akintun: It should be extended to every jobless adult. 25 yrs and above.

IF sustainable.

Kobojunkie:
The US did not start the program for elders BEFORE the tax project. The one came before the other. No comparisons on that.

Let us not now pretend that anyone here is against helping the elders. I don't think anyone here is. The Question of sustainability is key.

Enlighten me on how this happened. Are you saying people started paying taxes for the Elderly program before elders started getting benefits?

When did this start cos I have gone on the Social security website and didnt find anything like that

http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssa/lbjmedicare1.html

Beaf: [size=14pt]Egbon mi Aregbe, where is the money coming from na?[/size]

From govt coffers.

The same place where money for senseless trips to jamaica, trinidad, Owambes, Legislators wife conference, Exotic cars from Coscharis, Australia trips etc come from

dayokanu:

Enlighten me on how this happened. Are you saying people started paying taxes for the Elderly program before elders started getting benefits?

When did this start cos I have gone on the Social security website and didnt find anything like that

http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssa/lbjmedicare1.html

I am saying don't compare the US system which is based on tax funding with a system that is not now based on tax funding, unless you can clearly show that the money to fund this is coming straight from tax payer funds.

alaoeri: Politricking doubt it if aregbe knows the actual number °ƒ aged ppl in osun-state, anyway e get as them gö do am just select some set of ppl & called them osun - state's aged ppl. Na today

no be today oo e don ta

Very commendable thinking from Aregbesola. I just hope that he has properly done proper feasibily, viability and sustainability studies.


I just hope he suceeds in this. At least he has shown that he can actually think out of the box, better than most of the other State Governors.

Epalos: And money from Lagos ports, but It's every state choice what it does with it. your governors used their own for juju and sponsor kidnapping while SW governors use theirs to take care of the elderly.

if i told you am partly yoruba by birth will that suprise you?

Kobojunkie:

I am saying don't compare the US system which is based on tax funding with a system that is not now based on tax funding, unless you can clearly show that the money to fund this is coming straight from tax payer funds.

dayokanu: I think this is a good venture.

if he can channel some of the previous leakage in govt into this. Or in the future people can be taxed and contribute into the pool which they too would benefit from when they retire

In the US there is a similar scheme to ppl over 65yrs I think

There are already leakage in govt in Nigeria where officials steal public funds. No state in nigeria has ever declared a budget surplus at anytime. So if within the provision of the state budget they can fit in the benefit programs for elders into it then its welcome

If they dont pay it, the money would most likely have gone on some needless travel, Paying political jobbers etc.

O elders of aregbe state,una dn try.make una go die abegi,so that the money wey aregbe dey waste on una will be redirected towards youth empowerment

dayokanu:



There are already leakage in govt in Nigeria where officials steal public funds. No state in nigeria has ever declared a budget surplus at anytime. So if within the provision of the state budget they can fit in the benefit programs for elders into it then its welcome

If they dont pay it, the money would most likely have gone on some needless travel, Paying political jobbers etc.

"IF HE CAN" <-- future tense. This project is currently being worked on. We can postulate on how Government can save money in the future(and this could take years) but we all know that is all theory until then. Right now the state is embarking on paying people Naira 10,000 on a monthly basis. How sustainable is that going by the State's CURRENT situation.

dayokanu:

From govt coffers.

The same place where money for senseless trips to jamaica, trinidad, Owambes, Legislators wife conference, Exotic cars from Coscharis, Australia trips etc come from

From oil awuf? Lol!
So Aregbe has no plans to generate money in Osun? Just another parasitic awuf luv'n phuck.

Anyway, the error lives in Lagos and doesn't care one bit, so long as he can come up with madcap schemes to siphon billions, while telling a fountain of lies and high stories.

It falls on all of us to challenge our governors and ensure that they understand that service delivery has nothing to do with thinking up creative ways to steal FG awuf allocations.

Generate development and industrialisation opportunities for the youth and they'll take care of their elderly family members. Simple as abc.

As you are reading this piece my tax has jumped up fromm N11000 to N26000.An immediate source of the O Elders fund

felifeli: How much of this money go lost in the pocket of "ghost elders" , considering that most who need these homes cannot leave their homes to go collect from wherever ?
Stupid thieving scheme. These Aregbesola people are not crazy , merely very smart at thinking up new, foolproof ways to steal money

Sometimes it is good to keep a dignified silence rather than speak only to then appear empty. To put issues in perspective, this fund will help 1,602 elders precisely with N10.000.00 monthly. That is, give or take, £4,000.00 Monthly and £48,000.00 yearly.

