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Tag: Rauf Aregbesola

  • ASUU decries neglect of LAUTECH

    ASUU decries neglect of LAUTECH

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday decried the neglect of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by the owner states of Osun and Oyo.

    Dr Ade Adejumon, Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the union, spoke at a news conference in Osogbo.

    Adejumon said that the institution was at the brink of total collapse due to inadequate funding, irregular payment of staff salaries and dearth of personnel.

    He said that the institution’s lecturers were already on two weeks warning strike.

    “We are currently on two weeks warning strike. We are calling attention to the fact that LAUTECH is on the brink of final disintegration.

    “We are not so much concerned about non-payment of our 10 months salary arrears, promotion arrears, but rather our concern is the poor funding of the university.

    “If nothing is done after the two weeks warning strike, then, we will proceed on an indefinite strike,’’ Adejumon said.

    He noted that the Memorandum of Action, signed with the union before its last strike was called off had not been fulfilled by the owner state governments.

    According him, many lecturers have left the university, while many have retired; there has not been recruitment of new hands for several years, and the university is understaffed.

    Adejumon called on Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and his Oyo counterpart, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, to let the general public know if they could no longer fund the university.

    The ASUU coordinator said the actions of the two state governments had shown that they were no longer interested in the running of the university.

    He said that it was not possible for the institution to continue to rely only on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to run the institution.

     

  • Osun guber poll: I have no anointed candidate, says Aregbesola

    Osun guber poll: I have no anointed candidate, says Aregbesola

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun says he has no anointed candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Aregbesola, who disclosed this while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) members on Saturday in Iwo, in Osun West Senatorial District, was reacting to consistent agitations by the people of the zone to produce the next governor of the state.

    He said that he was not ready to impose any candidate on the people.

    He said that there would be a free, fair and credible primary to pick the party’s flag bearer.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed Sept. 22 for the governorship election.

    The governor, however, appealed to party members not to allow the outcome of the primary to divide or disturb the peace and progress of the party.

    He said the outcome of the primary should rather unite the party to make it stronger and indivisible.

    ” Every party member is free to support any aspirant of his or her choice.

    ” But after the party’s primary, any candidate that emerges as the party’s flag bearer should be supported by all to enable the party to win the election convincingly,” the governor said.

    The APC Chairman in the state, Mr Adegboyega Famodun, urged the party members to remain strong and united for the election.

    Famodun said that with the achievements of Gov. Aregbesola in education, health and infrastructure development, among others, victory was guaranteed for the party.

    The Asiwaju of Iwoland, Mr Gbadegesin Adedeji , urged the governor and party members to allow Osun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor of the state.

    Adedeji said the zone had been marginalised for long and urged the governor to consider the zone whenever decision on who would be party’s flag bearer was being taken.

    “The entire people of Iwo constituency are solidly behind Mr governor.

    ” And I am using this opportunity to tell you that we want the next governor to be from this zone.

    ” We have many responsible, cultured, experienced, qualified and well trained people that will not disappoint the state if given the opportunity,” Adedeji said.

     

    Dino Melaye free as INEC suspends recall process

  • South West Governors formally admit Lagos into O’dua Investment Group

    The six Governors of south west region under the auspices of the Western Nigerian Governors Forum on Wednesdayformally admitted Lagos State into the O’dua Investment Group with a total of 115million shares thus growing the share equity of the company to 690million.

    The Governors – Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day quarterly meeting held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, also ratified a document allowing Lagos to acquire land in their respective states for massive rice cultivation and production.

    Specifically, all the Governors resolved to embark on a Rice Accelerated Program for Integrated Development (Western RAPID) to further consolidate actions on food security and job creation in the region, while a Regional Agriculture Summit to be sponsored by Lagos State, was agreed to be held in Ibadan in May 2018.

    The forum, which is being coordinated through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, also signified interest in the concession of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    Reading the communiqué to journalists, Director General of DAWN Commission, Mr Oluseye Oyeleye said: “The States of the Region as a bloc will be monitoring the process for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Concession into a world class infrastructure.”

    He said the Governors also resolved that DAWN Commission, Focal Representatives and Agriculture Commissioners of the region would hold a technical session with Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and develop a state by state roadmap in four weeks before the Regional Agriculture Summit scheduled for May 2018.

    It was also agreed that DAWN Commission should work on reviving Regional Inter-School Football Competition, and as well conduct a study on the successes in Education in Ekiti State for peer learning/adoption among the Western Nigeria states.

    Also, the Governors directed the DAWN Commission and the Focal representatives to structure a programme on the Omoluabi Ethos of the Yoruba people.

    However, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, who represented Governor Amosu, raised some reservations about the land deal, saying that the State Government on account of previous issues with Lagos on the similar subject matter would be refraining from releasing land to the State until the said issues were resolved.

    Nonetheless, Onanuga said: “We will be prepared to sign this memorandum later when some of these issues are straightened out.”

    When asked by journalists on way out of the issues raised by Ogun State, Governor Ambode said he was optimistic that all the States would join in the effort to ensure food security and create jobs for the people.

