Cash-strapped workers who are being owed salaries are set to smile again, with the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – backed bailout loans for states.
Fourteen banks are disbursing N338 billion “to stimulate the economy”.
Kwara and Zamfara have received their loans and have begun the payment of salary arrears to workers.
A CBN source confirmed that the other states will get the cash this week.
A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows:
Abia- N14.152b; Adamawa- N2.378b; Bauchi- N8.60b; Bayelsa – N1.285b; Benue – N28.013b;
Borno – N7.680b; Cross River – N7.856b; Delta – N10.036b; Ebonyi – N4.063b; Edo – N3.167b; Ekiti – N9.604b; Enugu – 4.207b; Gombe – N16.459b; Imo – N26.806b; Katsina – N3.304b; Kebbi – N0.690b; Kogi – N50.842b; Kwara – N4.320b; Nasarawa – N8.317b; Niger – N4.306b; Ogun – N20.00b; Ondo – N14.686b; Osun – N34.988b; Oyo – N26.606b; Plateau – N5.357b; Sokoto – N10.093b and Zamfara – N10.020b.
The CBN last week announced that it had approved that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) lend money to requesting states to pay salary arrears owed their workers.
Some of the conditions for accessing the loan include:

• resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing;
• State House of Assembly consenting to the loan package; and
• issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure timely repayment.

With the signing of the ISPO, “it is clear that the facility is not free as the states’ financial exposure to the banks becomes first line charges deducted from their monthly allocation”.
The CBN official explained that specific figures were attached to the facilities to be disbursed to the states is because “every state is to come up with its specific needs in order to access the facility from the commercial banks. They’re (states) working out what they need from the banks according to the conditions they reached with the banks”.
The decision to borrow money from commercial banks is sequel to the decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its June 29 meeting, requesting the CBN “in collaboration with other stakeholders to appraise and consider ways of liquidating the outstanding staff salaries owed by state and local governments.”
The Buhari administration announced a bailout package for states to take care of the backlog of workers’ salaries and access funds for development through the rescheduling of their debts by banks with the CBN’s guarantee.
Eleven states have had their commercial debts to DMBs restructured with a proviso to pay 14.83 per cent of the value of their bonds which their commercial debts were converted to. Eleven others are also to have theirs restructured.
Debt Management Office (DMO) Director-General Abraham Nwankwo said “the restructuring was effected using a re-opening of the FGN-Bond issued on July 18, 2015 and maturing on July 18, 2034. The pricing was based on the yield to date of the bond at a 30-day average, resulting in a transaction yield of 14.83 per cent.”The impact of the restructured states’ commercial debts to domestic bonds, he said, is that “management operations will include: monthly debt service burden will drop by a minimum of 55 per cent and a maximum of 97 per cent, among the 11; and interest rate savings for the 11 states ranging from 3 per cent to 9 per cent per annum.”
THE NATION

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday acknowledged the Republic of Cuba as a nation that has demonstrated high capacity for international human compassion based on humanitarian commitment to the development of mankind. The governor made this disclosure when the Ambassador of The Republic of Cuba to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejo Soza paid a condolence visit  to the governor on the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade  at the Government House in Osogbo.
Others according to him are; Council of Elders, Babalochas, Priests of Cuba, Council of Elder Arará Priests of Cuba and  Council of Priests Chiefs of Cabildos of the Republic of Cuba.Aregbesola commended the Cuban government for its prompt response on the fight against the deadly epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa. He noted that the government of Osun was elated when all the religious associations in Cuba wrote to commiserate with the state on the demise of the monarch which included; Council of Elder Priests of Ifa of the Republic of Cuba, Council of Elder Priests Oba – Oriaye of Cuba and Council of Elder Iyalochas Priestesses of the Republic of Cuba.
Aregbesola stated that he shared in the ideologies of the Republic of Cuba, saying, in his political consciousness, Cuba is the focus of his activism. Speaking earlier, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos  Soza noted that he is in Osun to pay tribute over the demise of the late Ooni of Ife, who he described as a father of the world.
The Cuban Ambassador was accompanied by the Deputy head of Cuban Commission to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero and the wife of the Ambassador, Mrs. Nelba Peirg Morales.
 

