THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA
www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 If the much talked about plan of the far from being People's Democratic Party in the state of Osun to perpetrate violence as the election draws closer was real, then they better have a re-think. If the much talked about plan of the far from being People's Democratic Party in the state of Osun to perpetrate violence as the election draws closer was real,
PEOPLE FIRST
Front Page Comment Osun PDP's plan orgy of violence then they better have a re-think. To have a rethink is a necessity for Osun PDP before they embark on Russian-roulette. Of course any plan to, yet again, embark on what they are best known for; perpetration of violence, will be tantamount to
embarking on a dangerous game with dire consequences for them.Like former President Olusegun Obasanjo - employing a yoruba axiom in his letter last month to President Jonathan - rightly said; "the person on whose head coconut was
broken may not live to savour the taste of its sweetness". Before it's too late for them it's better they make a U-turn from the journey they are planning to embark on because this time around it won't be business as usual for them. Should they go ahead to hatch their diabolical plan as they did in 2007 Continue on pg5
VOL. 9. NO.043
Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice?
N 50
IGE
Omisore, Kasamu, PDP In Kerosene Subsidy Scam - See Story On Page 2
•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, shaking hands with children as he accompanied the former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, to the morning service at St Benedict Catholic Church, Osogbo, last Sunday.
TUC Disowns Adetunji As Osun Chairman
- See Story On Page 3
2
News
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Omisore, Kasamu, PDP In Kerosene Subsidy Scam By ISMAEEL UTHMAN
T
HE recently-selected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the South-West Mobilisation Committee Chairman of the party, Mr Buruji Kasamu, have been fingered in a fraud allegation on the distribution of subsidised kerosene to members of the party in the state. It would be recalled that addresses and their phone Omisore and Kasamu numbers at N400 for five brought three 33,000 litres litres. capacity kerosene tankers to OSUN DEFENDER has Osogbo few weeks ago with however gathered that the claim of distributing it majority of the PDP freely to the PDP members members were defrauded in the state. on the sale of the acclaimed However, the kerosene subsidised kerosene. was not freely distributed as Some of the party claimed by the PDP members spoke to OSUN chieftains and expected by DEFENDER on Tuesday in majority of the party Osogbo, alleging that they members. paid N400 to the PDP The kerosene was sold to chieftains in charge of the the party members, who kerosene but they were were asked to drop two never given any kerosene p a s s p o r t - s i z e d as at the time of filing this photographs, their home report.
The aggrieved members alleged that the PDP chieftains promised to call them for the collection of the kerosene after the payment; none of them has so far received any call for the collection of the kerosene. The medium gathered that apart from the payment of
N400 and submission of two p a s s p o r t - s i z e d photographs, names and addresses, the potential buyers also submitted their voters’ card numbers to the party secretariat at their various local government council areas. It was gathered that the
obtained passport-sized photographs, names and addresses were to be used to register ghost names and inflate the number of the voters during the last voters’ registration exercise, with the aim of using the cards to rig the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the
state. A retired civil servant from Eripa, Boluwaduro Local Government Council Area of the state, Mrs Grace Aderibigbe, told OSUN DEFENDER that she paid N400 for the subsidised kerosene but she was not given any.
OSSADEC Chairman Commends Aregbesola On Agric Policy
T
HE Chairman, Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation (OSSADEC), Engineer Solagbade Oladepo, has commended the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over his continuous support to farmers in the state, especially for granting agricultural loans to them. He disclosed this at the employment are parts of first meeting of the board the six-point integral members for the Year action plan of the 2014, which held at the administration of Ogbeni conference room of the Aregbesola, assuring them corporation. that disbursement of loans He used the occasion to will commence by May, implore members of the 2014 board and the management He stated further that staff of the corporation to the state government had work together for the procured agro-processing overall success of the equipment such as agency, adding that cassava chipping members have to submit machine, grain processing their completed Code of machine, multi-grain Conduct Bureau forms not thresher, rice reaper and later than Friday, April 11, yam flour processing 2014. machine for sale to Oladepo assured women and youths at farmers that they will 40% subsidy. benefit from the loan, He also informed the while urging them to gathering that the state support and cooperate government has further with the current approved a 15% subsidy administration in the state. on agricultural Speaking on the implements such as occasion, the Acting harrow, plough, rigger General Manager, Mr. and tipping trailer, which Kayode Olanipekun, are available for sale at the disclosed that banishing cooperation headquarters, hunger and poverty, Ilobu road, Osogbo. creating wealth and
• An ongoing Oba Adesoji Aderemi along ring road, East Bye-Pass, Osogbo, under the administration of the State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, Abraham Jesudoyin, last Tuesday.
Osun Gov’s Wife Charges Market Women On Cleanliness By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
W
IFE of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, has charged market women across the state to continue to improve on their market cleanliness efforts as part of the overall factors that would make Osun the commercial hub of the South-West. ensure that Mrs Aregbesola, who is should the Osun Ambassador, customers get value for Community-led Total their money by observing Sanitation (CLTS), gave the sanitary rules on their charge on Thursday, while goods. This, according to her, participating in the special assist the market environmental would government in enhancing sanitation in Ede. Commending the market the health of the people. The wife of the governor, women for their efforts so far in ensuring cleanliness of who noted that many of the the market in line with the programmes and projects quest of the present being implemented by the administration in the state, present administration, are she also appealed that they targeted at making people
New Osun Stadium Near Completion By KAZEEM MOHAMMED N line with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration’s love and commitment for sporting activities, a befitting stadium being constructed by the administration is nearing completion. Dropping the hint in develop the skills of Ibokun during the finals of youths. a grassroots football The finals of the competition, tagged: competition, held at AUD Aregbesola Continuity Elementary School, Cup, 2014, the Senior Ibokun, which was Special Assistant to the decided through penalty Governor on Community shootout between Forum, Mr. Olatunbosun Amicable FC of Ibokun Oyintiloye, said the and Adidas Football Club commitment of the after a 1-1 draw, saw the administration to sports former as the winner. was aimed at providing Oyintiloye, who was enabling environment for the chairman of the sports to thrive and occasion, said the stadium
I
under construction, when completed, would feature facilities of international standard. This, he said, would pave way for development of skills and discovery of new talents in sporting activities. He reflected the efforts of the Aregbesola’s administration to revive sport in the state through rejuvenation of school and grassroots sports. Describing sport as a tool of self confidence, determination and discipline, Oyintiloye challenged the youths to participate in different games, which would in-
turn develop their skills and as well enable them discover their talents. Presenting prizes to the winners of first, second and third positions of the competition, the Alademure of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, said the competition was becoming very competitive and urged every participant to cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship, as wining or losing are temporary. Speaking on the forthcoming governorship election in the state, the monarch urged citizens to maintain peace and tranquillity for the exercise to be free and fair.
more healthy and subsequently productive, added that this would in turn facilitate economic development of the state. “All the programmes and projects being implemented by this administration are targetted at making Osun, the commercial hub of our country and beyond. “This is why the administration has embarked on an u n p r e c e d e n t e d construction of quality and purpose-driven roads across the state. “The same goal lies behind the on-going construction of the International Airport, running of the various agricultural incentives and empowerment programmes for farmers and women, as well as the building of ultramodern markets. “All these dreams cannot be achieved, if people are not healthy and we thank God that these programmes have been changing the profile of Osun and attracting increasing number of people to the state. “As this happens, I urge all of us who are stakeholders in the various markets and commercial units in the state to compliment the efforts of government,” Mrs Aregbesola stated. The wife of the governor then promised to use her office as the CLTS
Ambassador to attract modern toilet facilities to some of the markets in the state, especially the major markets. This, according to her, is to further enhance the standard of hygiene in the markets and Osun in general. Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye, also charged the market women to do more, interms of environmental cleanliness. She expressed satisfaction that due to the efforts of the present administration on environment, diseases like cholera and others have vanished, while malaria among others, have drastically reduced. He stated that the state government would not relent in its sensitisation efforts aimed at making people healthy through environmental cleanliness. Among those that participated in the exercise were Honourables Kamardeen Akanbi (Ede North), Johnson Ojo (Ede South), Abiodun Awolola (Egbedore), wives of commissioners and Special Advisers among others. Highlight of the programme was the visitation to the Timi of Edeland, Oba Adesola Lawal and observation of the market sanitation at Owode Market, Total Market and Elerin Market, all in Ede.
If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.
News
3
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
TUC Disowns Adetunji As Osun Chairman •Urges Govt, Workers To Ignore Strike Treat
T
HE national leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has disowned Mr Francis Adetunji as the Chairman of the TUC in the State of Osun and urged stakeholders to ignore any directive from him on behalf of the congress.