I wonder the background of someone who can call modest welfare help for vulnerable elders "stupid Thieving scheme" in the same callous Nation where Politicians are condemned universally for taking home millions of dollars legitimately , in a year, for sitting around and doing nothing while the majority face abject poverty !!!

There are many decent diasporan-based Professionals of Osun origin who could probably donate half of that £48,000.00 projected yearly cost of this scheme with ease and there are rich politicians in Nigerians who can fund the whole scheme with their food/car/accommodation/wardrobe budget so let us cut this silly mock indignation and grandstanding!!!! It is dishonest and wicked !!!

This is why non-Nigerians find us too much. Mock anger, disdain and outrightly wicked negativity over the sustainability of a £48,000.00 per year scheme to help elders ,unable to fend for themselves, yet folks like you have not taken to the Street over how your President wacks N1 billion of food yearly and Politicians cart home millions of dollars yearly? God save some Nigerians sha. Perhaps I should remind you what "Stupid thieving scheme" really looks like since you appear ignorant about what real waste, profligacy and callousness is.

http://naijainfoman./2012/01/03/2012-budget-n280-million-for-2-bullet-proof-cars-and-n1-billion-for-food-for-jonathansambo/

2012 Budget: N280 Million for 2 Bullet Proof Cars and N1 Billion for Food for Jonathan/Sambo
Posted: January 3, 2012 in Nigeria
Tags: Corruption, Goodluck Jonathan 2

During the 2012 Budget Presentation delivered by President Goodluck Jonathan to the joint session of the National Assembly earlier this month, there was a lot said about fiscal responsibility and prudence in spending. However with the Presidency likey to acquire two bullet proof vehicles next year for N280 million, as well as spending N1billion on meals in 2012, Nigerians have got to be wondering: how fiscally responsible is that?

Recent reports from the Nation revealed that under the “replacement of aged vehicles of the presidential ground fleet (PGF)”, N280 million is set aside for two bullet proof vehicles for President Goodluck Jonathan and his right hand man Vice President Namadi Sambo.

According to the report, the budget proposes purchasing “two treated (bullet proof) Mercedes Benz saloon 600 E Guard for use by the President and Vice President at N140,000,000 each”.

In fact, the budget calls for a makeover for the PGF, setting aside N356,724,300 to replace “aged vehicles” in the fleet.

Here’s how the money breaks down:

>5 Mercedes Benz Saloon 350 (semi plain/partial bullet proof) at N25,000,000 each

>10 SUVs (assorted – Range Rover, Prado and Land Cruiser) at N10,000,000 each

>Accessories and maintenance equipment for guard vehicles at N25,000,000.”

Besides the new fleet of cars and accessories to go with them, the President is also proposing an upgrade of Villa facilities.

>The Villa gates – numbers 2, 7 and 11 need “extension” and the price tag on that is N75,960,819.50;

>Nigeria’s epileptic power supply also affects the State House Central Store, so in the 2012 budget, N35,913,032.40 of the nation’s money will go toward extending power supply to it; extension of UPS power source to (the popular) Presidential Guest House No. 7, Villa, at N57,427,205.20”.

>Also working on the power sector of the Presidential villa, the 2o12 budget proposes setting aside N127,500,000 for the “overhauling of power house generator sets 1and 2″;

>Furthermore, renovation and refurbishing of the family wing of the main residence at N512,375,533.00;

>Land reclamation at the State House Medical Centre at N385,350,320.00;

>Rehabilitation of transformer sub-station in the Villa at N101,671,574.78;

>Extension/expansion of State House car parks at N97,950,710.50

>Provision of communication equipment for the Villa, Dodan Barracks, Marina and Vice President’s guest house in Lagos at N 108,000,000.00.”

These upgrades amount to N1,502,149,195.38… that will be over N1.5 billion, and don’t forget the 38 kobo.

>Take a deep breadth and dive right back in: The Nation also reported that under the on-going projects, provision has been made for the acquisition, upgrading and furnishing of the Vice President’s guest house at Aguda. The cost: N230,132,579. Last year, the project was earmarked to cost N400,000,000, but perhaps this year the same guest house needs even MORE refurbishing.

>Travelling can be such a hassle, so in order to ease the experience for the President and top government officials, N36,876,378 of Nigeria’s 2012 budget will go toward revamping the presidential/ministerial chalet at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja. Again the 2011 budget set aside N48,000,000 for this same project.

