The Osun State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has accused the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Moshood Olagunju, of allegedly collecting kickbacks on every fund approved for the council by the state government.
The allegation followed a festering disagreement between the commissioner and the youth council over the distribution of rice palliatives and claims of misappropriation, which escalated on Saturday.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the dispute reportedly began last week after 20 bags of rice, described as a New Year package for youths, were handed over to the NYCN chairman, Olakolupo Olusegun Akinbode, by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, without passing through the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Groups said to be loyal to the commissioner subsequently accused the NYCN leadership of failing to account for the rice and an alleged N25m released to the council.
The Youth Assembly of Nigeria, through its Speaker, Dare Fatomide, demanded a public explanation from the SSG on why the rice was given directly to the NYCN without the ministry’s involvement.
Responding, the NYCN, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Rafiu Olayemi, denied receiving N25m from the state government and accused the commissioner of demanding what it described as “settlement” on every approved fund meant for the council.
The group said it had only received a total of N17m, insisting that deductions were made by the ministry at different times.
The council listed the funds to include a N2m government grant, from which it alleged N500,000 was taken by the ministry; N2.5m approved for a town hall meeting with an alleged N500,000 deduction; and N5m for a citizenship and leadership training programme, from which another N500,000 was allegedly taken. For the 2025 International Youth Day, the council said N6m was eventually released out of a larger approved sum, with N1.5m earmarked for mobilisation.
The NYCN maintained that it had fully accounted for all funds received and challenged the commissioner to provide evidence that it collected N25m. It also said the 20 bags of rice were distributed to affiliated and non-affiliated youth groups across the state, adding that the commissioner was informed upon receipt of the items.
The council further accused the commissioner of interfering in its internal affairs and attempting to factionalise the body through loyalists, calling on the state government to intervene.
Following the controversy, the state government has suspended its dealings with Osun NYCN pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
A government statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, on Sunday, stated that it has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the alleged leadership crisis and controversies surrounding the allocation of resources.
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.