Osun State House of Assembly, yesterday harped on the need to block all avenues through which resources are wasted to ensure  steady growth for the state. The lawmakers disclosed this while reviewing the last 24 years of the state’s existence at a special session held to mark 24th anniversary of its creation.
They urged parastatals of government in the state to work out ways of eliminating wastages. The lawmakers also called for re-orientation and attitude of civil servants over the rate of partisanship, expressing worry that the level of partisanship has negated the principle of the ethics of their job.
Commenting, the Speaker, Najeem Salaam said, “The waste of government must be reduced , so that we will focus on things that would improve the social benefit for our people. “Political functionaries and technocrats must be called upon to look into this and be ready to develop the state together. It is a collective responsibility that we must all join hands to achieve.
“Also, the attitude of our workforce and the orientation has to be changed. The rate of partisanship of workers has become a thing of worry. “The ethics of civil service that they should not be partisan seems to have faded out.
VANGUARD

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and others, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing  school building site at Seventh Day Adventist  high School Ede on Saturday 29/08/2015.

From Right – Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Site Engineer, Mr. Ogundele Adedamola, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo High School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

From Right – Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Site Engineer, Mr. Ogundele Adedamola, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo High School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), Site Engineer, Ogundele Adedamola (3rd left),Chief Rotimi Obeisun (2nd right),Surveyor, Mr. Muray Yilmat (2nd left) and Foreman, Bektas Kocut (left), viewing the building prototype of Osogbo Grammar School, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo high School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Rotimi Obeisun, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Seventh Day Adventist high School Ede on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(middle); Chief Rotimi Obeisun(left) and Site Engineer, Mr. Gboyega Adeeyo (right). during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Ejigbo high School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

The Forum of Patriotic Members of All Progressives Congress (FOPAMEC) has charged the National Assembly to consider the level of development embark on by government in each state as a yardstick for allocation sharing formula.
National Chairman of the group, Alhaji Garba Lawal spoke in Osogbo at the weekend during a visit to the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the executive of the party in the state.
He said that the various ongoing developmental projects being carried out in Osun are worthy of giving the state more fund from the federation account.
“We have seen that Governor Aregbesola does everything he says, but it is surprising that, with the little resources available to government in this state, you have been able to achieved so much.
“Osun deserve to be reconsidered in giving more fund from allocation, so that there will be more resources for the government to carry out more developmental projects.
“I think it will be appropriate for the National Assembly to consider development in states as a yardstick to give more fund to such state, like Osun”, Lawal said.
The group chairman in another hand called on members, especially in the state to continue to mobilise support for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in achieving the developmental goal for the country.
Recalling how members of the group mobilised support for President Buhari prior to the 2015 election, he urged members to sustain the tempo and improve on it, with a view to achieving the desired goal.
While welcoming the group on behalf of the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti commended members of the forum for the roles they played at ensuring the emergence of President Buhari.
According to him, the efforts of the group had brought about the desired change that Nigerian yearned for.
He said the Buhari’s statements, utterances, body language and some of his activities have shown that the change the people voted for has started yielding positive result, especialy in the area of anti corruption war.
The SSG lauded President Buhari for the steps taken to bailout states in the federation that are battling with economic challenge, in order to meet up with their financial responsibility.
Also, the APC state chairman, Prince Gbooyega Famoodun attributed the financial challenges faced by Osun governmnet as a paid back from the ousted Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration for spearheading the enthronment of Buhari.
Noting that Nigeria was lacking in so many areas, where the country is facing challenges, he urged the people to always be ready to make sacrifice to ensure Buhari success.
He also commended the president for fortrightness and the committment he has brought into fighting corruption, saying, “this is a battled that has been required for long”.
“We all need to support President Buhari in our own way to succeed in his programmes”, he said.
The FOPAMEC state chairman, Mr Ajasegun Aluko said the APC has been able to succeed in successive elections in the state, because the people of Osun believe in the course of progressive and showed commitment towards it.
He then commended the national executive of the group for encouraging members to play the roles, charging President Buhari to be focus in order to justify the confidence reposed in him.
WORLDSTAGE