The congress at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Osogbo, said the tenure of Adetunji had expired and the new executive members
have been inaugurated. According to a special bulletin of TUC signed by the National Deputy Secretary, Comrade Simeso Amachree, workers are urged not to embark
on any strike action that is not justifiable, adding: “Adetunji is not competent to give such directive.” The TUC letter was read by the new State Chairman, Akinyemi Olatunji, at the press conference. Adetunji and the State Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Mr Bayo Adejumo, had last week, reportedly sent
a strike action notice to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, demanding the removal of the State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye. The strike threat, according to the new executives, was a result of Owoeye’s refusal to honour a letter signed by Adetunji, whose tenure was said to have expired since 2012, but had refused to vacate the
By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI office. Amachere’s letter reads: “While acknowledging the right of workers to embark on strike action in appropriate cases, but the right must never be exercised without justification for parochial, selfish interest or as a tool of cheap blackmail. “The trade union movement is by nature a democratic institution. Nobody can impose him or herself on a trade union. No force, no matter how powerful, can suppress the democratic aspirations of a determined trade union membership. “We implore all the workers and friends of labour in the state to support and cooperate with the new
Executive Committee under the leadership of Adetunji Olatunji and discountance the falsehoods been peddled by Adetunji, who has ridiculously and shamelessly continued to parade himself as state chairman of TUC. “We also called on the government of the State of Osun to respect the democratic aspirations of the affiliate unions, who have elected Akinyemi and others as their current leaders,” the letter stated. On the legal controversy over the leadership tussle in the congress, Akinyemi said the two unions, which approached the court, are not affiliates of TUC and therefore lacked locus standi to sue the congress.
Retirement Age Extension: Osun Assembly To Capture Non-teaching Staff By KAZEEM MOHAMMED
T
HE State of Osun House of Assembly has promised to capture the non-academic staff of all the stateowned tertiary institutions in the bill for extension of retirement age of academic staff from 60 to 65 years. The state legislature the council, Comrade Olasoji made the assurance on Fasipe, said the nonMonday when the Joint teaching staff were not •(R-L) Former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Negotiating Council of captured in the bill for Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye and Non-Teaching Staff of extension of retirement age, tertiary and appealed to the state others, during the 15th Edition of Walk -to-Live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ife North Local Government Council state-owned institutions visited the legislators to make it across Area at Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun, last Saturday. parliament to present board. challenges facing them Fasipe added that they before the House. discovered that money The state-owned tertiary deducted from their salaries institution workers have for contributory pension been on strike for some scheme were not remitted By SHINAABUBAKAR months. into their Pension Fund It would be recalled that Administrator’s account as aspire, must first of all secretariat for its members. register as a member of the Some other party officials Governor Rauf Aregbesola and when due. OLLOWING the ruling of an Osun State High Court party as provided by its He also noted that the that were with Oyatoro had on March 26, ordering maintenance of status quo ante in the Osun constitution. forwarded a bill to the colleges are under-staffed, included its Secretary, Labour Party (LP) crisis, Comrade Rufus Oyatoro Assembly for the extension just as he stressed that they According to him, the has resumed office, pending the outcome of the various former party secretariat was Comrade Kunle Morakinyo, of retirement age of are also confronted with the its Treasurer, Comrade Remi academic staff from 60 to 65 suits before the court. obsolete condition of affected by the renewal Ayanlade and other party years. service. Speaking with journalists party has no governorship programme of the state executive members, as well Highlighting the In his remarks, the after inspection of the party candidate yet, saying government and is working as its members. challenges facing the staff secretariat located along everyone intending to towards having a befitting members, the Chairman of Speaker of the House, who was represented the Deputy Osogbo-Iwo road in the Speaker, Honourable state capital, Oyatoro said Akintunde Adegboye, his mission was to inspect promised the non-teaching the office, which he learnt staff that the Assembly was being used as party By ISMAEEL UTHMAN would intervene and profer secretariat to fraternise with lasting solutions to the the people at the office. suspect on bail, maintaining application, the magistrate, challenges facing the According to him, the 26-year-old suspect, Gbenga Mustafa, has been that the law still presumed Mrs Habibatu Basiru institutions. party deserved to be arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court him innocent until contrary admitted the suspect to bail Adegboye, while calling reconciled and endear peace for allegedly stealing a mobile telephone handset. is proved in a court of law. in the sum of N50,000 and on the non-teaching staff to among the warring factions Ngwu promised the court two sureties, who must be call-off the strike action, said The charge sheet made stealing and unlawful and pave the way for a available that the accused person residents within the court’s the House would invite all to OSUN destruction proffered greater future, especially as DEFENDER on Thursday would not jump bail, as jurisdiction. the stakeholders to the election draws nearer in the alleged that Mustafa, who against him. reliable surety would stand Basiru later adjourned Assembly for discussion on Defence counsel, Mrs state. for him. the case till April 29, 2014 how to find solutions to the behaved abnormally at Answering questions Farida Market, Osogbo, Nnena Ngwu pleaded with Ruling on the bail for hearing. various problems. from journalists on the unlawfully damaged a the court to release the authenticity of the party snooker board and its stick chairmanship, he said going valued at N50,000. by the party’s constitution, According to the charge pillars built by one Jimoh and he would not jump bail if By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO there is no provision for sheet, Mustafa breached Adeleke on the said farmland granted. caretaker committees in the the peace of the public Police prosecutor did not OLICE authorities in the State of Osun on Tuesday, at Ojutu, which was valued at oppose the bail application but party, saying the order of the when he chased some have arraigned a 77-year-old Chief Bakare Adeyemi, over N200,0000,’’ Ajadi said. He added that the offence said he would like to leave the court was in his favour. people in the market with before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court, over an alleged contravened sections 516, 356, issue of bail to the discretion of He said in the face of the sticks, and later entered a also threatening to take their 86 and 451 of the criminal code, the court. constitution of the party, he shop, where he stole the assault. The prosecutor, Inspector lives, which led to breach of cap 34, vol.11, Laws of Osun, The presiding magistrate, was elected the party handset valued at N39, 000 Isiaka Olusola Aluko, later granted the Ajadi, told the court 2003. chairman through an on March 15 at the market. that the accused committed the public peace. He said the complainants The accused however accused bail in the sum of N100, The alleged offence was eligible party congress, until 000 with two sureties in the like offence on April 2, 2013, at some usurpers disrupted contrary to and punishable about 12: 30 pm, along Ojutu- included; Musefiu, Folashade pleaded not guilty to the sum, who must swear to and Ganiyu Adeleke, both of charges against him. under Sections 39, 249 and the peace the party enjoys. affidavit of means. Erin-Osun-Ilobu road at the same family. Counsel to the accused, Aluko said the sureties must Oyatoro disclosed that 251 of the Criminal Code, Okinni, a community in “The accused and his Barrister Kasim Badmus, be residents within the court’s though there are pending Cap 34, Vol 11, Law of Osun Egbedore Local Government cohorts attacked the prayed the court to grant his suits before the court, but State, according to the Council Area of the State of complainants at Ojutu Erin- client bail in the most liberal jurisdiction, providing to the police prosecutor, Inspector court, evidence of tax payment he intended to mend Osun. Osun farmland, intimidated terms. Oladele. and two passport-sized different factions ahead of Solomon Ajadi said the accused them and threatened to take the Badmus, who prayed the photographs, while their The accused person the outcome of the legal however entered a not guilty conspired with others believed life of one Ganiyu Adeleke. court to temper justice with addresses would be verified by to be currently at large and issue. “They wilfully and the old man, said reliable the Investigative Police Officer plea to the three-count assaulted three persons, while He also disclosed that the charges of breach of peace, unlawfully damaged corner sureties would stand for him (IPO).
Osun Labour Party Crisis: Oyatoro Resumes Office
F
Police Arrest, Arraign Suspected Madman Over Handset Theft
A
Septuagenarian Docked Over Assault
P
News
4
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Return To Basis Of Faith, Aregbesola Urges Christians •Says, ‘My Father Benefited From Christianity’ By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI
G
OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun on Sunday made a passionate appeal to the Christian community across the country to return to the original basis of all faith which says: “Love thy neighbour as thy self.” The governor also on Cathedral, Iloro, Ilesa; Saturday night, said those thereby making him one of linking him to any plot the beneficiaries of the against Christianity missed Christian faith. the point because the Governor Aregbesola, success his father had early while speaking at the St. in life could be traced to a Benedict Catholic Cathedral, job he got in the Osogbo, presided over by construction of St. John’s Bishop Reverend Father
Paul Awowole, said no faith preached hatred. Aregbesola, in company of the immediate-past governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, to St. Benedict Catholic Cathedral Osogbo, said one common thread runs through all religions from Babism; Christianity, Gnosticism, Islam, Sufi and Shia, Druze, Mandaeans and Sabians, Shabakism, Ayyavazhi, Buddhism, Din-i-Ilahi, Hinduism, Jainism, Meivazhi, Sikhi,
Manichaeism, Mazdakism, Mithraism, Yazdânism, Zoroastrianism / Parsi, Confucianism, Shinto, Taoism, Indigenous traditional religions, Hellenistic, Uralic, Esotericism, Neopaganism, Syncretic or Shinshukyo, which have love as the basis of the faiths. Quoting from the book of Matthew, Chapter 22, verse 39, the governor said Jesus Christ answered his disciples and those around Him thus: “Love thy
•Recently asphalted Tinumola/Lameco road in Osogbo under the administration of governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, last Friday.