There’s more on this aspect of the budget on the Nation. Now that you know what the president’s transportation, housing and electrical needs will cost you. Let’s move on to feeding. Premium Times (shameless plug: it’s a brilliant site, check it out) wrote an article yesterday revealing that the President will be spending N1 billion on food in 2012. Nutrients are essential and for the low, low price of a billion, the President and his Vice can get all their proteins and vitamins on a polished silver platter.

The Times got a copy of the budget, which is yet to be approved by the National Assembly, and according to their report an estimated N18.34 billion budgeted for the State House, about N1billion would be spent on providing food for the president’s household as well as that of his deputy.

Just how do they intend to spend a billion on food? Here’s how:

>N477million is set aside for grocery shopping and “catering materials supplies” for the president’s office.

>The poor masses of oil-rich Nigeria will also spend an additional N293 million to provide “refreshment and meals” for the president’s comfort at his home and office, and yes, that is different from the grocery shopping mentioned above.

>N45.4 million would be needed to buy canteen and “kitchen equipment” for the president’s household; they bought some of the same stuff from the 2011 budget, but those equipment might need replacing now.

>The office of VP Sambo will also need foodstuff, catering and materials supplies totaling N104 million, while cooking gas and cooking fuel will consume N6.2 million.

>Refreshments and meals at Mr. Sambo’s office and home are estimated at N20.8million.

>Another N45.4 million has been allocated for purchase of kitchen and household equipment at the state house headquarters.

At N70,000 a month, the N1billion budgeted for presidential feeding would pay the wages of 1,200 Nigerians for a year, the Times noted.

Courtesy: Pilot Africa

Gbawe:



I very much like your take on issues. It should be the minimum vulnerable elders deserve. Given what our politicians enjoy as 'trappings of office', this is the sort of initiative that is long overdue and should be adopted throughout Nigeria.

You can tell a lot about a society, according to the way they treat the weak and vulnerable.

ypzilanti:

You can tell a lot about a society, according to the way they treat the weak and vulnerable.

Thank you my brother !!! furthermore, you can tell a lot about the wickedness of Nigerians with how they speak here !!! Frigging £48,000.00 yearly to help Elders who cannot fend for themselves is what some now want to politicise as the "greatest Avenue of waste and looting"? In the same Nation our politicians take home millions of Dollars yearly for ruining lives? The same Nation where a single "treated" vehicles for one politician cost more than the £48,000.00 in question? An amount Nigerian Doctors in the UK, of Osun origin, can probably pool resources to donate comfortably? Are some people frigging kidding?

The governor should be commended for this initiative. In other climes, elderly people are well taken care of as well as the unemployed. Over to GEJ to duplicate this at the center.

tomioro: The governor should be commended for this initiative. In other climes, elderly people are well taken care of as well as the unemployed. Over to GEJ to duplicate this at the center.

Duplicate a plan we are not sure is even workable?

Please note this is not the first state to attempt such a scheme. However, the reason these schemes fail is because the plans are not well researched to ensure they are sustainable in the end.

[size=23pt]Where will Aregbesola get the money from?[/size]

The other State should follow suit

I get kwesions o, uncle Aregbe.
1. What qualifies one as an O'Elder?
2. Was this benefit budgeted for?
3. Which ministry handles the payment of this bonus?
4. When was the last time the retires in 'State of Osun' got their pensions?
5. This O'Elders dash and Pension, which is more lawful ans sustainable?

So Osun State has only 1,602 elderly people ?

Beaf: [size=23pt]Where will Aregbesola get the money from?[/size]

Bros, na NigerDelta Oil allocation going round.

Billyonaire: So Osun State has only 1,602 elderly people ?

Read the article again to see that no one said Osun has only 1,602 elderly people. The article makes it clear that this scheme targets the most vulnerable elders in the State.

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Sunday announced N10,000 monthly allowance for 1,602 elderly persons in the state.

The governor made the announcement during the inauguration of Osun Elderly Persons Scheme in Osogbo.

Aregbesola said that the scheme, tagged “O’Elders’’, was aimed at assisting aged persons who could no longer fend for themselves.

He stressed that a responsible government and individuals should always strive to take proper care of elderly persons.

Aregbesola stressed that his administration would do everything possible to make old people to “live the rest of their lives in happiness and good health.

“A census of the elderly ones was taken across the state and the most vulnerable ones were selected for the first phase of the scheme.

“Those that need urgent medical attention are undergoing treatment,’’ he added.

