Residents set agenda for Gov Adeleke, demand emergency action in education

Residents of Osun have urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to declare a state of emergency in the education sector in the state.

The residents also identified job creation, health and commerce as critical areas that need urgent attention from the new administration in the state.

They also said they want the government to seriously pay attention to the provision of quality primary and tertiary healthcare services to vulnerable residents who cannot afford the state’s Osun Health Insurance Scheme.

The resident made this known through a citizen’s survey in which samples were obtained from across 30 local government areas of the state and through a focused group.

The survey was part of a needs assessment exercise which also served as an agenda-setting tool conducted by Urban Alert, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Oluwatosin Olarewaju, Urban Alert Communication Officer in a press release made available to newsmen said all the 17 issues and sectors checked during the exercise were ranked between ‘extremely urgent’, ‘very urgent’, ‘urgent’ and ‘slightly urgent’ by respondents of the survey and participants of the focused group discussion.

This, according to him, means there were varying degrees of urgency in all the issues which should not be handled with levity by the new government of Osun State.

Urban Alert while recalling that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) published 37.3% as the unemployment rate in Osun State in April 2022 added that the advent of another democratic government in the state had necessitated the agenda-setting by residents for their future not only by voting but by ensuring the new government works for them.

The statement said, “Residents of Osun State yearn for the government’s serious attention in providing quality primary and tertiary healthcare services to vulnerable residents who cannot afford the state’s Osun Health Insurance Scheme as it were.

“With the miserable state of education in Osun State, the new government must declare a state of emergency on public education, ensure the appointment of capable hands into the sector and embark on repairing school infrastructures.

“Press freedom, water supply, environment, sport and youth development, and mining were ranked the ‘slightly urgent’ issues in the Osun People’s Agenda for the new government.

“In this light, Urban Alert engaged residents, professionals, politicians, journalists and other stakeholders to set a robust agenda for the new government of Osun State in a bid to ensure that the government focus on the critical needs of people and foster a bottom-up development.

“This means there are varying degrees of urgency in all the issues, and they should not be handled with levity by the new government of Osun State.”

“According to the survey, job creation, health, commerce and education ranked as the areas seeking ‘extremely urgent’ attention from the new government.

“With Osun State Government owning 64% of the gold mining licensed areas in the state through its business venture, residents await the new government’s move on responsible mining devoid of environmental degradation.”

Urban Alert also called on the residents of the state to engage, scrutinise and checkmate the government at all times.

It reminded the residents that it is their responsibility to hold the new government accountable and ensure that they deliver on all their electoral promises.

Recall that shortly after the July 16, 2022, gubernatorial election in Osun State, the Adegboyega Oyetola administration engaged in a recruitment drive in the education and health sectors.

Primary school teachers were recruited across the state and lab scientists, nurses and community health extension workers were also recruited to fill the vacuum in the primary and secondary health facilities scattered across the state.

Sensing danger, the Osun Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Ademola Adeleke warned that Governor Oyetola was digging a land mine for him, for when he assumes office.

They both warned that they would reverse any government appointment and recruitment when they assume office on November 27, 2022.

On assumption of office, the new state governor, Ademola Adeleke went ahead and nullified all the recruitments by the outgone administration.

Adeleke, however, constituted a review committee saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the recruitment into the education and health sectors adding that the recommendations of the committee would be respected by the state government.