neighbour as thy self”, when he was asked, which was the greatest commandment. “Jesus Christ would have distinguished between whom to love, if He only meant Christians loving themselves among their neighbours,” he said. “I must tell you that anytime I have the opportunity of listening to the sermons of your priests and other Christian priests, what runs through my mind is the greatness of God, because it is in His awesome greatness that there are differences we have in faiths. “Behind and beyond those differences is one truth. What is the truth? God is love! God is truth and it is only those who serve God in truth and in love that would have His grace. “The message I want to pass on today is that love is the cardinal principle of faith. When Jesus Christ was asked, which of the laws was the most important and sacred, he did not think twice before telling the disciples and all around Him that one, is faith in the oneness and supremacy of the Almighty God and closely followed is the golden rule, which says: ‘You must ‘love your neighbour as thy self.’ “I asked myself everyday, were it to be that that neighbour must be a
INEC Detects 114,882 Multiple Registrations In Ekiti, Osun
I
N its bid to ensure free and fair gubernatorial elections in the State of Osun and Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to checkmate manipulating the registers of voters ahead of governorship elections in the states. So far, the national state. In Osun, the INEC headquarters of INEC said it has detected and Chairman said after removed 114,882 multiple consolidating the data, it registrants from the Ekiti got 1,355,393 voters, but and Osun States voters after running the AFIS a of 37,273 multiple registers, ahead of the total registrants representing governorship elections in 2.75%, were discovered the states. and removed. The INEC Chairman, He said after conducting Attahiru Jega, disclosed the CVR in Osun State, the this in a chat with Commission had 149,755 journalists in Abuja on new voters on the register. Monday. The INEC Chairman The governorship said the Commission elections in Ekiti and Osun would still conduct AFIS States will hold on June 21 in both states because and August 9, respectively. politicians have devised Mr. Jega said after the means to engage in multiple consolidation of the data in registrations. He said the the voters’ registration in plan to conduct fresh Ekiti State, there were exercise was aimed at 688,950 voters, but after thwarting the efforts of the running the Advance politicians. “We are now Fingerprint Identification System, AFIS, 77,609 consolidating these data multiple registrations with what we already have representing 12 per cent of and we are going to run the total number of voters, AFIS. In fact, in both Ekiti were detected and and Osun, we have seen how our politicians were removed. He said 76,091 people using vehicles and moving registered newly after the people from one polling Commission did the unit to another. So we are Continued Voters going to again catch Registration, CVR, in the multiple registrations,” Mr.
Jega said. “You can see that by their attitude we are wasting resources and time because it costs money to do this thing. We have already decided that we are going to run AFIS in Ekiti and Osun States. We will run AFIS in Ekiti States with the
neighbouring states particularly with the local government areas because these ones, it is easier to move there to do multiple registrations,” he added. On the 2015 general elections, Mr. Jega stressed that the consolidation and deduplication of the
biometric register of voters have been completed. He said the voters register now has integrity that surpasses the register with which 2011 elections were conducted. Mr. Jega added that the register would compare favourably with anyone on the African continent.
Osun NUJ TO Honour Practitioners By SHINA ABUBAKAR
I
N recognition of the contribution and performance of journalists in the State of Osun, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun Council will give award to practitioners of the profession in the state. NUJ Chairman, Comrade would serve as the Biodun Olalere, disclosed Secretary. this while inaugurating a The Professional Award five-man committee for Committee 2014 members consideration of nominees are to source for, The Best for the Award of Information Officer, The Professional recognition of Best Reporter in TV Broadcast, The Best members. in Radio According to Comrade Reporter Olalere, the five-man Broadcast, The Best - Print, The Best committee comprises of Mr. Reporter Newscaster of the Year - TV Bunmi Oladele of the State and The Best Newscaster of Information Chapel as the the Year -Radio. Chairman, Mr. Sola Ajiboye Nomination shall be by of OSBC, Mr. Tunde application from individual Arowosafe of NTA, and Mr. members, which shall be Kola Olabisi of OSUN accompanied with relevant DEFENDER as members, m a t e r i a l s / d o c u m e n t s . while Mr. Michael Nominees should be Olanrewaju of the financial member and the Correspondents Chapel written application must be
endorsed by the Secretary of the Chapel wherein the nominee belongs. The Dinner and Award Night will hold on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Fun-filled Event Centre, Osogbo. Expected as the Special Guest of Honour is the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. (Grand Patron, NUJ).
Catholic, Jesus Christ would have defined it; were it to be that that your neighbour would have to be a Christian, Jesus Christ would have described it. “Jesus Christ didn’t say so. He said you must love your neighbour as yourself. Your neighbour could be an Animist, your neighbour could be an atheist; your neighbour could be a gnostic; your neighbour could be a Muslim; your neighbour could be a Christian of different denominations. “The requirement for Christ is our individual love for one another, since God does not promise collective salvation. “I share your own conviction about resurrection. My own faith promises resurrection. My own faith promises salvation. I wouldn’t go into the intricacies of it today, but I know when the bubble goes finally, I will be among the redeemed,” the governor said. Bishop Awowole and former Governor Kalu lauded Aregbesola’s efforts towards revitalising all sectors of the state’s economy from road development to new schools construction, side by side public health care delivery system and job creation. Earlier on Saturday evening, Aregbesola received Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Government House in Osogbo. Okoh, who came with four bishops, commended Aregbesola for the apparent sense of security in the state. Okoh admitted that there is peace in the state, saying this must be due to the various development and empowerment policies of the current administration. “Since the coming of Ogbeni, he said, “there has been peace and security in the state.” Aregbesola, who used the occasion of the courtesy visit to tell the story of his late father’s link to the St. John’s Cathedral Iloro, Ilesa, which, he said, was the source of his father’s breakthrough. He stressed that those accusing him of Islamisation agenda missed the point because he, as a Muslim, believe that each creation of God has the freedom to choose his faith.
ETHICAL ISSUES? We, Moremi Publishing House Limited, Publishers of Osun Defender Newspaper, do not demand or accept gifts or gratification to publish articles or photographs, neither do our journalists. Therefore, we implore you
not to offer any to our reporters. In the event that any journalist from our establishment demands such, kindly incident the report at osundefender@yahoo.com or 08033927286 and 08033880205.
5
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Continued from pg1
then they must also be ready to ace the dire
consequences of their actions. This is most true and the Osun PDP cannot pretend not to understand the meaning of this witty saying. And for them the consequences will be dire indeed. Thus let them not live with the erroneous impression that they will get away with murder this time as the case was in 2007. Never! It continues to bug the minds of right thinking people why the Osun PDP revels in perpetrating violence whenever election is approaching. This philosophy of spilling the blood of
Osun PDP's plan orgy of violence . And these innocent people in the name of election is anachronistic, uncivilised, ungodly and basically undemocratic. And it basically contradicts the name the party answers. For any party that lays claim to being democratic as PDP's name implies should steer clear of violence. It should have nothing to do with violence. But for Osun PDP the everse is the case.Whereas it's a known fact that the PDP isn't in the least popular in the state (contrary to her claim of popularity), that it thinks of nothing but violence whenever elections approach in the state sort of lends credence to two facts; one, that it's not a popular party and two, it's far
from being a democratic party. Of course it's basically foolhardy for any popular party and a self proclaimed democratic party for that matter, to revel in unleashing violence on the very people amongst whom it claims popularity. We find this to be purely absurd.
The popularity of the incumbent administration and its party isn't disputable due to its sterling performance. Everyday the people of Osun continue to queue behind the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for having demonstrated exemplary leadership
facts are known to Osun PDP. They know that the Osun electorate is for Ogbeni but not for therThe eople are not ready to waste their votes as they have tasted two governments and they know Twhichone has genuinely worked for them.hus having performed woefully for eight years, and as the time for another gubernatorial election draws nearer the PDP knows it has no hope in the coming election. And as a desperate party this is why it's planning to start unleashing violence as a way of harassing and intimidating the electorate. But it's important to let the PDP know that its vicious plan is dead
Aregbesola’s Many Deserved Merit Awards
K
INDLY permit me to air my opinion on the burning issue above-stated in your medium, which we trust and respect so much as ours; and which we pride as the instrument for wresting our society out of the vicious grip of self-seeking, callous selfstyled leaders. I strongly believe that we should also be committed to bringing to the fore, the good qualities of our own leaders and get them well appreciated during their lifetime, rather than celebrating them posthumously. We have seen governments and administrations in the State of Osun. Lots of them have come and gone within the space of almost twenty-three years that it had been created. We have seen military administrators; governors and helmsmen of sorts – called by whatever names – govern the state one after the other. We have seen deceivers in their grand designs jostling and gallivanting around for awards and decorations while their uneventful days in office lasted. At the end of it all, the state stood at a level that was below zero as at the Year 2010 – nineteen good years into its creation! Then, came on board the great emancipator, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola! He would have come without pomp and pageantry usually associated
with such emergence in most places, but the long legal tussle, which snowballed into his ascendancy, compelled wild jubilations, that at last, the state had shaken itself out of the grip of its captors, who held her hostage for many years. Unlike many Nigerians, who had once found themselves in similar situations, Aregbesola was not overtaken with euphoria of victory. He instantly swung into action; rolling out his programmes, policies and projects
meticulously one after the other as promised. From the inception of his administration till date, there had not been a dull moment. The governor himself is full of life, action, motion and activity. At the beginning, he set aside all attempts by groups and corporate organizations to bestow awards on him. His reason was that he had to wait till achievements began to trail his strides. Those achievements were not slow in coming. Barely 100 days into his
administration, Aregbesola had succeeded where many in his position had failed woefully in donkey years! He empowered 20,000 unemployed graduate youths as first batch of the State of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES). Today, the second batch of the scheme is almost approaching its midterm period. Not only this, strings of achievements trailed Aregbesola in all sectors of life; Education, Health, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Transport, Human Resource
and Infrastructure. Today, the State of Osun has been so radically transformed that someone, who had left its shores since times preceding the governor’s coming on board would now need a guide to tour the state, as virtually everything has changed for better. There is therefore little or no need to rationalize the recent streams of awards coming to this great achiever. He did not jostle or crave for them; he simply earned them. If a national newspapers in the line of credibility of Daily
Independent could confer an award on a governor; if the dreaded Independent Corrupt, Economic Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) could award a serving governor; if the British House of Lords could be panting after a man’s well of knowledge; if, to cut the long story short, the overwhelming majority of the people who are subjects in a state could be raining prayers on a governor for his quality service to the people; then what explanations do we wait for? What am I saying? By his strings of achievements, Aregbesola deserves to be awarded and honoured ten thousand times over. I give kudos to this quintessential Man of the People, recently decked with “Man of the Year 2013” Award. I however charge him and pray for him not to relent in his service dispensation to the people. I also advise the people to give him the best of their support and cooperation and translate this into vote, more so that another round of Governorship Elections is approaching in the State of Osun. This is the only way we can keep the good work going. Osun a dara o. •DEJO DARAMOLA, Tinumola Estate, Osogbo, State of Osun,
on arrival as the security agents in the state will not fold their arms and watch anybody to disturb the peace that has found abode in the state of Osun since the inception of Ogbeni's administration. We will not advise the good and peace loving people of Osun to engage in violence with PDP hooligans because two people cannot be mad at the same time. Thus
whenever the PDP rascals and their sponsors start or want to start their madness, our people should immediately report to the security agents in the state whom we trust will perform their duty accordingly.
