- Action, A Flagrant Disregard Of Nigeria’s Finance Act – CSO
- Osun ADC Slams Move, Describes It As Voter Inducement
Concerns have begun to trail the decision of local government chairmen elected on October 15, 2022 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, following a recent empowerment programme for small-scale business owners across the state.
The chairmen, popularly described as “Yes/No” chairmen, were said to have embarked on the distribution of cash grants and financial support to traders and artisans in their respective councils.
The exercise, according to sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER, was part of efforts to stimulate grassroots support for the party ahead of the August 16 gubernatorial election.
In a statement, leader of the chairmen’s forum, Samuel Idowu, the large-scale grassroots empowerment programme targeting more than 45,000 residents across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Idowu said the initiative, tagged Poverty Alleviation Scheme, is designed to provide ₦50,000 cash grants to each beneficiary as startup or support capital for small-scale businesses with each local government empowering at least 1,500 residents under the programme.
However, the exercise has drawn criticism in several quarters, particularly over the manner in which the funds were disbursed.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the concerns gained momentum after photos and videos of the programme emerged on social media, that large sums of cash were publicly displayed and shared in council areas including Ejigbo West LCDA, Olorunda, Obokun, Iwo, among others.
Some of the beneficiaries who attended the event told the medium that they were handed cash physically at designated venues, rather than being paid through bank transfers or other traceable financial channels.
A beneficiary who prayed not to be named added that at Olorunda local government, cash was counted and distributed in the presence of party loyalists and local officials.
“There was no structured verification beyond basic identification, and in some cases, beneficiaries were asked to provide their voter card details before receiving the money,” the trader said.
A Facebook User, Cris Ayo also condemned the process, stating that it has converted the programme to an indirect means of vote buying.
Ayo wrote, “What we’re seeing in Osun now is indirect vote buying wearing the mask of “empowerment.”
“Let’s be honest: it’s 2026. We have bank transfers, USSD, Opay, Moniepoint, instant everything. Yet politicians are still carrying bundles of raw cash to public squares, calling cameras, and sharing it like party rice.
“If the true goal is empowerment, why avoid traceable, transparent electronic transfers? Why not fund projects through local governments so the impact lasts beyond one afternoon? Because this isn’t about lifting people — it’s about buying memory. Give ₦5k today, so the hand that collected will remember the face that gave when election day comes.
“Who still moves like this in the age of digital money if not APC? That’s the question on the streets. Real empowerment is jobs, healthcare, roads, functioning schools. Not cash carnivals that disappear by nightfall and leave poverty sitting in the same spot tomorrow morning.
“LG autonomy looto. Until councils control their funds and answer to their people, empowerment will remain a campaign costume, and the people will keep confusing handouts with development,” Ayo queried.
- Action, A Flagrant Disregard Of Nigeria’s Finance Act – CSO
Reacting to the development, a civil society organisation, the Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), led by Akin Akanji, condemned the action, describing it as a violation of established financial regulations in Nigeria.
He further explained that the Finance Act, alongside relevant sections of Nigeria’s public financial regulations, mandates transparency, accountability and traceability in the handling of public funds, including the use of formal banking channels for disbursement.
“This development represents a flagrant disregard for the provisions of the Finance Act and other extant public finance management laws in Nigeria. Public funds, whether at the federal, state or local government level, are not to be handled or disbursed in cash in such a manner.
“By resorting to cash distribution, the officials have created room for opacity, potential diversion of funds and abuse of process. This is precisely what the law seeks to prevent. Financial transactions of this nature are expected to leave verifiable trails for audit and public scrutiny,” Akanji added.
Akanji also warned that such practices could erode public trust in governance and undermine efforts to institutionalise accountability at the grassroots level.
- Osun ADC Slams Move, Describes It As Voter Inducement
In a related reaction, the Osun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised the exercise, alleging that the empowerment programme was being politicised.
The party particularly frowned at reports that prospective beneficiaries were required to present their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) or provide voter information before accessing the funds.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Abosede Oluwaseun, the party warned residents to exercise caution, alleging that the scheme lacks transparency, structure, and accountability.
The ADC said the emergence of the programme at a time when many citizens are grappling with economic hardship and insecurity raises questions about its true intent, particularly with the governorship election just months away.
According to the party, the requirement for applicants to submit sensitive personal information —including voter card details, National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and bank account details poses significant risks.
The statement read, “We are deeply concerned about the basis for requesting sensitive personal information under the guise of a poverty alleviation programme. Such data could expose vulnerable citizens to fraud, identity theft, and undue political manipulation. These are clear red flags.”
The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the exercise as part of a broader strategy to influence voters, insisting that any genuine social intervention should prioritise data protection and the dignity of beneficiaries.
“We strongly condemn this as yet another calculated attempt to manipulate and deceive the people of Osun State for partisan gain,” the statement added.
The ADC further pointed to ongoing controversies surrounding local government administration in the state, noting that unresolved legal and constitutional issues make any such initiative questionable.
It also criticised the broader economic situation in the country, arguing that the Federal Government’s “renewed hope” agenda has instead resulted in increased hardship and insecurity for many Nigerians
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