government decided to formally introduce the standardised weighing scales.
According to him, training workshops had already been conducted in the markets all over the state on the effective use of the scales.
He stated that the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the day-to-day administration of the programme.
He said: “I need to emphasise that market women and men had been fully mobilised to key into this emerging commercial revolution.
“Both the leadership and the followership of the associations of market women and men had agreed, not only to comply with the right use of the scales and measures but to continuously carry out peer reviews with a view to ensuring flawless implementation of the standardised weighing scales and measures programme.
“I want to place it on record that, but for the grace of God and the dogged determination of Mr. Governor, this launch and indeed the entire standardised scales and measures programme would have been a mirage.”
The President General of Osun State Market Women Association, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, said the standardised scale became necessary owing to imbalance in measurement and fraud in commercial activities.
Asindemade said the Kongo measurement introduced to the market in the old Oyo State became the standard measurement in Osun when it was created.
According to Market leader, the old measurement was gradually subjected to abuse and fraud to the extent that individual seller used his or her yardstick for measurement, thus the need to re-standardise and unify it.
She however warned that the introduction of the standard scale should not translate to increase in commodity price system in the market.
“It is in a bid to correct the anomaly in measurement and scale that the Government of Osun introduced the standardised weighing scales in markets in the state so as to forestall fraud and cheating in measurement.
“As we welcome this innovation, I call on my constituency – market men and women – to cooperate with government to make this a success.
“Besides, introduction of this weight and measurement does is not and should not lead to increase in price of commodities in our market,” Asindemade said

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is of the opinion that June 12 should be declared Democracy Day and not May 29 because that was the day Nigerians laid aside their differences and voted a leader.
 

 
In his address to mark the 23rd anniversary of the annulled election, the Governor insisted that June 12, 1993 was the day Nigerians voted the acclaimed winner of the Presidential election, M.K.O Abiola without recourse to religion or ethnicity.
Aregbesola said, “We will never drop our commitment to June 12. Nigerians, in their heterogeneity, on June 12, 1993, voted for Chief Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality.

“It was a pattern that made mockery of the fabled fault-lines and fissiparous tendencies of the Nigerian federation and projected a nation united behind a popular leader.
Noting that May 29 only symbolises the day the military handed over leadership of the country to a democratically elected government, Aregbesola explained that the unity with which the multi-ethnic groups spoke and acted on June 12, 1993 is what is being celebrated till today.
“May 29, in 1999, was the date the military handed over power to civilian administration and will remain symbolic for the transition to civil rule and the opportunity it presents for realising a truly democratic government that approximates the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a leader that will lead them to the Promised Land of security and life more abundant,” he said.
The governor, however, stated that the country had to wait for a long time after the annulment for the emergency of President Muhammadu Buhari, a leader that would take the country to the Promised Land until.

“We waited for 16 years for that leadership to emerge and we thank God for the election and coming to power of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“A government with a human face is here at last. He represents the aspirations and symbolism of June 12 in that he also got a pan-Nigerian mandate that once again defied the divisions in our country.
“He represents hope for change and national rebirth. He is on that path. God willing, he will lead us to the Promised Land,” Aregbesola said.
Aregbesola said despite the many imperfections associated with democracy, it remains the best form of government.

Osun State Government has  officially launch the use of standardized weighing scales called Osuwon Omoluabi for accurate transaction of businesses in all markets across the state today. One of the aides of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagbada, who made this known, in a statement in Osogbo, stated that the programme was held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park at Old Garage in Osogbo, the state capital.
 

 
According to him: “The programme was put in place to ensure that the accurate weighing scales are introduced for usage for commercial transactions in all the markets across the state to discourage cheating of customers in the markets.” He noted that “the existing measures are based more on rule of thumbs than any degree of accuracy and consistency.
The existing measuring standard are not accurate and full of inherent shortcomings often observed by the market men and women themselves.” Alagbada further explained that, standardizing scales will eliminate all inherent shortcomings, mistrust, incessant arguments and disagreements that are currently common place in commercial transactions.
“The standardized scales and measures will positively impact on the economy of the state by bringing unprecedented ease to trade and commercial transactions in the state.” “This will no doubt increase the pace and volume of transactions among traders and consumers, thereby increasing the volume of commerce.”