Pictures of the Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, presenting gifts to Mrs. Kafayat Azeez, who has just been rehabilitated by the State Government and others during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after being rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {right}, handing over a woman, Mrs. Kafayat azeez, after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {center}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {2nd right}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, presenting gifts to Mrs. Kafayat Azeez, who has just been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso and Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye,during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {3 right}, One of displaced person, Mrs. Kafayat azeez [centre], after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {right}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {4th left}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye [4th right], others are Kafaya’s families, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday said in about four years under his watch, Osun has inched closer to the dreams of those who laboured for the creation of the state 24 years ago.

Congratulating the people of the state for what he described as their genuine efforts to build an independent, virile, virtuous and productive Yoruba state, Aregbesola pledged his government’s irrevocable commitment to the cause of ensuring the realisation of the very dreams for the creation of the state.

The governor in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, in commemoration of the 24^th anniversary of the creation of the state said that the Aregbesola administration is committed to bringing government closer to the people and igniting a revolutionary development paradigm that sets the state on an enduring pedestal.

The statement added, “We are irrevocably committed to a development paradigm that will lift our state to compete with any proud human habitation anywhere in the world.

“We appreciate the fact that the masses, who are the focus of our development strategies, identify the reasons behind our many efforts. For example, our ambitious urban renewal project is aimed at transforming to the 21 century modern cities with life changing infrastructure in place. Projects such as the Oranmiyan New Town, a Central Business District, organised transportation system aided by road networks for the purpose, a functional emergency response scheme in health, security and transportation sectors, modern recreation parks and gardens are all geared towards creating modern environments that our people can call their own.”

The State of Osun which recently increased its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N300million to about N1.5 billion annually but also got enmeshed in financial difficulties that led to over seven months salary areas for its workers has plans to bounce back and strongly too. It is planning further revenue increase as it is prepared to leverage its rich culture as a platform.

Of its about 63 tourist sites, the state wants to particularly play up the Osun Osogbo annual festival where it hoped to generate about $1 million yearly to boost its internally generated revenue to augment its financial status.

The former commissioner of tourism and culture in the state, Adetona Ayedun told BusinessDay at the grand finale of the 2015 Osun Osogbo festival that the state wants to grow its revenue base and from the Osun Osogbo festival alone “we are looking at a minimum of about $1m in a year. With this we believe that the Osun IGR will grow.We intend to add colour to the festival but in as much as we want to create modernity to the festival it has to be in line with the tenets of the culture”.

Grand finale of 2015 festival

The 2015, unlike last year festival that was almost marred by the scare for ebola disease, was grandious in many respects as it had more visitors and the clement weather complimented the festival.

Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood Adeoti who was delighted about the success of the 2015 festival said “This year’s celebration was interesting and a huge success compared to last year. There was ebola threat last year that prevented a unique ceremony but this year, a lot of visitors and community members came out to celebrate the festival”.

He hinted that the Osun state has entered into partnership with UNESCO to develop the festival and make the annual festival more grandious. “The paucity of fund has prevented some innovations at the site. As soon as we are over with the backlog of workers salaries we are going to concentrate because we are hoping of generating a lot of IGR here, as visitors come from all over Nigeria and world to Osun Oshogbo festival. We are still working on generating IGR from it. We are going to block the road and erect toll gates as people will need to pay to come in”, he said at the festival.

Over 200,000 visitors were seen crowded at the grove, the site of the celebration as some engaged in various activities such as worshipping the deity at corners, dancing and performing different traditional rites. A lot of security personnel were on hand to check misdemenour.

Traditional chiefs took turn to pay homage to Jimoh Oyetunji, Olanipekun Larooye 2, the Ataoja of Osogboland while den gun was shot intermitendly at the grove which has artistic carves at strategic places. The Ataoja said “this year makes it ten years since the enlisting of the Grove by UNESCO as a world heritage site”

Goldberg keys in to keep the culture glowing

For several years, NBL through one of  its brands, Goldberg, has been partnering with the organizers of Osun Osogbo, a festival that continues to put Nigeria on the world tourism map, Patrick Olowookere, corporate communication manager, NBL said recently.