    He said: “What has happened is that we wanted to expand the agric output of our rice mill and in doing so, we decided that all the south west States should be able to cultivate rice and supply paddy to the proposed rice mill that is coming up in Imota in Lagos.

    “So, what we have done is that four other States have agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding which they have actually done today and so what is happening between Lagos and Ogun is that there were some minor issues that were outstanding before and based on that they could not sign today but you could also hear that they are committed to signing when those issues are resolved.

    “We are having a 32-ton per hour rice mill in Imota and we are going to require 32,000 hectares of paddy cultivation which even the whole of the south west cannot even provide but because we are interested in integration and also independence, it is important that beyond going to Kebbi or Kano, all the south western states should also benefit from it and the idea is that we are trying to procure land there but we will also use the people and the farmers in the respective states to cultivate the land and by so doing we have created employment in those States and we will be off-takers to the paddies that they are producing and so I am able to buy it and also use it for my own rice mill and then sell it in Lagos and so I create employment across the region and at the same time put money into the pocket of our people,” Governor Ambode said.

    Earlier, Governor Aregbesola described the incorporation of Lagos State into the economic framework of the south west region as historic and long coming since 1948, adding that the development would strengthen the O’dua Investment Group and drive the development of the region.

     

  • Osun govt. distributes delivery kits to expectant mothers

    No fewer than 12,500 expectant mothers in the State of Osun have gotten 12,500 delivery Kits distributed by the State Government led by Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on Monday.

    The provision of the delivery kits is a government project focused at improving maternal and child health.

    Speaking at the flag off of the programme tagged “Saving One million lives programme for results and maternal, new born and child health week” Governor Aregbesola said the gesture is to support pregnant women and ensure they have the things needed for a safe delivery.

    Each of the delivery kit tagged “Mama kit” contains one chord Clamp, one Mucur Extractor, seven Sterile Gloves, one Baby Soap, one Baby Towel, one Set of Baby Cloth, one Purit, one Canula and one Sanitary Pad.

    The programme is also supported by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in collaboration with Save One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOML PforR) of the Federal Government.

    It is aimed at increasing the quality of care index at health centre level across the state and helps to provide a clean and safe delivery for women who give birth in hospitals and clinics.

    In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu said the objective of the programme is to collaborate with the Federal Government’s (SOML PforR) which is to increase the utilisation and quality of high impact reproductive, child health and nutrition interventions with overall goal of reducing under-5 mortality rate and maternal mortality rate.

    Isamotu who revealed that the State Government had also launched a HIV test kit, said the mama kit is to ensure safe delivery and serve as a constitutional means of preventing needless deaths.

    He explained that since the inception of the programme in the State of Osun, all hands have been on deck towards its successful implementation, adding that health workers have been sensitize and trained.

    The Commissioner also noted that the government will give more attention to rural areas especially those people who could not afford the delivery kit as well as discourage delivery at home, sensitise and incorporate traditional birth attendants so as to reduce under 5 mortality rate and maternal mortality rate and save mothers and children from needless death.

    In her remarks too, the State representative of the National Primary Health Care Service, Dr. Modupe Oyesije lauded the State Governor for making health care services in the state easier for its people and for also inaugurating the Osun Primary Health Care Board which would ensure effective performances of nurses.

    Also the Spokesperson of The Sustainable Development Goal, SGD, who doubles as the State Commissioner for Federal Matters, Hon. Idiat Babalola appreciated the state Governor for his interest and investment in health care services. Idiat explained that the SGD serves to complement the State Government efforts in preventing maternal mortality death.

  • Osun APC, PDP condole Aregbesola over mother’s death

    The leaders of both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State have sent condolence messages to Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the demise of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola earlier today (Tuesday).

    Although no statement had been issued on the burial arrangement, sources close to the family said the deceased would be buried later in the evening according to Islamic rites.

    The APC Chairman in the state, Mr Gboyega Famodun, said in a condolence message in Osogbo that the deceased lived a fulfilled life.

    “As we mourn this natural event of the octogenarian, we also have cause to be grateful to Allah for the life of this great woman.

    “She had the unique grace of giving birth to a child that has become a jewel not only to the people of Osun and Yoruba land in particular but also Nigeria generally.

    “On behalf of the good people of Osun and the numerous supporters of the APC in the state and beyond, we extend our sympathy to our beloved governor and his family for the loss of Alhaja Saratu,’’ he stated.

    The Peoples Democratic Party in the state, on its part, described the death of the governor’s mother as painful.

    The party, in a condolence message signed by its Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said the deceased was an industrious, virtuous and religious woman.

    Adagunodo said the demise of “ Mama Olobi’’ was not only a loss to her family but also to the entire state.

    “May Allah grant the deceased eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the loss,’’ it said.

    The Osun House of Assembly also commiserated with the governor over the demise of his mother.

    A statement signed by Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, described Aregbesola’s mother as charitable and benevolent, adding that she would be greatly missed.