. The law is there to deal with anyone who is out to perpetrate violence. And we appeal to our security operatives not to compromise the peace in the state. They must deal decisively with agents of violence, and without mercy too. For the political thugs whom sponsors of violence want to use to perpetrate their planned heinous act, the advice by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal will suffice; "tell politicians who want to use you for political thuggery to bring their children to lead it". Half a word, they say, is enough for the wise.
OSUN DEFENDER Publisher
–
Moremi Publishing House Ltd.
Managing Editor
–
Kola Olabisi (0803-392-7286)
Editor
–
Kayode Agbaje (0803-388-0205)
Lagos Editor
–
Kola Odepeju (08023191891)
Production Editor
–
Pet-Kola Taiwo Ibitowa
Senior Reporter Senior Reporter
– –
Sola Jacobs Kazeem Mohammed
Magazine Editor
–
Niyi Olasinde
Reporter Reporter
– –
Kehinde Ayantunji Francis Chukwuma
Photographer Photographer
– –
Oluwagbemiga Adeniyi Olushola Aderinto
Admin. Manager
–
Murtala Agboola
Computer Operator – Computer Operator – Assistant Computer Operator
Saheed Afolabi Mary Akintola – Lukman Oseni
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
6
VIEWPOINT
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Understanding Osun Politics O
NE major problem with many a reporter is the tendency to exaggerate or even concoct facts in the struggle for exclusivity in reporting a story. Jayson Blair, who was forced to resign from The New York Times in May 2003 was such a reporter. In a subsequent lengthy article by a team of Time’s journalists, it was revealed that “He fabricated comments. He concocted scenes. He lifted material from other newspapers and wire services. He selected details from photographs to create the impression he had been somewhere or seen someone, when he had not” (The New York Times, May 11, 2013). Another problem is the tendency to develop a sensational, and often misleading, caption for a story in order to capture the readers’ attention. Such was the case with many newspaper reports of the theft of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s mobile phone in 2013 in which attention was drawn to the wrong quarters. The two problems I just identified detract from the noble journalistic purposes of informing and educating the public, while also putting the government on its toes. And they should be discouraged. Yet, these are among the problems that pervade newspaper reports about contemporary Osun politics, featuring Aregbesola and his development projects in the state. A further disadvantage of distorted reports is in generating misleading data upon which arm-chair commentators base their opinion. As I read hundreds of reports, commentaries, and editorials on Aregbesola and Osun politics in the last three years, my mind often decided to investigate the facts. In what follows, I share some of my findings with the public.
By NIYI AKINNASO
Osun’s demography and political divisions are particularly interesting, and they should be understood before dabbling in the state’s politics. Although 28th out of 36 states in land size, Osun is 17th in population at about 3.5 million. Curiously, although smaller in size and population than Ondo, Osun has 30 Local Government Areas, whereas Ondo has only 18. While the relatively large number of LGAs may be useful in bringing the government closer to the people, it is a disadvantage when it comes to
overhead costs, especially in the light of Osun’s limited resources. The religious composition of Osun is even more interesting, featuring a predominant Muslim population; a minority Christian population; and a dwindling population of traditionalists affiliated with Ifa, Osun, and other deities. A unique feature of Christianity in the state is the early presence of the major denominations, notably, Baptist, Methodist, and Anglican, and the emergence of Evangelical Churches, with
OPINION
Poverty Of Voodoo Statistics ITING the example of
C
India, a middle-income country, which is one of the largest economies in the world like Nigeria, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said the largest number of poor people in the world reside in India, China and other places. Nigeria, she concluded, was no exception, as the reality today was that most middleincome countries, including Brazil, have large number of poor people. For 100 million Nigerians living below the poverty line, what is the comfort of knowing that there are also lots of poor people in other developing countries such as Brazil and India? For Nigerians, the real problem is that they do not see the benefits of the 15 years of constant economic growth that we have had. Yes, it’s true that they have seen more Nigerians join the Forbes list of the world’s richest people
By JIBRIN IBRAHIM
but the Nigerian people know that their lives and livelihoods are worsening every day. This is where I have a problem with the positive spin Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is always giving the economy. Again last week, she announced with glee that “after two months of methodological work, the statisticians have come up with the data that 1.8 million people in the country enter the job market yearly. I am happy to tell you that last year we were able to create 1.6 million jobs. So we are getting close to the 1.8 million that enter the job market.” She must be the only person in Nigeria to believe that we created 1.6 million jobs last year. What we do know is that the National Bureau of Statistics is under enormous pressure to produce positive economic spin. What we see with our eyes is the pathetic
photographs of hundreds of thousands of young people desperately struggling for the Nigerian Immigration Service jobs and being killed in the process. She should take us seriously and show us where the jobs were created and who got them. In most countries, job statistics is not under the control of government and is done by independent bodies. Why do we have a situation in which government officials can tell us anything they want to on job creation? The new statistics may be true but voodoo too as all Africans know is a true science. Voodoo statistics can make us feel good but it’s more important to address the problems of 100 million Nigerians living below the
poverty line. •Culled from PREMIUM TIMES
the Christ Apostolic Church in the forefront. No wonder then that Osun is the natal home of many contemporary religious leaders in the country, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and Pastor William Kumuyi, the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church. Worshippers of Traditional Religion are not left out either. The Osun Osogbo Grove, declared a World Heritage Site in 2005, attracts worshippers and tourists from all over the world every August, during the annual rites of the Osun deity. Anthropological research also reveals that there are renowned Ifa priests across the state, especially at Ife, Ede, and Osogbo. Although despised by Christians, Muslims, and modernists, these traditionalists are prime custodians of Yoruba tradition. Osun also has a significant share of old settlements, such as Ile-Ife, Ede, and Ila-Orangun, which have played a major role in Yoruba history. The intersections among history, culture, religion, and politics have been a feature of Osun social life since the inception of the state in 1991. The more a government seeks to reach more people and areas of social life, the more controversy is generated along various social cleavages. This is particularly true of the religious divide between Muslims and Christians. It is a divide that political opponents often exploit and to which Aregbesola has fallen victim on various occasions Two recent examples of the political exploitation of religion by critics and opponents are Aregbesola’s plan to build an inter-denominational worship centre and the orchestrated uniform crisis at the Baptist High School, Iwo. In both cases, the real issues were sidetracked. No one wanted to recognise the commercialisation of religion in Nigeria, and the need for Osun to seek economic benefits from building a worship centre that would attract thousands of buyers and sellers to the state. The real issue must be with Aregbesola. Aregbesola is building a worship centre only to placate Christians who are purportedly displeased with his educational policy. He must be taught about the separation of Church and State. We must take religion out of schools. We must stop Aregbesola from Islamising Osun. All bombastic statements of no consequence. What about the educational policy that created the context for the uniform crisis? Well, religion is still the story, because it was the hijab worn by some female students that led others to wear their own religious insignia; it doesn’t even matter if only a handful of students were involved in a student population of 2,500. And it doesn’t matter if the crisis was so localised that it only happened in one school! In the ensuing discussion
about the uniform crisis, the education policy that gave rise to the uniform was ignored. Who cares about educational policy anyway? I remember the response given by someone, who claimed to know Osun very well, when asked to describe aspects of Aregbesola’s educational policy he knew well. He gave a oneword answer: Hijab. The response highlights the sensationalisation of hijab in news stories about the ongoing educational reform in the state. I consider this very unfortunate, given how much I know about the policy and how well it reflects best practices in advanced countries to which the elite send their children for training. The good thing, though, is that the policy is working, because it is an excellent one. Elementary school kids in the state are fed every school day. The first batch of Opon Imo went to final year High School students, who are graduating soon. Incentives and capacity building for teachers over a 4year period have resulted in a dramatic improvement in the School Leaving Certificate Exams. Four years ago, only about seven per cent of High School students in the state had five credits, including English and Mathematics. Today, it is 47 per cent. This figure should improve when the ongoing reforms kick in fully. Another aspect of the educational reform that has eluded discussion is what I call “collateral”. First, the plan to build 100 Elementary, 50 Middle, and 20 High Schools is an employment booster for the next few years. Already, many families are being sustained by the ongoing construction of these schools across the state. So far, 14 Elementary, 15 Middle, and two High Schools have been completed. Second, the policy of providing lunch for all Osun schoolchildren in Elementary Grades 1-4 has led to the employment of over 3,000 food vendors across the state. Each one was given an interest-free loan to purchase necessary equipment and empowered to also cater for profit in their localities. Moreover, thousands of farmers were provided with loans for poultry farming, while interested youths were empowered for fish farming. Third, the school uniform policy led to the establishment of a garment factory, which now employs hundreds of youths from across the state. Viewed from the perspective of employment generation alone, Aregbesola’s educational policy has made a significant impact already. I use the education sector simply to illustrate one point. We should strive to get beneath the surface in news reporting and commentaries. If we don’t, we run the risk of misleading the public. •Culled from PUNCH.