It is a good idea, however, we would need more details in order to properly assess the policy. Questions include:

1) How would they curb migration (non Osun indigenes/residents moving to Osun for free cash)?

2)How would they prevent the problem of ghost elders?

3) How will they sustain the policy in the long run?

I think such a policy is welcome and even long overdue, that is if they can solve the potential problems raised above.

dayokanu:

Senseless posts as usual. How do pensioners collect their money? When elderly people in other countries are paid their benefits, how do they collects it.

if you want to criticize, think deep and come up with something sensible not this putrid tripe you are posting

LOL I am sure that gave you an instant e.rection . Ti e ti ba e.

Good move but the nigerian factor will be the greatest challenge...if humans and greedily refuse to pay retired civil servants and ex military personnel their pensions,is it old men who didn't work for theirs??
I just hope it falls into good hands to pay them..

Kobojunkie: Can the state sustain this?

The state can even do better. The only problem with this country is corruption. I did my Industrial training in one of the local government secretariat about 2yrs back and the level of corruption was on the high side. There was a particular head with #970k expenditure as monthly salary for temporary teacher ( in a non existing school) and the name of a coursemate, children of the chairman and others made the payment voucher. The sum of #1m was voted to Industrial training salary head and we never received a dime, though it was stated on our acceptance letter that there's no payment but i was shocked the day i came across d ledger ( which was hidden from me for over 4 months) and realised that 60k is being paid on monthly basis into the account of someone at the admin. Department as salaries of IT students. This is just a few out of the numerous loop holes in our government establishments. I keep wondering what would be the degree of looting at the state and federal level if such level of corruption could be attained at the local government. And guess what? None of the directors could sign those vouchers( payment vouchers used for looting) as soon as Ogbeni Aregbe was declared the Governor of the state of Osun. This country is mega rich

@kobo My broda u are damn right!


The same place where money for senseless trips to jamaica, trinidad, Owambes, Legislators wife conference, Exotic cars from Coscharis, Australia trips etc come from

Dayo and Gbawe make sense but their prob is that they placed the cart before the horse.

Let the so called trips stop, let owambe cease and other corrupt practises vamoose,
only then can we say the project will be sustained.

@poster It's just another conduit pipe to siphon our money.

Honestly I am still laughing from the article. Seriously, this Aregbe guy should be wearing Barney costume. He is a clown. He should be at the circus. Please somebody tell him the politics of announcement is long gone. People are aware now. Anouncing O this and O that everyday is not development. Before you start to promise anything to your citizens, you must generate funds and put basic structures on the ground. All these superflous white elephant projects he keeps annoucing everyday is just embarrasing. Oshiomole, his fellow ACN guy never announced anything one day. He just kept doing is thing. Someone even said he is buying 150 000 tablets for students. That will go down as one of the most stup1d thing ever done by a governor in Nigeria. How can you buy 150 000 laptops for students. Do you even have any idea what the problem of Nogerian education system is? School without chairs and boards and good teachers? You want to create 150 000 yahoo boys? This is just hilarious. Lol

Gbawe:

Sometimes it is good to keep a dignified silence rather than speak only to then appear empty. To put issues in perspective, this fund will help 1,602 elders precisely with N10.000.00 monthly. That is, give or take, £4,000.00 Monthly and £48,000.00 yearly.

Oga you get problem o. He be like say you done escape Yaba left again becos na pyjamas and slippers you wear come this place.if I talk more than this now you go start fldey curse my father. Simple qustions you no gree answer since morning and na long ting as usual. Where will Aregbe find the money ? What criteria will be used for giving - is it if you carry ECN card ? IF aged person cannot go collect will the money be taken to their homes? If so how do you ensure that bonafide disabled aged are getting the money and not ghost-aged ? Chikena. Over to you sir. Just try to answer a question in civil manner for once without bindind demons of your fathers house. O ga o

all nigerian states can sustain this definitly minus long throat. see, am way too sure dat the fund for both past and future O Elders would av developed wings over Atlantic one day,if this scheme does not exist.

Only problem with this is structural. If the governor and his team manage this thing well, how do we know the next regime will do same? We need to move from personality guaranteed approach to system guaranteed approach.

One reason I like Fashola is that you can see that there are structures in most of the changes in lagos. Same with Donald Duke's reforms in Cross Rivers state.

GEJ needs to learn that approach too, otherwise it will be firing one IG or the other. Or one minister or the other. We need to start creating good structural entities, with checks and balances.