    “Mama Olobi was a mother in a million who cared for everyone that came in contact with her.

    “She was a very cool, calm and collected personality and a successful woman in kola nut business

    “The Assembly prays God to grant Alhaja Saratur Al-Janat Firdaus,’’ the statement said.

    The Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association described the death as a monumental loss.

    A condolence message by the association’s President, Mr Olalekan Hammed, said the deceased invested in all her wards.

    “Alhaja Aregbesola was a highly religious person and a proud mother who possessed all motherly qualities and invested in her wards.

    “We thank God for her life, ’’ the statement added.

     

     

  • Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ekiti on Sunday suspended its strike.

    TheNewsGuru reports that IPMAN embarked on the action on May 25, over demolition of some petrol stations and the revocation of some Certificate of Occupancy by the Gov. Ayo Fayose.

    The suspension of the strike is contained in a communiqué issued in Osogbo at the end of a peace meeting called by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun.

    The communiqué, which was signed by Aregbesola, Fayose and the representatives of the marketers, was made available to newsmen at Osun Government House where the peace meeting was held.

    According to the communiqué, an ad hoc committee would be constituted to fashion out in clear terms the conditions and guidelines for the establishment and operations of filling stations in Ekiti state.

    It stated that the committee, to comprise of representatives of Ekiti state government and oil and gas stakeholders, shall begin work on June 7.

    “In the spirit of reconciliation, the Ekiti government has agreed to pleas for reversal of the revocation of some Certificates of Occupancy of landed properties on which filling stations are built, except the ones on waterways and canals,” the communique said.

    It also stated that the Ekiti government had agreed to stop further demolitions pending the outcome of the committee’s report.

    “The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), IPMAN and other related oil and gas unions, hereby, suspend the industrial action embarked upon by their members, with immediate effect,” it said.

    Fayose, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, commended the black marketers, who had taken over the streets of Ado Ekiti and other towns.

    He said their services cushioned the effect of the scarcity caused by the strike.

    Fayose, however, said that with the fuel marketers resuming operations, black marketers were sure to fizzle out.

    On his part, Aregbesola said the resolution of the crisis was a confirmation that the people had the capacity to resolve their differences.

    He commended the maturity of his Ekiti state counterpart and the fuel marketers for allowing the crisis to be successfully resolved.

     

  • Osun Govt. spends N14.2bn to offset 4 months salary arrears

    Osun Govt. spends N14.2bn to offset 4 months salary arrears

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun says the State Government has spent N14.2 billion to offset four months salary arrears of workers in Dec. 2016.

    Aregbesola made the remarks at an interdenominational thanksgiving service in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    According to him, the ability of the state government to pay workers salaries for September, October, November and December 2016 in a record of less than two weeks period is a huge relief.

    He said that the disbursement of the Paris Club deductions refunds which made N11.7 billion available for the state had brought some relief to the state.

    The governor, however, said that the state needed to intensify its efforts towards self-sustenance.

    “We are grateful that our hardships are getting over giving us indications that the New Year would be better, ’’the governor said.

    The governor while expressing appreciation to workers, who showed understanding, appealed to them to continue to show understanding with the government.

    Aregbesola said the state would invest massively in agriculture in the New Year, saying that the government would give financial assistance to those who were interested in farming.

    In a speech, the Head of Service, Mr.Sunday Owoeye, commended the Osun workforce for their courage and commitment to duty.

    Owoeye said that revenue generation should be a major focus of the workers in the New Year.

  • Osun to intensify intervention programmes 2017 – Aregbesola

    Osun to intensify intervention programmes 2017 – Aregbesola

    In his 2017 New Year broadcast titled ‘From recession to recovery, growth and consolidation,’ the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has voiced his government’s commitment to intensify intervention programmes in the State in the New Year 2017.

    “We are going to intensify our intervention programmes among the people. This year, we are going to initiate another batch of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

    “We are going to create more opportunities for people in agriculture, commerce and information and communications technology (ICT),” the Governor said.

    Aregbesola said that since 2014, it is evident that there is no free money again, emphasizing that the way to go is to work hard and earn money.

    “No one should be under any illusion about this. Oil price doesn’t look like it will spike up very soon, as we have had in the past.

    “Even if it will, we should never find ourselves in a position of dependency again. If oil windfall should come, it should go into special projects and savings for the future,” he said.

    The Governor envisioned that “Many developments are coming to our world which we should be prepared for and for which new opportunities will arise for the discerning, the bold and the prepared”.

    For instance, governor Aregbesola said “there will be a quantum leap in technology in the foreseeable future which will produce self-driving cars, robots and automation in agriculture and construction industries, rendering jobs redundant in these areas,” calling on academics, researchers and investors to be prepared and provide leadership for this inevitable transition.

    The Governor was optimistic about the year 2017, stressing that it is going to be a year of consolidation.

    “We are going to consolidate on all our programmes, especially in education, agriculture and road infrastructure,” he said.

    “We are not going to abandon any of our projects,” he added, enthusing 2017 is going to be the busiest year ever in the history of Osun state.