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
INTERVIEW
7
Faces At The Sunday Morning Service At St. Benedict Catholic Church, Osogbo, Last Sunday.
•(L-R) Member, National Assembly, representing Osun-East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr Paul Awowole and former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, when Aregbesola accompanied Kalu to the morning service of St. Benedict Catholic Church, Osogbo, last Sunday.
•Governor Aregbesola (left); Dr Kalu (middle) and Senator Omoworare; during the morning service.
8
PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Wife Of The State Of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, Engaged In An Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Ede Last Thursday.
•(L-R) Wife of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; Iyaloja General in Osun, Alhaja Asindemade Awawu; Special Assistant to Osun Governor on Federal Matters, Abuja, Hon Idiat Babalola; State Commissioner for Environment, Professor (Mrs) Olubukola Oyawoye; Olori Titilayo Lawal, during the Market Sanitation Exercise in Ede, State of Osun, last Thursday.
•Mrs Aregbesola (with megaphone) addressing the market women during the sanitation exercise in Ede.
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
PHOTOTALK
9
Wife Of The State Of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, Engaged In An Environmental Sanitation Exercise In Ede Last Thursday.
•Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (right) during a courtesy visit to Oba Muniru Lawal, the Timi of Ede, in his palace during the environmental exercise.
•A cross section of participants at the event.
•Mrs Sherifat in the act of sweeping at Total Market in Ede.
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
10
Osun Charts A New Path In the past, Osun State has been described by its very nature as poor and primitive. Not only that, based on its economic status, it has been classified a civil service state. But nowadays, there’s been an important shift. The state is blossoming into a major business hub with high-profile infrastructure and the activation of entrepreneurial skills of its indigenes. Adeola Akinremi writes: now, the story of Osun State BEFORE was often told in terms of poverty and pity. Its dwarf internal generation revenue, decayed infrastructure and general laid-back environment, all combined to give Osun its appellation of a civil service state. But that is changing. The conversations these days in this culture-rich state in western Nigeria have much to do with its changing landscape. For instance, in addition to several township roads and infrastructure revamp in its rural areas, a ring road that will transform its capital, Osogbo, is nearing completion. It is estimated that by this August, the inner ring road will be completed. And when that happens, the government of Osun State would be changing the way residents live - from penury to prosperity. Already, there are smiles all around the state, despite the controversy that greeted the government reclassification of schools in the state recently. Excitement, adventure, thriving culture, booming business and ever transforming urban scene with rural connection best describe the new look of a state that prides itself in virtue. “Osun is brimming with possibilities,” said Kenneth Bryan, a Briton who visited the state recently. Yes, a recent tour of the state revealed that much. From Asejire interchange, the beauty of Osun State comes on the face of its visitors. The landscaping of this area once known for its ghastly auto accidents and armed robbers attacks has turned it into a tourists’ haven, especially since the dam that gave the interchange its name has a primordial history behind it. A few miles from Asejire interchange, a recreation park named after Hassan Olajoku - one of the foot soldiers who laid down his life in the struggle to reclaim the mandate of the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola - has also changed the ambience of Gbongan town. Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Bashir Ajibola, explained the motive behind the park. “For us, it is about extending the frontiers of development through environment. You know if you want to attract people to develop the economy, you have to attract people to spend in that economy and people don’t go to uninviting places. They want to feel welcome, relax and have a feeling that this is a place they can be. “This is why we are committing ourselves to ensuring that we extend the frontiers of development via environmental improvement which is what we are doing there. The political import of what we are doing there is also historical which is not lost on the people. It was at that particular spot that one of the big supporters of our movement to Osun, Hassan Olajoku was murdered while we were returning from a rally at Ilobu. So, the project is to eternally immortalise Hassan Olajoku and shame those who thought that by killing him, they will kill the effort at taking over governance in Osun State. Those are some core reasons that informed the project. “So the park was built by the government of Osun State for relaxation, pleasure, fun, resort and basically to boost the economy of the state through the environmental improvement.” He added: “Don’t also forget that Gbongan is a major gateway to the state capital, Osogbo and the park will serve as rest point for people travelling through the road to Ibadan. I mean that people, after such travelling, will want to relax, eat pounded yam, bush meat, drink some palm wine and do whatever they want to do. So we are creating a nice place for people to rest in healthy, nice looking, highly refreshing, inviting and welcoming environment with modern facilities that are comparable to those anywhere in the world.” True, Osun State has been tipped as having the seventh largest economy in Nigeria. Renaissance Capital, a leading emerging markets investment bank in Africa, has revealed that Osun, Ekiti, Lagos and Oyo states are the leading
economies in Nigeria. Of course, that came with indices. Among the ranks include two oil producing states, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States while Kano, Katsina and Kaduna States respectively made the list of highest per-capita income from the northern part of the country. According to experts from Renaissance Capital, consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states with highest per-capita income. They noted that Akwa Ibom and River States in the South-south region and Osun State in the South-west will embrace retail banking, given the opportunities for banks to expand services and the employees in those states with high percapita income and high population densities. Renaissance Capital noted that they will provide the footfall required for a bank to open a branch nationwide. The report stated that “we think consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states with greater purchasing power, as indicated by relatively high per capita income, including Lagos, Oyo and Osun in the south west and Kaduna and the Niger Delta states.” Perhaps, it is surprising that Osun could be described as the seventh largest economy in Nigeria. The effort of the government may have promoted it. On assumption of office in 2010, Governor Aregbesola had blocked all the leakages in the state revenue which subsequently jerked up the state internally generated revenue from N300million to N1.6billion. He did not stop at that, he also promised to put the state with a population of about 4 million on the path of socio-economic development. So the formulation of right economic policies may have contributed to the growth in the economy of the state which rose from N110 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in 2010 to over N800 billion last year. Clearly, the ranking of Osun above Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi among others implies that the level of economic activities in Osun is higher than these states. It may be that the steady investment in infrastructural development like dual carriage roads, power, hospitals and education among others contributed to the growth in the GDP of Osun State. Of recent, Aregbesola has also
embarked on the construction of an international airport with the longest runway in Africa. “We are preparing for the future,” he told journalists recently. And scattered in different part of the states, a total of 218km roads construction project are ongoing with some already completed in 30 Local Government Areas and Ife East Area Office. Some 5 to 10km of municipality roads are being constructed in each of the Local Government Areas. It is an innovative, yet standard road being jointly financed by both the State and local governments. Creatively, the project is being financed with savings from the Local Government Excess Crude Oil (ECO) Account. This project is also significant because local content delivery is adhered to strictly in execution. Materials and labour are sourced from within thus helping to improve the local economy so as to check capital flight and incorporating a social enterprise component to the project. Overall, the benefits are both in the short and long term. The roads are to last for the long term, this will help in concentrating on other projects yearning for attention within this period, travel time will be reduced, aesthetic value will be added and a host of other benefits too. The activation of small scale businesses is also helping the state in its current outlook. One of such steps is the new partnership between the federal government and Osun State to turn the moribund Federal Government Industrial Centre in the state into a life academy where skills acquisition will be everything the centre does. Already the government has attracted an Italian company, Global Impianti for knowledge transfer on shoemaking business. And for every graduate of the academy, a micro credit is being set up so that graduates can access funds for their operations. To be sure, the government has disclosed that N4 billion has been set aside to boost small-scale businesses in the state. The state Commissioner for Finance, Wale Boluwaduro, while explaining some of the state’s programmes to boost the economic empowerment of the citizens recently said, “In the next dispensation, we plan to provide Micro Medium Fund to traders, agric farmers, etc – it’s a World Bank product of N2 billion.