The Osun State Commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Alhaji OyedokunAdebamigbe, has warned the newly appointed executive members of the group to desist from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the association, saying that the violation of the constitution of the body might lead to the termination of their appointment.
 

 
Adebamigbe gave the warning during the official presentation of certificate of awards to 15 newly appointed state executives and three zonal commandants at the VGN headquarters in Ayetoro, Osogbo.
The commandant, while identifying security consciousness among Nigerians as an antidote to the security challenges  facing the country, he called on Nigerians and the people of Osun State, in particular to report any strange  movement  in their vicinities to security agencies, saying that security matters should not be taken with levity.
Emphasising the need for a more harmonious relationship between the police and the group, Adebamigbe stated that the police and the vigilante group had been enjoying cordial relationship for a long period of time.
According to him, such relationship will help the police in discharging their duty of protecting life and property better.
He maintained that the only way Nigeria could overcome insecurity is to jointly fight the menace to a standstill.
“It is paramount to maintain utmost vigilance in our respective abode. The security of our life and property is too important to be left in the hands of security agencies alone,” he said.
Adebamigbe further expressed the VGN’s readiness to continue to support the Nigerian army in the ongoing fight against the deadly Boko Haram insurgents, and to rescue the Chibok Girls.
Enumerating the group’s achievements, the commandant listed the discovery of Indian hemp farms in a joint operation with the NDLEA and NSCDC at Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of the state, voiding of bank robbery in Modakeke, Sammya Construction Company, Alasan and Ile-Ife and the arrest of the suspects.
He, therefore, advised the newly appointed executives, the zonal commandants and all other members of the group to be loyal to the constituted  authorities, security agents and cooperate with stakeholders in their various communities.
In their remarks on behalf of the awardees, the Deputy State Commandant and the Ijesa Zonal Commandant, Abiodun Oguleye and Bello Wasiu, respectively  appreciated the state and federal commandants for bestowing on them the award of recognition, promising to continue to be good ambassadors of the organisation.

The Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA), Osun State chapter, yesterday denied insinuations it was at loggerheads with Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his administration over the introduction of fees for extra-mural classes for public secondary school students.
 

 
 
Many national dailies had reported a disregard for government directive on the payment of fees for two hours extra coaching for public secondary school students across the state that the PTA has introduced. But the body in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Bisi Olaniyan, and its administrative secretary, Ogbeni Akinlolu Fadare, stated it has not introduced tuition or school fees in public schools in the state.
The association maintained that the leadership of the PTA in the state has always been a good partner of the administration of Aregbesola and will not head for any showdown with it.

The Osun State House of Assembly has enacted laws that will improve the lots of the masses, enhance the economy of the state and development of infrastructure.
 

 
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, gave the above indication in Osogbo, the state capital, while listing the achievements of the House.
He said seven bills, including the ones that would boost the states revenue and block leakages in the finances of the state among others, have been passed.
Oyintiloye added that the House has also paid specific attention to oversight functions, especially where it concerns the completion of ongoing projects across the state, in line with the commitment of the state government.
The Chairman said a total number of seven bills have been passed by the Assembly, while others were at different stages of consideration before the House.
The bills, he said, are: Public Procurement Bill; Land Use Charge Bill; Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill; Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill; Micro-credit Agency Bill; Conservation Fund (repeal) Bill; and the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
According to him, each of bills passed has connection with revenue generation, blockage of loopholes and sustaining transparency in governance.It said: “Osun Public Procurement Agency Bill would enhance due process in the bidding and procurement procedure through probity, accountability and transpaprency; just as it will check undue influence and interference in the procurement process.

