The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed the Ministry of Energy to immediately draw up an implementation plan for the recently passed State Electricity Market Law, with a mandate to seek supportive assistance from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
This law allows the state regulator to issue licenses, set rules, and monitor electricity producers, mini-grid operators, distributors, and other stakeholders within the state.
Also, private firms can be licensed to generate off-grid or mini-grid power, promoting investment and renewable energy options.
In July, Osun State House of Assembly passed the Electricity Bill, 2025, which allows the state to establish an Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Adeleke issued the directive on Friday night while presiding over the State Executive Council meeting in Osogbo, where key policies across sectors were reviewed and fresh marching orders handed to ministries and agencies.
This is according to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi and shared on X on Saturday.
On infrastructure, the governor reassured the council that ongoing projects were firmly on schedule.
“The ministry of works is working hard to deliver on schedule, the ongoing infra projects, noting that the administration is speeding up the execution of the Ilesa dualization, the Ile Ife flyover, the Oke Fia/Lameco flyovers, the Iwo dualisation among others,” he said.
The governor also set ambitious targets for the technology sector.
Commending the launch of the Imole Wifi Initiative, he urged the Ministry of Science and Innovation to fast-track the State ICT and Tech Innovation policies and to prepare “a state road map for the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology.”
On agriculture, Adeleke requested the urgent rollout of the Statewide Youth Agropreneurship Project, directing the ministry to “dust its plan and ensure the programme commences across all local governments in the state.”
Turning to local government affairs, he instructed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to take action on “the ugly development at Ipetumodu where the King was recently jailed in the United States of America.”
Adeleke also emphasised that councils must have clear development blueprints.
“Ahead of the resolution of the local government crisis, we must, as a government, encourage members of ALGON to create a development agenda for their respective local governments.
“Each local government must have a developmental document which will flow from the state development agenda,” he said, adding that the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning should interface with ALGON to make it a reality.
On youth engagement, the governor ordered a review of the Imole Youth Corps for quality assurance.
“Posted Imole Corps members must be monitored to deliver on the goals of the scheme,” he warned.
Sports development also came under scrutiny, with the governor directing urgent action on bills for the establishment of the Osun Sports Commission, the Police Trust Fund and the Osun Sports Development Fund, urging closer collaboration with the State Assembly to fast-track their passage.
Adeleke further highlighted Osun’s growing profile in climate change advocacy. “Council members should take note of our huge success in the climate change sector.
“Our many initiatives are gaining attention from other states, the Federal Government, the International Agencies and groups. Our ultimate goal is to generate grants and donor support from several willing donor groups,” he said.
Looking ahead to the next election cycle, the governor stressed the need for evidence-based governance.
“As we move towards the election period, we need statistics and data on our performance across various sectors of the state economy. We should start to generate our governance data.
“The agency in charge of statistics and data in the state should sit up. The agency in question must work in line with modern best practices,” he directed.
At the end of the session, the council adopted Adeleke’s address as its official resolutions and established a high-powered committee to urgently address manpower shortages in the health and education sectors.
The council also approved the elevation of several minor chiefs to Part II Chiefs and confirmed the appointment of Prince Adeleke Saheed Adeyemi as the Olokusa of Okusa in Egbedore Local Government.