“Yes, a combination of modern educational facilities, new network of roads, better structured environment and empowered citizenry have led to the emergence of a new Osun State.”
“But, we are backing it up with another N2billion to make N4billion. The minimum each person will get is about N1.5million. We could use that to pop up commercial activities in the state.” While buttressing the impact of the administration’s economic programmes, the commissioner said, “the National Bureau of Statistics has shown that Osun as tiny as it is with 34th position in terms of revenue allocation from the Federation Account is the seventh largest economy in the federation in terms of GDP. And it’s put at over $9billion. When Mr. Governor came in, figure handed down by NBS then was $4billion. So, within a period of three years, we have moved to $9billion. Osun is 10,000 square meters larger than Lagos. GDP of Lagos is over $35billion. He added: “We can make more money than Lagos if we properly harness the opportunities that abound in the state. In terms of GDP per capita, which is the term in which standard of living is measured, Osun actually is number two after Lagos. In terms of standard of living, the governor has been able to deliver on that.” As part of government’s effort to industrialise the state, a garment institute, Omoluabi Garment Institute is now providing employment to citizens in the state. In addition, a telephone manufacturing company in Ilesa, Adulawo Technology Institute is also providing employment in Osun State. And for its focus on tourism as well, there are good news. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) latest annual report has shown how promising Osun is in the committee of states that make up the federation. The report showed that a total of 7, 613, 515 tourists visited the national museums located across the six geopolitical zones from 2010-2013. Of this number, the national museum in Osogbo, Osun State, had the highest number of visitors with a total of 1,724,851 followed by Plateau state that has three tourist attractions like the National Museum Jos, Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture (MOTNA), Jos and the Zoological Garden, Jos with a total of 1, 102,306 visitors while the National Museum, Lagos had a total of 879,736 tourists. Yes, a combination of modern educational facilities, new network of roads, better structured environment and empowered citizenry have led to the emergence of a new Osun State. The completion of at least 39 mega schools, completion of almost 800 kilometres of roads across the state, creation of better environment for healthier living, empowerment of the various strata of the society have created a strong sense of newness in all spheres of life. •Culled from THIS DAY
11
FEATURE
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
BPE And Privatisation That Is Not Beneficial To Nigerians has been defined by PRIVATISATION economic scholars and jurists “…to encompass a wide range of options for involvement of private capital and management in the running and operations of public enterprises...” It may involve the total transfer of public ownership and assets structures to private companies or conversion of public enterprises to private entities or incorporation of new private entities in place of public enterprises or publicprivate participation in the running of public enterprises, which can be by management transfers, leases, operational concessions, development leases, build and transfers (BOT) etc. Like every other issue in life, Privatisation has its own advantages and disadvantages. Part of several advantages of it include; reducing government bureaucracy, redistribute wealth, reducing state monopolies and ensure level playing fields, reducing bad management, increase competitiveness, increasing the quality of goods and services, reducing corruption and control by government, increasing staff quality and supervision, free up Government funds for more pressing problems, create employment, re-invigorate the local economy, expand local businesses, attract direct foreign investments, enhance trade control regulations etc. On the other hand, some of privatisation problems include; private firms concentrate on profit making to the detriment of essential public service, private firms render more expensive services, private firms fail to invest in infrastructure, reduction of public workforce and experience, private companies are interested in short term benefits, privatization replaces state monopolies with private monopolies, it reduces public accountability, it is subject to abuse by the regulators and private enterprises, private firms encounter problems of new government regulations, private companies replace state corruption with private corruption etc. The major privatisation exercise that was implemented against public interest recently in Nigeria is electricity and ever since that exercise, electricity supply have worsened, while consumers pay higher even as the lights have gone off under excuses that questions the competence of the new electricity companies. Therefore the recent announcement of Director General of the BPE, Benjamin Dikko that plans have been concluded to privatise refineries as well as commercialise the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation, the News Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria Films Corporation, Skypower Catering and Hotels Services and the Commodities and Exchange Commission, the partial privatisation of Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industries, and the commercialization of National Parks came as a surprise to many Nigerians and the questions they are asking is; why all these important public properties will be sold very fast without due consultation to the stakeholders? According to NLC: “The haste with which government seemed determined to sell-off public properties to members of the ruling class and their cronies under the guise of making them more efficient is alarming,” the statement said. “There is the need for caution because these properties belong to the Nigerian people as a collective wealth and the people have never been consulted and their interests considered before the sales.” NLC said it was scandalous that the same government, which has always promised to use the gains from petroleum price increases it has received over the years to reactivate existing refineries and build additional ones can turn around to announce the privatization of refineries. “This is clearly unacceptable, and the public have strongly opposed this attempt several times in the past, even on the floor of the National Assembly,” it warned. “What we need in Nigeria is not a blind adoption of neo-liberal policies that mortgage the interests and future of our people,” the statement stressed. “Our national economy depends largely on the oil industry and if we allow
sold to an Indian company for $30 million. Delta Steel Company, Aladja was also sold for less than 20% of their actual market value. Osogbo, Jos and Katsina steel rolling mills are not functional today after they were sold at scrape prices to organisations that do not have the capacity to manage and turn them around. There have been massive assets stripping in these steel rolling mills to pay for their reserved prices. After the disposal of stripped assets, these companies repatriate their “profits” back to India.
•JONATHAN By JOHN TOSIN AJIBOYE the industry to be handed over to private individuals, it would then mean the entire economy would become private property run by private individuals, mostly cronies of those in government, against our collective interests.” Privatisation In Nigeria It will be recalled that privatization in Nigeria was formally introduced by the Privatization and Commercialization Act of 1988, which later set up the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC) chaired by Dr. Hamza Zayyad with a mandate to privatise 111 public enterprises and commercialise 34 others. In 1993, having privatised 88 out of the 111 enterprises listed in the decree, the TCPC concluded its assignment and submitted a final report. Based on the recommendation of the TCPC, the Federal Military Government promulgated the Bureau for Public Enterprises Act of 1993, which repealed the 1988 Act and set up the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) to implement the privatization programme in Nigeria. In 1999, the Federal Government enacted the Public Enterprise (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act, which created the National Council on Privatisation chaired by the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. A large collection of privatisation controversies in Nigeria includes the entangled privatisation exercises of NITEL, Pentascope, PHCN, the power sector reforms, the oil sector reforms particularly NNPC and Nigerian LNG, the ports reforms, the inability of 18 successor companies to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to function, the sale of national steel companies namely Ajaokuta Steel and Delta Steel to Global Infrastructure, Daily Times, African Petroleum, ALSCON, NAFCON, Eleme Petrochemicals, the constant labour disputes, the draconian sale of Federal Government properties in Lagos and Abuja considered by patriotic civil servants to be the greatest economic heist of the 21st century in Africa, the revocation of 18 private refineries
licences, the proposed and ill advised privatisation of Unity Schools, the sale of the Trade Fair Complex, the controversial auction sale of African Petroleum, the sale of Stallion House etc. By a recent admission of the BPE in national newspapers, only 10% out of 400 privatised firms in Nigeria are properly functioning as at today. The specifics of this discontentment can be attributed to several technical complications inherent in the gamut of the exercise. Bias Against Privatisation From all indications, there was no evidence that previous privatisation exercises have succeeded, corruption has remained the omnipresent obstacle that has eroded the very essence of the exercise, that is provide efficient public service to the Nigerian public through the private sector at subsided and competitive rates. The fundamental component of corruption is that the very basics of privatization laws and rules are often partially relegated or entirely discarded for expediency or self interest in the conduct of the exercise. In addition, genuine privatization consultants are ostracized from the exercise for professional spin doctors and wheeler dealers. Companies with small asset turnover are concessioned to handle larger public agencies, bigger than their capacities. Financial records of privatised firms are often not audited or at best incoherent. Due diligence is conducted at the data room of the BPE instead of a full physical and financial audit of the government firm creating room for manipulations and distortions. Landed Assets of substantive or principal Government corporations are manipulated and converted as those of subsidiaries. Asset acquisition agreements or share purchase agreements are often lopsided or inchoate leading to unnecessary court litigations. The case of Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill is a shocking instance. According to newspapers reports, this industrial complex built for over $1.5 billion by the Federal Government of Nigeria, but was
Another funny case is that of Daily Times of Nigeria. Until now, Daily Times was the largest Nigerian newspapers corporation in the seventies and early eighties. Owning landed properties worth billions of naira all over Nigeria, it was sold by the BPE to Folio Communications at an undervalued price. The matter was finally resolved by a Federal High Court of Nigeria ruling in January 2010 voiding the sale of 140 Million shares of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) to Folio Communications by the BPE. The core investor of DTN (Folio Communications) according to the Court, never paid a single kobo for Daily Times. Instead, it used the shares of Daily Times and its expansive assets network to secure a loan of N750 million from Afribank. A loan DTN or Folio has not even repaid after selling off several Daily Times properties and assets. The Federal High Court held in voiding the sale of Daily Times to Folio Communications by the BPE stated that the action of the core investor is oppressive and a breach of fiduciary relationship. We have also read how NITEL suffered a N100 billion deficit after the Pentascope Management contract. We also read how over $40 million was paid by BPE to a management firm, Denham Management Limited to conduct the Privatization Shares Purchase Loan scheme, an exercise in limbo since it commenced in 2003. Lastly, if privatisation will be successful in Nigeria, it must be carried out with sincerity of purpose. i.e. almost every group should benefit as a result of divestiture. Workers will be among shareholders. Consumers will be betteroff because of better services. New graduates and the unemployed will get jobs because of expansion. Government will be relieved of the burden of subsidies. Investors will gain investment opportunities. Ultimately, the public (both foreigners and nationals) will be free to pursue any private economic interest. On the contrary, we have read how billions and billions of naira disappear from government accounts, all in the name of privatisation and there is no record of any previous Director General or top official of the BPE or government official ever being probed, investigated or prosecuted by the EFCC or ICPC for corruption or economic sabotage despite all the privatisation scandals we have witnessed in the last eleven years. Therefore, the EFCC and the ICPC should and must investigate and prosecute all those involved in the several privatisation scandals in the last decade. In the same vein, total enforcement of stricter corporate regulations and ethics that will allow transparency and accountability and enhance the quality of the Nigerian privatisation exercise must be inculcated by BPE instead of all these ‘wuruwuru privatisation’ that we have witnessed in the past which have robbed Nigerians of their collective interests. Therefore, until all these issues are addressed, government does not have any moral right to sell any of the public properties hastily and on that point I am joining the Nigeria Labour Congress and other well-meaning Nigerians to call on the Benjamin Dikki-led Bureau of Public Enterprises to halt the proposed sale of more public enterprises, and on the National Assembly to probe all previous sales and retrieve public properties that may have been sold to private interests. • Ajiboye, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Lagos, Nigeria.
