Aregbesola inaugurates 39 commissioners, special advisers

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has inaugurated a 39-member cabinet comprising commissioners and special advisers.

The governor dropped himself as the commissioner for works and infrastructure, as well as his deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori as the commissioner for education.

Both of them had held the positions since they assumed office seven years ago.

Aregbesola explained that the delay in naming his cabinet was due to the financial constraints in the state.

The governor said he and his deputy dropped their portfolios to pave the way for new entrants for a more effective policy coordination and supervision.

He said the formation of cabinet was delayed by the financial strains that hit the state.

Aregbesola congratulated the new appointees on being considered worthy of service to the government and people of Osun.

He said: “Many of you served in the first term, while the rest are fresh hands. But this is long overdue, as it should have come up immediately after my inauguration on November 27, 2014.

“Our second term coincided with the onset of a national economic disaster, which was due partly to a purported daily theft of 650,000 barrels of crude oil.”

The governor explained that the 650,000 barrels of crude oil were equivalent to 65 super tankers, each laden with over 300,000 metric tons of crude oil. A super tanker is about 450 metres long, which is the equivalent of four and a half football fields.
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“What we did during the special time occasioned by the emergency period we faced was to play a delicate balancing act between the three categories. Painfully, we came to an understanding with the workers on a realistic schedule of payment.”

“We also continued with our programmes and critical social intervention albeit on a reduced scale. Lastly, we had a good understanding from the political class on the need to make sacrifice as we deferred appointments and cabinet formation,” he added.

Among the new appointees were an Associate Professor of Economics, Olalekan Dauda Yinusa, a Doctor of Law, Ajibola Basiru and a former Senator, Mudasiru Hussain.

Speaking on behalf of the cabinet members, the new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir, described the delay as a sign of courage and commitment to good governance.

He urged his colleagues to support the government, adding: “The remaining 18 months to the expiration of this administration are enough to galvanise development.”