“Also, Osun Land Use Charge Bill, is aimed at improving the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through enhanced payment of rate and levies on property to the coffers of the government.
“Osun Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill, on its part, was targeted at helping to take care of the health needs of the people, in line with the cardinal point of the government’s six-point integral action plan, one of which is “to restore healthy living”, through enhancement of efficient monitoring of healthcare system at the state and local government levels among others.
“Also, Osun Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill, would enhance free-flow of traffic and pedestrians; ensure clean and tidy environment; prevent road side traders from falling victims of roadside accident, as well as discourage child abuse.
“While Osun Micro-credit Agency (Establishment) bill, was aimed at using it as effective tool to liberate people from the bondage of poverty; the Omoluabi Conservation Fund (repeal) bill, was aimed at allowing the government have access to the conserved fund to carry out infrastructural development.

“The 2016 Appropriation Bill, which is the budget, was also passed with focus on the completion of ongoing projects across the state and make it revenue-driven, such that the largest percentage of it has been arranged in a way that it will be financed by IGR.
“In considering this bill, experts and other stakeholders were carried along through public hearing on some of the bill and their inputs were put into consideration before their passage”, he said.
Oyintiloye also stressed that the Assembly has passed several resolutions, which includes amendment of State of Osun Signage, Hoarding, and Advertisement Law; and resolution on the petition by a sitting judge of the State High Court Against the Governor over alleged mismanagement of funds.
Among others, he also said, were the reinstatement of the sacked lecturers in fours state-owner tertiary institutions, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
The parliament also noted, there were other interventions made, which include, land dispute between parties; and the issue of demand for compensation by those whose properties were separated due to one development or the other among others.

It also averred that, the 6th Assembly has been able to strengthen its oversight machinery through standing committees, especially to ensure the blockage of loopholes in the revenue of the state, towards increasing its IGR without putting unnecessary burden on the people, and ensure that the ongoing projects across the state are completed.
It specifically mentioned the audit carried out on the management of IGR by the management of the four state-owned tertiary institutions, saying, the audit showed that there were leakages.
The Assembly noted that it has subsequently passed a resolution to automate the payment of all fees in their campuses, which it said, would block leakages and make the institutions self-sustainable.
It then assured that the 6th Assembly has resolved to improve on its legislative activities and do more of oversight without abandoning the passage of laws that will benefit the people of the state.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called for quick architectural intervention to stimulate the nation’s economy.
Aregbesola also charged the leadership of Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, on the need to intensify efforts at fast tracking rapid economic recovery of the nation through quality of service delivery.
 

 
The Governor made the statement while playing host to the national delegation of the NIA, at government house, Osogbo.
Aregbesola stressed that the nation has gotten to a stage where architectural intervention is required to salvage her economy from the drift of collapse.
The Governor who decried the untapped numerous resources being endowed with the nation, said the time has come for government at all levels to maximize their endowments for greater productivity.
He contented that prompt intervention of government towards building an effective and efficient architectural institution would go a long way in encouraging adequate patronage of locally produced building materials in the country.
Aregbesola who attributed some of the architectural challenges in Nigeria to negligence of “necessity”, contented that government’s intervention on the activities of Nigerian architects would go a long way in building a vibrant architectural institution that would be a model in the world.
According to him, “one of the ways to revive our economy is to invest greatly in resuscitating some of our dearth and dilapidated sectors as architectural institution is of greater importance.
“it is obvious that our economy has been seriously bastardized by the successive administrations, but nevertheless, much has to be done to stimulate our economy for greater development.

The Government of Osun has declared Monday June 13, 2016 as a public holiday across the state in recognition of it as Democracy Day.
 

In a statement, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, stated that Monday, June 13, 2016 has been declared public holiday for the Sunday June 12, 2016 Democracy Day commemoration.
The June 12 Democracy Day is in recognition of the June 12 presidential election won by the late Moshood Abiola in 1993.