“This partnership is no doubt a working one between two historical brands: Osun Osogbo, a 600 year old festival that truly reflects the traditional culture of the Yoruba race and Goldberg, a brand that is the fastest growing beer in the western region”

During the two-week festival Goldberg uplifted the town with exciting communication materials as the brand owners also staged a 21-day Goldberg beer village where the people of Osogbo and visitors were exposed to an unforgettable experience. Goldberg involvements will not only keep the rich festival which got the endorsement of UNESCO recently flaming, but it will assist in realizing the aspiration of the state government to generate additional IGR from the festival.

According to the carnival consultant, Ayo Olumoko, the managers of the festival plans to list the festival on Nigerian Stock Exchange

The Consultant told BusinessDay in Lagos that the idea to list it on the stock exchange is to expose the festival to more stakeholders to be part of it. According to him, this is on the basis that it is one of the festivals with global recognition that has been organized consistently over the years.

According to him another idea for approaching stock exchange is to ensure that this pride and initiative of a community which is tourism is assisting Nigeria’s economy thrive so that government will not continue to depend on the oil.

About the festival

Osun Osogbo, an old age cultural festival celebrated in the grove has lasted for over 600 years.

The festival which has grown to become an international carnival was said to have begun in 13th century from a real live story in the acient Osogbo. A historian, Egbele Ben John, narrated that Osun was one of the wives of Songo. Osun was gifted in tie and dye called today as Adire in Yorubaland. She was the queen of indigo which represents colours. She had a particular pot called the dye pot containing dye solution. An account had it that  she quarreled with one of the Songo wives and one of them broke the pot. Though there are different mythologies associated to the story. Probably also she broke the pot from mishandling consisting of the indigo dyes which is very laborious to produce. “The liquid started flowing and she got angry and flowed with it in to the river”, Egbele said.

At a point, a hunter and his family who lived in the hinterland lacked water. Then the hunter started searching for deposit of water when he discovered the Osun River from where Osun state derived its name. Then he told his people the need to settle where the water was found. When they settled, they were felling trees for fire and other things like erecting huts. In one of the incidences they fell a palm tree which fell into the Osun river and a female voice came from nowhere and shouted ‘you have broken my dye pot’. They played the oracle and realized that a goddess, Osun was living there.

From there, they started worshipping the goddess which today turned to Osun Osogbo festival. Osun, the goddess is known for fertility as people today also fetch the Osun water with beliefs to solve all sorts of barrenness.

BUSINESS DAY

The Deputy Head of Political Section of the British High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Fleming, has lauded the progress being made by the governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
Fleming, who was on a two-day visit to the state to assess progress that has been made a year after Aregbesola’s re-election, disclosed that what he saw on ground has testified to the fact that the governor is delivering on his promises to the people of the state.
The British envoy said he is moving round states in the country to scout for investment potentials for British companies.
He identified Osun State as one of the country’s leading agriculture-based states that is capable of meeting the needs of British companies, which now focus on agriculture-oriented businesses.
He noted that the governorship election of August 9 2014 in the state, which preceded the March 2015 general election in the country, was quite significant on the part of the state and the country at large.
Fleming affirmed that Osun is one of the investors’ area of interests, hence the visit and look around for available opportunities.
“Osun State is strategic in agriculture and business. It is pertinent for us to come visit a year after the election so as to see the progress being made.
LEADERSHIP

