VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

THE Osun Masterminds, says Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been unfair to women in his various appointments in the state.

The group described the administration of Adeleke as an anti-female government, saying only two women were included in the list of 25 commissioner nominees sent to the Osun State House of Assembly by the governor.

The group said this at a press conference addressed by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, in Osogbo, Osun State on Monday.

The group said, “We note with great disappointment that the Osun State Government, under Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has not been fair to the Women population in our dear State.

“We first noted this lopsidedness when the House of Assembly was inaugurated in June. All 26 Members of the House are surprisingly men, in a State where women have been known to play important roles in the political and governance process.

“A cursory look up the higher echelons of government and one will be tempted to ask whether the Adeleke government has an agenda against the women of our dear State. From Governor, to Deputy Governor, to Secretary to the State Government and to the Chief of Staff, none is female.

“To further deepen our fears about the Adeleke government’s wrong handling of the gender inclusion topic, only two women made list of 25 Commissioner nominees in an urbane State like ours. This translates to many steps backward in the country’s pursuit of a gender-balanced public service.

“We are deeply troubled that the government of Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has postured itself as an anti-female government. Are the prestigious women of our dear State not qualified to be in positions of governance? Are they just good as political cheerleaders, to dance and sing at rallies? This government must do better to reassure the female population in Osun State and the global community, that it does not hate women and will give them prominent roles to play in government.

“Aside the issues of gender inclusion, an equally important issue is the size of the intended cabinet.

Twenty-five Commissioner Nominees mean that the current government does not care about making government leaner to conserve resources and save the State from financial troubles. One would expect that at this time in the history of governance in Nigeria and our dear State, making government leaner to reduce cost of governance would be priority.

“We are bothered, as are many Osun people, that such size of government, soon to be joined by another 25 Special Advisers, can only spell financial trouble for our already frail State.

“Salaries, allowances and other perks of office, including official cars, are huge expenses that Osun should not ordinarily not get into for 50 persons.

“It is also interesting to note that the same Governor Adeleke that sanctioned a staff audit to block financial leakages and improve on the welfare of Civil servants, cannot avoid such leakage that having fifty Commissioners and Special Advisers will translate to.

“Our State cannot afford such financial burden and the Governor must not allow himself be so pressured by political actors that he will slaughter fiscal discipline on the altar of political patronage. Government should not be job for friends and cronies.”

Speaking on the purchase of 332 generators to power boreholes in the state, which was announced by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, The Osun Masterminds said the boreholes should be better power by solar system.

The group added, “Recall also, that the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, while reacting to allegations from some quarters that each unit of the boreholes were awarded at a whooping cost of 14 million, stated that the true cost of each unit of the boreholes would be revealed at Ipade Imole which would hold at the end of the month of June. We still await those details and Ipade Imole as promised, though belated.

“Our reservations still remain on the borehole project and we hope that Government is able to clarify the grey areas as soon as possible.”

“However, the Governor must also caution his spokesperson to desist from his now renowned style of over-dramatizing events in a manner that can cause civil unrest.

“In reporting government’s condemnation of the disrespect meted to Mr Governor, the spokesperson did not have to tell such lies capable of setting the State on fire. Dishonesty is not a responsible approach to public communication and Mr. Spokesperson must learn that before he puts the Adeleke government in dilemma.”

The group, while commending Adeleke for recently expressing his readiness to roll out palliative measures to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy in Osun State, urged the governor to ensure optimal implementation of the measures, “to ensure that real people enjoy the benefits therein”.

“We must use this opportunity to also demand that the Bola Tinubu-led Federal government speeds up the roll-out of its own palliative measures.

“The fuel subsidy removal has made prices skyrocket, making life difficult for the average Nigerian. While the subsidy removal remains a necessary sacrifice, government must quickly follow up with palliative measures that will make the short-term sacrifices bearable,” it said.

(Amiloaded)