12
FEATURE
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Property Tax: Lessons From Developed Countries
T
HE purpose of this piece is to examine property taxation practices in selected developed countries and see lessons that can be drawn for the Nigerian situation. Australia has property taxes known as property or land rates. Land rates and frequency of payment are determined by local councils. Each council has land valuers, who value the land worth. The land’s worth is the value of the land only. It does not include existing dwellings on the property. The assessed value of the land determines the total charges of rates. Rate can range from $100 per quarter, but frequency varies by locality. Australian property owners also pay water rates. Some councils include this in the total of the rates notice and provide a breakdown of water and land charges. Other councils may charge this separately. Depending on the municipality, water rate can be either a flat, free, user pay or a combination of both. Prospective buyers can get details about land and water rates from the local council before purchase. Australia also has a stamp duty, applied at the time a property is sold, by the purchaser to the office of state revenue. In addition to stamp duty, there is also a land transfer charge under the State Revenue Legislation. The charge will be levied as an ad valorem tax to be paid by the purchaser for property above $500,000 in value and is payable at the time a transfer document is lodged for registration with land and property information. In Canada, many provinces levy property tax on real estate based upon the current use and value of the land. This is the major source of revenue for most municipal governments in Canada. While property tax levels vary among municipalities in a province, there is usually common property assessment or valuation criteria laid out in provincial legislation. There is a trend to use a market value standard for valuation purposes in most provinces with varying re-evaluation cycles. A number of provinces have established an annual reassessment cycle while others have longer periods between valuation periods. In some cases, for example commercial, industrial, multi-residential properties, the province or municipality may implement measures that affect the actual taxes paid on a property. In Chile, property taxes called “territorial tax” or “contributions” are paid annually in four payments during the year. The rate varies between 1 to 2% of the fiscal value, depending on the use of the property (agricultural, habitation, commercial). The fiscal value is determined for each property by the internal tax service, based on the land area and built area, the value of the construction materials, age, use and distance to commercial areas. The fiscal value is usually much lower than the market value. Non-business properties valued below a certain fiscal value are exempt. Properties used for business face no exemptions. The collected taxes go to the municipality where the
•JONATHAN By PROF. A.S. ASAJU
property is located. All municipalities contribute a share of the received income to a “common municipal fund” which is then redistributed back to all municipalities according to its needs. In Denmark, the property tax is 1% for property valued at less than 3 million Denmark currency and 3 % for property valued above 3 million Denmark currency. Greece has five (5) property taxesbased on the square footage of the property and the land it occupies. In Hong Kong, there is a kind of tax named as property tax, but it is not an ad valorem tax. It is actually classified as an income tax. According to Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, all property owners shall be subject to this tax, unless the Hong Kong property owner has received a consideration. The example is rental income for the year of assessment. The property tax shall be computed on the net assessable value at the standard rate. The period of assessment is from 1 April to 31 March of the following year. Hong Kong property tax payable equals Net Assessment Value times property tax standard rate. In Jamaica, this tax is paid in the same way as a mortgage, an annual payment depending on the value of one’s assets, such as property.
revenue raised will be used to fund the provision of services by local authorities. Such services include public parks, libraries, open spaces and leisure and amenities, planning and development fire and emergency services, maintenance and cleaning of streets, and street lightning. The tax is based upon the market- value of the property. There are some exemptions for widows and widowers. In the United States, property tax on real estate is usually levied by local government, at the municipal or county level. Rates vary across the states, between about 0.2% and 0.4% of the home value. The assessment is made up of two components; the improvement or building value, and the land or site value. The property tax is the main tax supporting local education, police, fire, protection, some free medical services, and most of other local infrastructure. Also, many U.S states and local jurisdictions impose personal property taxes. From the preceding paragraphs, it is crystal clear that the urban property tax is potentially an attractive means of financing municipal governments in developed and developing countries. As a revenue source, it can provide local governments with access to a broad and expanding tax base. In contrast to the mix of inter-government grants and indirect taxes that now determine local government revenue, it can also promote broader efficiency objectives, linking the provision of municipal service more and rationing the consumption of municipal services by price. At present, however, yields of urban property taxes in developing countries are extremely low. Its contribution to total public sector tax revenues is negligible, and its share of municipal revenue is typically small. In part, these low yields reflect failures in the administration of the tax. To an extent those administrative failures can be addressed through procedural reforms which include improved property tax base coverage, valuation accuracy and collection efficiency that minimizes reliance on the judgement of the valuers and provide incentives to agencies responsible for tax administration. The property tax in Nigeria is an underutilised revenue source for local authorities. Improved property tax revenue could contribute critical resources necessary to enable local authorities to provide the level and quality of service required to sustain and promote further economic and social development in Nigeria. The breadth of international property tax experience provides an opportunity for Nigeria and other developing countries to learn and adopt the key lessons to the unique legal, political, economic, social and institutional environment in their countries.
In India, property tax or house tax is a local tax on buildings along with apartment land, and imposed on owners. The tax power is vested in the states and it is delegated by law to the local bodies, specifying the valuation method, rate band, and allocation procedures. The tax base is the annual rental value. Owner-occupied and other properties not producing rent are assessed on cost and then converted into annual rental value by applying a percentage of cost, usually six percent. Vacant land is generally exempted, as Central government properties are exempt. Instead, a “service charge” is permissible under executive order. Properties of foreign missions also enjoy tax exemption without an insistence for reciprocity. The tax is usually accompanied by a number of service taxes, for example, water tax, drainage tax, conservancy (sanitation) tax, lightning tax, all using the same tax base. The rate structure is flat on rural properties, but in the urban (municipal) areas, it is mildly progressive. In the Republic of Ireland, a local property tax came into effect on 1 July 2013 to be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. The tax will be on residential properties, with the owner •Prof. Asaju wrote from the of a property being liable (through in the case of leases over twenty years, Federal University of Technology, the tenant will become liable). The Akure (FUTA).