Osun is known as the land of living spring. The annual Osun Oshogbo festival displays the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba community for two weeks. The dense forest of the Osun sacred groove, on the outskirts of the city of Oshogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in the South West Nigeria. Regarded as the abode of the gods of fertility, Osun, one of the pantheons of Yoruba gods, the landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities. The sacred grove, which is now seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, is probably the last in Yoruba culture. It testifies to the once widespread practice of establishing sacred groves outside all settlements.
The form of all socio-cultural developments has some attributes of celebration and thanksgiving to the Almighty GOD. Festivals are, therefore regarded as important socio – cultural means of supplications to the Supreme Being, at most times through His intermediaries   according to different religious faith.
Consequently, the month of august of every year has become a unique month among people of Oshogbo land. It is the month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city and the cultural reunion of the people with their great ancestors and founders of Oshogbo kingdom. The celebration of Osun Oshogbo festival is a period of stocktaking and assemblage of all sons and daughters of Oshogbo land as well as Yoruba people both in Nigeria and diaspora. The origin of the festival, according to historical records, was an account of the legendary encounter between the early settlers and founders of Oshogbo with the Osun Oshogbo deity. In about 1370AD the founder of Oshogbo, Oba Gbadewolu Larooye, and the great hunter, Olutimehin, settled in the sacred Osun forest to establish the kingdom and actualized a part of association and togetherness with the river Osun deity. Since then, Oshogbo has remained a peaceful progressive and benevolent city. This pact of association which rekindled every year in the month of August is the foundation of a cultural fiesta which has catapulted itself into world recognition as one of the largest tourist attraction locally and internationally. The festival which is the grand finale event of other programs of events starting with the traditional cleansing of the town called iwopopo, followed by the lightening of the 642 years old 16 Points lamp, called “atupaOlujumerindilogun” on the third day. This is followed by iboriade on the fourth day, the assemblage of all the crowns of past rulers (Ataojas) for blessings. Other festivals like egungun, oro, sango, ifa, obatala and Ogunare also celebrated during this time.
On the last day of the event, i.e. the grand finale, the town was filled with a multitude of people in various attire, mostly in the colour of white, all making their way to the palace of the Ataoja (king) Oba Jimoh Olanipekun. The roads were filled with human traffic, group of people were seen wearing the same colour dress singing and dancing. As an annual celebration, people from all nook and crannies look forward to escort the Arugba (the virgin who bears the calabash of sacrifice to the Osun goddess) from the royal family which is the ruling house. She is chosen divinely through the Osun goddess who makes her choice known through the ifa oracle. The Arugba is not just an ordinary teenager, her mission takes place right from her leaving her abode to greet the king with the sacrifice on her head which is covered with a thick orange cloth and she is guarded by bodyguards and Iya Osun. Her face is covered with a cloak and she is under a strong spell, one which gives her the strength she needs throughout the day. She is in trance as she walks the distance from the Ataoja’s palace to the Osun sacred grove, in which incantations are being chanted. The crowd does the same, for they pray and believe that all their problems are gone. Everyone that is around must repeat the prayer, it drives away curses and anyone who refuses to do so is in danger of attracting the rejected curses.
Present at this year’s festival were the people from Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, Philippines, Brazil, France, Cuba, Germany, South- Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Nigerian artist and photographers were also present . The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) of Chief Gani Adams was conspicuously present at this year’s festival.Also present were Christians and Muslims, who prayed to seek answers to their problems in the midst of the crowd, holding hands together, they found their way to the front where a man was seen washing his face with water and also drinking it, while another woman brought in a child, chanting words of thanks to the goddess that allow her to bring the child every year as a gift. They all left with fulfillment.
According to Mr. Ayo Olumoko, the Managing Director of INFOGEM Ltd, a cultural consulting firm for the festival, there was an increment from eight foreign countries that participated in the festival last year.
“This is due to the mass publicity given to the festival this year. More participants indicated their interests to attend this year’s events because we do not have any cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) challenge the country faced in 2014,” he said.
Olumoko said that participation by those countries would strengthen their cultural relations with Nigeria. “It will enable citizens of those countries to know and understand the Nigerian culture”. He said that the festival would bring influx of tourists into Osun in particular and Nigeria in general.
The cultural fiesta was organized by the state government, with the support of National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM) and many private sectors bodies. The list of sponsors for this year’s event include:  MTN Nigeria, Nigerian breweries (Goldberg) Seaman’s Royal, and kasepreko.
The Osun groove was enlisted officially as a world heritage site by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) in 2005.
AFRICAN TOURIST