Osun Govt. Policies Are People-Friendly – NIPPS

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said Osun government has demonstrated strong connection with the masses in the implementation and execution of policies and programmes. 

NIPSS lauded the spate of infrastructural development of Osun in the last seven years of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

The institute’s Director of Research, Professor Habu Galadima gave the commendation during a courtesy call to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo and hailed the present administration in the state for bringing to the citizens, the basic infrastructure requirements in all sectors.

Galadima, who led the delegation of the Participants of the Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies to Osun, said the visit of the delegation has exposed the delegates to the giant strides of the Arebesola’s administration.

According to him, “Just on our arrival to Osun, we have been able to see the good works that the present administration had done. We have seen the rapid development in all the nooks and crannies of the state and it is amazing that the government has been able to develop a strong connection with the masses.

“We have also learnt that the state has been able to touch the lives of the poorest by equipping them with the basic infrastructure needs. Thought the basic responsibility of government is to put smiles on the faces of the people and give them hope to live, this I can feel and see that the present government in Osun has done. We are aware that the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) that was initiated by the Aregbesola led government has really helped to reduce the scourge of unemployment and alleviated poverty among the residents particularly the youth.

“To us, this is a programme which other states of the federation really need to key into by coming down to Osun to understudy how it works because it will go a long way in arresting idleness among Nigerian youths”, Galadima added

Speaking on the roles and responsibilities of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Galadima described the NIPSS as the highest institution for policies and strategies in the country which has the full backing of the federal government.

He said the participants on the tour to the state were drawn from different sectors of the economy, in respect of the theme of the institute for each year tour exercise as the institute remains the think tank of the nation.

In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola called on the tiers of government to prioritize the fundamental principles of government by being proactive towards the protection of lives and property of the citizen.

He expressed great displeasure in the proliferation of security challenges in the country, saying the time has come for government at various levels to strengthen security and improve on the welfare of the citizenry.

The Governor canvassed for true federalism that will engender equitable distribution of resources, describing the call as a necessity to end the socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country.

He called on government at various levels to be more alive to their constitutional responsibilities, arguing the crisis between the suspected Fulani herdsmen and farmers are product of government insensitivity to people’s needs.

He explained that in the process of development, some Nigerians have unconsciously eroded the way some sections of the society (farmers) make their own livelihood, thereby trampling on the rights of some people which in turn make them to turn violent while protecting their means of making a living.

Aregbeola held that Nigeria needs to develop a process that will make it impossible for herdsmen to roam around with their cattles but rather apply modern cattle ranching.