13
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
Job Vacancies In Nigeria University of Lagos(UNILAG) recruitment for Non-Academic Staff Vacancies, (hrmdapplication@unilag.edu.ng) University of Lagos(UNILAG) recruitment for Non-Academic Staff Vacancies, April 2014 (hrmdapplication@unilag.edu.ng) Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates into the following positions in the University of Lagos, Nigeria WORKS AND PHYSICAL PLANNING Position: Engineer I (Mechanical, Civil and Electrical) (CONTISS 8): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/ L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 3 years engineering experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Position: Architect I (CONTISS 8): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Architecture from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/ L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have minimum of 6 years architecture experience In addition, must be registerable with the Architecture Regulation Council of Nigeria (ARCON). OR M Sc in Architecture from a recognized Institution plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption SSCE/ NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have minimum of 3 years architecture experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Architecture Regulation Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Position: Land Surveyor II (CONTISS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have HND/ Advanced Diploma in Land Survey from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be registrable with the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON). OR B.Sc. in Surveying & Geo-informatics from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be registerable with the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON). Position: Principal Engineer (Mechanical, Civil and Electrical) (CONTISS 11): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) with a minimum of 10 years engineering experience. Position: Senior Quantity Surveyor (CONTISS 9): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Quantity Surveying from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 10 years engineering experience. In addition, must be registerable with the Quantity Surveying Regulation Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) Position: Deputy Director of Works (Construction & Project Management) (CONTISS 14): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building or Quantity Surveying from a recognized institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L or equivalent with credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post qualification experience on the job with at least 6 years practical experience in Construction and Project Management. Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Project Planning, Management and Administration. Candidates must also be well versed in the Procurement Act 2007. In addition, candidates must be corporate members of relevant professional bodies such as NSE, NIA, NIOB or NIQS and must be duly registered by the relevant professional regulating bodies like COREN, QSRBN, ARCON or CORBON. Candidates must be duly certified by PMI or equivalent. Fellowship of the professional institution and higher degrees will be added advantage. Position: Deputy Director of Works (Operations & Maintenance) (CONTISS 14): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O//L or equivalent with credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post qualification experience on the job with at least 6 years practical experience in Maintenance or Infrastructures. Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Management of Operations and Maintenance. In addition, candidates must be corporate members of the NSE and must be duly registered by COREN. Fellowship of the professional institution and higher degrees will be added advantage. MEDICALCENTRE Position: Radiographer II (CONTISS 8): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Rad. from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division with NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption, DCR or DIR Pre NYSC (Internship) plus SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Position: Radiographer I (CONTISS 9): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Rad. from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division with NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption, DCR or DIR Pre NYSC (Internship) plus SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) with a minimum of three (3) years postqualification experience. Position: Medical Records Officer (CONHESS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have HND/B.Sc. in Medical Records from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, he/she must be registerable with the Health Records Officers Registration Board or Nigeria. Position: Nursing Officer II (CONHESS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have NRN and NRM Certificate plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including Mathematics, Biology and English. In addition, must be duly registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria with a minimum of four (4) years post qualification experience. Position: Medical Officer (CONMESS 10): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have M.B.B.S., BDS, or equivalent plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, candidate must be duly registered with the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria. Position: Higher Medical Laboratory Technician (CONHESS 8): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have OND in Science Laboratory Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit. SSCE/NECO/WASC/ GCEO/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory with a minimum of nine (9) years post qualification experience. OR HND/B.Sc. in Science Laboratory Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years post qualification experience. In addition, must be duly registered with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). (MARINE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT) Position: Principal Technologist (CONTISS 11): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have HND/B.Tech/B.Sc. in relevant Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/ 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. He/she must have at least 10 years relevant post qualification experience on the job. Candidates must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information and Communication Technology, Project Planning and Laboratory Administration. In addition, must be duly registered with the relevant Professional Institutes. Position: Technologists II (CONTISS 7): In the following Departments Mechanical Engineering Elect/Elect Engineering Systems Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil & Environ. Engineering Botany Metallurgy & Materials Engineering Biochemistry Surveying &c Geoinformatics Chemistry Science and Technical Education Computer Sciences Cell Biology & Genetics Geosciences Marine Sciences Mathematics Microbiology Physics Zoology Pharmaceutics
Clinical Pharmacy Pharmacognosy Pharmaceutical Chemistry Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have HND/ B.Tech/B.Sc. in relevant Technology from a recognized Institution with a minimum of Lower Credit/ 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate of Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. In addition, must be duly registered with the relevant Professional Institutes. Position: Technical Officers (CONTISS 6) In the following Departments Mechanical Engineering Elect/Elect Engineering Systems Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil & Environ. Engineering Botany Metallurgy & Materials Engineering Biochemistry Surveying & Geoinformatics Chemistry Science and Technical Education Computer Sciences Cell Biology & Genetics Geosciences Marine Sciences Mathematics Microbiology Physics Zoology Pharmaceutics Clinical Pharmacy Pharmacognosy Pharmaceutical Chemistry Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Science Laboratory Technology, Town & Regional Planning, Estate Management, Civil Engineering Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Electrical/ Electronics Engineering from a recognized Institution plus SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L Credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS Position: Software Engineer/Developer (CONTISS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering; Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering in addition to professional certifications from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Position: IT Equipment Maintenance Engineer (CONTISS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering; Systems Engineering, and Software Engineering in addition to professional certifications from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/ GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Position: System Analyst I/Programmer I (CONTISS 8): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Minimum of 3 years Computer experience. Position: Senior Systems Analyst/Senior Programmer (CONTISS 9) Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Minimum of 6 years Computer experience. Position: Systems Analyst II/Programmer II (CONTISS 7): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have B.Sc. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering (or equivalent professional qualification) from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credit in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English is compulsory. Bursary Position: Deputy Bursar (CONTISS 14): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Accounting or Finance from a recognized Institution with a minimum 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/ L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. He/she must have at least 17 years relevant post NYSC Accounting experience. Candidates must not be below the level of a Chief Accountant in a Federal University or comparable institution. He/she must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Payroll, Budgeting, Financial Planning and Management. In addition, must be a duly registered member of ICAN, ANAN or other equivalent professional bodies. REGISTRY Position: Assistant Registrar, Litigation (Legal) (CONTISS 9): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should nave a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BL plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 6years experience in litigation. Position: Assistant Registrar, Solicitor (Legal) (CONTISS 9): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BL plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/ WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 6years Practical experience as solicitor. Position: Deputy Registrar (CONTISS 14): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/ NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. The candidate must have at least 17 years relevant post NYSC working experience. Candidate must not be below the level of Principal Assistant Registrar in a Federal University or comparable institution. He/she must be Computer literate and must demonstrate proficiency in the deployment of Information Technology in Database Management, eRegistration, e-Administration and General Management. Higher qualification will be an added advantage. In addition, he/she must be a duly registered member of NIM, CIPM or other equivalent professional bodies. Position: Senior Assistant Registrar (Legal) (CONTISS 11): Qualifications and Experience Prospective candidates should have a first degree in Law from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division and BL plus NYSC Discharge Certificate or Evidence of Exemption. SSCE/NECO/WASC/GCE O/L credits in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics is compulsory. In addition, the candidate must have 10 years experience in litigation and practical solicitor experience. General Requirement All applicants must be ICT compliant. In addition, there will be IT proficiency test for all applicants. Conditions of Service As contained in the University of Lagos Revised Conditions of Service. Method of Application Applications, which must be in fifteen (15) hard copies, should be accompanied by relevant certificates and credentials. Such applications must be accompanied with detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing the following: Names in full Place and Date of Birth State of Origin/ Local Government Area Home Address Present Postal Address Sex Phone Number (Mobile) E-mail Nationality at Birth Marital Status Number and Ages of Children Secondary and Post-secondary Education (including dates and institutions) Academic and Professional Qualifications (including Distinctions with dates) Statements of experience including full details of former and present posts Names and addresses of three referees Post applied for In addition to stating names and addresses of three Referees, applicants should request their referees to forward references on their behalf to: The Deputy Registrar (Human Resources Management Department) 2nd Floor, Senate Building University of Lagos Applications are to be addressed to the Deputy Registrar (HRMD), 2nd Floor, Senate Building, University of Lagos, Akoka indicating the post for which application is made at the top left corner of the envelope, while soft copies should be sent to: hrmdapplication@unilag.edu.ng. The application should reach the Deputy Registrar (HRMD) not later than 19th May, 2014 —————————————————————————————————
You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.recentnigerianjobs.com
14
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
FOR THE RECORDS
A memorable Quote from Senator Isiaka Adeleke on the PDP Candidate in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and Another PDP chieftain in the state, Sogo Agboola. Omisore, Police Minister Beat Me Up - Adeleke “On entering the hall, I saw Omisore, Adesiyan, Sogo Agboola sitting together. I went to Adesiyan to complain that police officers and DSS operatives were holding party men outside. But, instead of listening to me, he jumped over a table before him and hit me with a blow on the chest. Sogo Agboola also attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Omisore hit me with a blow from the back. About seven guns corked were pointed at me,” Adeleke asserted. •Culled from Nigerian Tribune, Thursday April 3, 2014
•OMISORE
•ADELEKE
•ADESIYAN
OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, April 10, 2014
15
www.osundefender.org THURSDAY, The attentionAPRIL of the10, 2014 Government of the State of Osun has been drawn to the discovery of an object suspected to be explosive device at the banking hall of one of the NO branches of a bank in Osogbo, the state capital.
THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA
ONE CAN SHATTER THE PEACE OF OSUN
Reports available yet indicate that the object was found concealed in a polythene bag inside the banking hall. This led to the invitation of the Anti-bomb squad of the Osun Command of the Nigeria Police whose men evacuated the dangerous object from the banking hall. While reminding the people of Osun and Nigerians in general of the various pro-active measures taken by government of the State of the Virtuous on security of lives and property generally, we are compelled to call on
Aregbesola
the security agencies to get to the root of this strange discovery in Osogbo and tell the whole world how this device found its way into a banking hall.
Considering the usually impregnable fortification of banks through their various screening machines which detect metals and other objects of lesser dangers,
it is unthinkable how the device scaled through this fortress of the bank before it got into the banking hall where it was discovered. To be specific, we suspect a deliberate foul play in the antics of those who desire to create a sense of insecurity in this state through their various machinations and manipulations. We are however assured of the readiness of the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation on the development in order to strengthen the assurances of our people and visitors that Osun remains a safe haven for businesses and pleasure. Those who have hitherto proclaimed imaginary religious rancour will stop at nothing to simulate terrorism Since this administration came, Osun has remained peaceful and inviting to more people ever than before in her 21 year history. • FROM THE ACHIVES: PDP governorship candidate in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, being escorted back to Agodi Prison by prison officials during one of his numerous appearances at the State High Court in Ibadan over his role in the murder of the later Chief Bola Ige in 2003.
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.