₦airaland Forum

The State Government of Osun has signed a concession agreement with an aggregator, Oklan Best to partner it in boosting the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme, O’REAP.

The signing of the agreement done by the state of Osun Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Adekunle Ige and Mrs Lanre Nwankwo on behalf of Oklan Best is expected to generate more revenue for the government.

The agreement provides a concession for Oklan Best to take over the operational functions of the Omoluabi Plantain and Root Crop Venture Factory and effectively manage its affairs on behalf of the state government.

According to the agreement, the concessionaire is to invest in the company, a total sum of N100 million naira with N30 million being the first tranche from the day of commencement of activities in the venture for the first three months.

The agreement which is expected to be in force for a period of 12 years will see to the creation of over 2,500 jobs for Osun Plantain Farmers as well as the people of the state in general.

As part of the signed agreement, Oklan Best will be giving out scholarships to four indigenes in Esa-Oke, Ago Owu, Mokore and Oriade local government area of the state.

According to the aggregator, it is done to give back to towns where the plantain (raw material) is sourced.

The agreement, however, stipulates that those to benefit from the scholarship are those who are studying agricultural science.

The commissioner reiterated the commitment of State Government of Osun in making Agriculture a profitable business for all and sundry, saying that the government is on the verge of attracting more investors to the state.

In her remarks, the Managing Director, Oklan Best, Mrs Lanre Nwankwo assured farmers in the state of mutually benefited arrangements by receiving their produce at profitable rates, adding the state will prevent spoilage and make the produce presentable at the global market.

Following the payment of over N5.1billion to workers by the state Government of Osun, pensioners under the aegis of Forum 2011/12 retired public servant in Osun has staged a well-planed protest demanding for more payment from the government.

The protest which coincided with the 3rd day Fidua prayer of Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola, mother of the governor who died on Tuesday, was staged to press home more payment from the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The pensioners who converged at the entrance of the state’s secretariat, Abere were seeing discussing with no placards to drive home reasons for their protest.

Recall that the state government of Osun committed N5.1 billion out of the N6.3 billion second tranche Paris club refund received from the federal government for the payment of salaries and pensions.

It was gathered that the workers, pensioners inclusive have since been receiving credit alert of payment of the agreed payment reached with the various unions.

The government reached the sharing formula through the state’s Revenue Allocation Committee, led by Hassan Sunmonu, in conjunction with labour unions in the state.
It was learnt that the unions agreed to the decision to pay the arrears of July and August 2015, the balance of leave bonuses of 2015 to workers in grade level 8-17 who had been receiving modulated salaries, as well as the July 2017 salary and pension entitlements to all workers in the state.
Prince Rotimi Adelugba, the Chairman of the Triangular Group of Pensioners in Osun State described the latest protest embarked upon by a faction of pensioners as ‘sponsored’, describing their conduct as unnecessary and a plot to undermine the good intention of the government.

He said the state government has paid the salary of all workers in the state up to July, 2017 in line with the agreement made between it and the labour union.

According to him, the state government and the labour union met and decided that the state should pay July and August, 2015 balance of the modulated salaries of workers whose pay had been on modulation since 2015.

The Osun Triangular Pensioners Chairman warned those that are preoccupied in sowing seed of discord with aim of heating up the polity and inciting the populace against the government to desist in the collective interest of all in the state.

Prince Adelugba opined that at a time when the whole state is in mourning over the death of the illustrious mother of our governor, it is only fair that they sympathize with him and the government, rather than put up a show of shame, on a day dedicated for the 3rd Fidau Prayer for Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.

In an interesting twist, one of the protesters, who dressed like an Islamic cleric was spotted with a black goat, for yet to be identified purpose, however, the policemen on ground barred the man from slaughtering the animal.

These market women will have to realise that sooner or later they will have to get used to this new weighting scale initiated by the Governor. This is to their own advantage and that of the buyers in other to check any form of biased trading or unequal trading. I'm sure that that when they start using it they will get used to it and realise that is easier to handle.

This is very brilliant. This Mechatronic institute will definitely be a kick-off on the rating of The State of Osun at the state level and this is also a forum to defeat unemployment thereby creating more job opportunities for Nigerians. This is really a great achievement!

This is quite interesting to know because initially i thought the company was a private business owned by some individual. its good to know that Osun state is involved in this progressive business, Whether through land contribution or monetarily this 'omoluabi Garment Factory' is set to contribute to the development of the state and beyond the state.