Amidst the lingering economic crisis facing the country, the Osun State Government intends to splash N6.996 billion to purchase Toyota Fortuner SUVs (2023 Model) for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s 37 Special Advisers.
A review of the state’s 2025 fiscal docuement showed that the amount is bigger than the total capital expenditure for the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security which stands at N5.890 billion for the 2025 .
According to the state’s Appropriation Law for 2025 obtained from the state government’s website (www.osunstate.gov.ng), a breakdown of this figure shows that each special adviser is expected to receive a Toyota Fortuner worth an average of N189 million.
In a related development, the Ministry of Water Resources has a capital expenditure budget of N6.077 billion, which is lower than the N6.996 billion earmarked for vehicle purchases. The allocation, it was gathered, comes despite reports of severe water scarcity in the state.
OSUN DEFENDER had earlier reported that residents of Iree, the host community of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, recently lamented chronic water shortages, as well as other situations reported across the state.
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A student, Adekunle Samsudeen, who resides in the Oke Glo area, expressed frustration over the dire situation.
“Water scarcity is everywhere in Iree. Even waking up at 5:00 AM does not guarantee access to water because people have already crowded the few available sources. The boreholes in my area are mostly non-functional, and the few working ones require electricity to pump water, but the power supply in Iree is unreliable,” he said.
OSUN DEFENDER also sighted capital expenditure budgets for key educational institutions in the state which were significantly lower than the funds allocated for the advisers’ vehicles.
For instance, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke got N931 million, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree was allocated N1.3 billion, while N2.1 billion was approved for Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun.
The capital expenditure for the Primary Health Care Development Board was N209 million, while the capital budget for UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital was N1.2 billion.
Citizens and residents of the state have raised eyebrows over the development, demanding an explanation from the government on its priorities in 2025.
A financial expert, Mr. AbdulMateen Adekeye decried the situation, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to send a supplementary budget to the state parliament to address concerns of infrastructure deficit in the state.
Adekeye said, “N7bn for vehicles when some communities do not have water. Asides Iree, there are other communities without electricity and basic amenities and the government considers vehicles over the needs of the people. We can do better as a people.
“The Governor should immediately come up with a supplementary budget, halt the execution of the procurement of these cars for lesser and effective ones and focus on development and providing succour to the masses,” Adekeye noted.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
