Gov. Rauf Aregbesola
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Wednesday paid compensation worth over N302 million to people whose property will be separated due to the ongoing road construction of Olaiya/Ita Olokan in Osogbo.
The Governor stated that his administration will not renege on his electioneering promises to make life meaningful and abundant for the people of the state.
Aregbesola who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi-Laoye gave the reassurance while distributing cheques worth N302,966,974.02 to the affected families along the ongoing road construction of Olaiya/Ita Olokan Road at the state capital.
He held that his administration will leave no stone unturned at making life more pleasant, comfortable, meaningful and prosperous for the
citizenry in spite of the current dwindling allocation to the state from the Federation Account.
Aregbesola disclosed that his administration has expended over N2billion so far as compensation to people whose property and belongings were separated from the main roads since his inception.
The Governor added that his government had really proved to the world what infrastructural development is all about.
He noted that all his administrative policies and
programmes are aimed at promoting the general wellbeing of the citizenry, stating that all the ongoing projects would be completed
before the expiration of his administration.
Aregbesola stressed that the only panacea to the negative effects of current economic hardship was for government at all levels to see the need to improve their state Internally Generated Revenue through tax payment.
He enjoined all and sundry to assist government by paying their tax, while admonishing beneficiaries to use the money judiciously by getting a more comfortable shelter.
The Governor said, “It is important to explain the funding of this project, in the history of Osun, no government has surpassed our record in term of welfare of the workers, the records are there, despite the financial challenges, we are struggling hard to meet our obligations regarding the payment of workers salaries but that will not be a justification to ignore other critical areas that directly affected our people”.
“When we came to office in 2010, we enacted a law which will allow us save10 percent of the total revenue of the state for the incoming generations and when things appeared difficult, we approached the State House of Assembly to amend the law in other to access the savings to fund this road project which is critical to the economic development of the state”.
“Since inception we have paid over N1 Billion to the people affected by separation within and outside the state capital, the disbursement is not in any way easy but as a government we have responsibilities to pay compensation to those who have genuine claims to reduce their suffering”. The governor emphasised.
Speaking earlier, the Ataoja of Osogbo Land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji commended the state governor for the rapid development of the state capital which he described as unprecedented since the creation of the state and urged the affected people to cooperate with government.
He said those who lost property have paid utmost sacrifice for development adding that their family will be remembered for life in the history of Osogbo land.
Adepoju Almorruf commended the transparent process of the compensation and assured the government of maximum cooperation of the resident in the process of the construction.
Meanwhile, the Government of the state of Osun on Sunday said it will not relent on its various reforms until violence is completely rooted out of its public schools institutions.
It said part of the rots created by the long years of abandoned education sector in the state is that schools had become breeding grounds for gangsters rather than well-groomed individuals.
The government stated this in the wake of the reported reckless display of violence by some misguided pupils of two state-owned schools at the state capital Osogbo, last week.
In a statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, the government said ugly incidents such as which happened at the Anglican High School and Adele Middle School both in Osogbo were part of the ugly results of long years of neglect of the education sector, a development which created ample opportunities for irresponsible conducts of pupils.
The statement recalled that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun had at the official unveiling of the first mega high school in the state, lamented what he called a deplorable situation in public education institutions which had constituted breach of the peace to the entire community in the past.
“Recall that when the government commissioned the Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo Governor Rauf Aregbesola made no mistake admitting that the old school system and outlook encouraged pupils to behave almost like animals.
“What happened last week was just part of the remnants of the culture of violence inherited in our schools five years ago and which this administration has battled vigorously. It could have been worse. But the dogged pursuit of excellence in character molding and academic brilliance under the present administration in the education sector has stemmed the tide and we are not relenting until we stamp out the last instance of anti-social behaviour in our schools,” the statement noted
Listing the areas of interventions which are aimed at arresting the drift, the statement said a complete transformation of the learning environment and the general conditions of learning are the efforts of the government to ensure that products of public education institutions are individuals who become productive to the society and not those who terrorise the society.
The statement said construction of modern schools structures equipped fully with modern facilities, provision of attractive school uniforms, re-orientation of teachers and pupils, provision of modern learning tools such as e-learning tablets, Opon Imo, and other enviable projects of this administration are aimed at changing the behavioural patterns of the pupils and making them feel confident that they can compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
Appealing to parents and guardians, the statement said members of the public must compliment the efforts of the government through adequate monitoring of their school children to avert bad company and shameful conducts.
The statement added, “While the government will not shy away from its responsibilities in giving the state an education sector that produces responsible citizens, parents have the task of monitoring their children before and after school hours to ensure that the grooming efforts of the government do not go in vain.”
The statement added that the government will be left with no option than allow the law to take its course against any pupil who strays into violence and other anti-social behaviours.
“We cannot afford to allow a few bad eggs to contaminate and corrupt the enviable and conducive learning environment we are striving hard to put in place in Osun as part of the enduring legacies of this government,” the government added.
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