Osun State Government has responded to recent reports accusing the current administration of excessive spending, pointing out that the previous administration led by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola spent billions of naira on the Governor’s Office, amid limited resources available to the state.
In a statement on Saturday, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, it was revealed that from 2019 to 2022, the Oyetola administration expended approximately ₦9.6 billion on operations linked to the Governor’s Office, with an average exchange rate at the time around ₦300 per dollar.
Alimi highlighted that the spending occurred during a period when Osun State faced tight budget constraints, making the high expenditure noteworthy.
Alimi clarified that these expenditures were recorded under the Governor’s Office but included various agencies and units associated with it.
He asserted that these allocations covered necessary functions, although some critics have argued that the spending was excessive given the state’s financial limitations.
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According to the statement, “The Osun State Government has debunked repeated fake news from the opposition operatives and an online platform which accused the government of recklessness in public expenditure, describing such false news as misrepresentation of facts to be corrected by direct fact checking.
“In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the State Government fingered such false reports with headlines as Adeleke blew N38bn in 21 months; splashed N8bn on vehicles in 2024; zero funding for gratuity, pension arrears; N38 billion spent on Governor’s Office; N8.09 billion on vehicle purchase; 500 million plus on entertainment among others.
“Before puncturing the fake news, let me reiterate that the Osun State Government took a significant step towards fiscal accountability and transparency by making its budget implementation report accessible to the public on its official website as part of efforts to promote sustainability and Open Governance.
“The public release of the document is a clear confirmation that the government has nothing to hide and that all details provided in terms of expenditure are public spirited with high sense financial prudence and discipline.
“On the allegation of huge expenses on vehicle purchase, the public is first reminded of how the Oyetola team carted away all government vehicles in 2022, making it imperative for the government to purchase vehicles for statewide operations.
“This N8 billion figure represents the cumulative procurement of vehicles by the Bureau of General Services for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to replace those carted away by the previous administration whose worth was ₦4,384,838,696.39 as at then and which ordinarily would have costed ₦18,488,312,413.88 to replace given the current value of the naira.
“On pension and gratuity arrears, the current administration inherited a huge sum of ₦35bn pension and gratuity arrears from the previous administration and within just two years, the Adeleke Administration had cleared four years’ worth of ₦16.2bn pension and gratuity arrears spanning 2017 to 2020.
“The public is invited to note that the immediate past administration ruled between 2019 and 2022 and the total pension paid within the period was N11b plus compared to Adeleke’s N16 billion plus under two years.
“On expenditure in Governor’s office, a review of expenditure within Governor’s office between 2019 to 2022 when Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola governed the state showed a humongous amount running into several billions of naira.
“While Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola spent ₦9,615,519,767.34 between 20I9 to 2020 when the average exchange rate was about ₦300 per Dollar, the current government expended the sum of 26,185,980,555.14 from 2022 to date, when the average exchange rate was ₦1,300 per Dollar, as capital and overhead expenditure in the Governor’s office.
“It is however noteworthy to add that Office the Governor comprises several agencies and units including the Governor’s personal office as an infinitesimal portion. It is disingenuous to put legitimate expenditure of statutory agencies and units on the head of the governor.
“On the issue of security votes , we insist that the state governor is not drawing any security vote but the state government spent money on security services and operations and emergencies in the state which are processed within the compass of due process and financial regulations.
“On a report by an online news medium that Osun state spent over Five Hundred Million Naira on entertainment, we educate the medium that Osun Government in the last one year or so has hosted several high profile national events bordering on beneficial policy meetings, hosting of ministers, Governors and even top state officials from the Presidency.
“The medium is invited to note that hosting states spent fund on transportation, accommodation and event organisation, all which were conducted under shoestring budget and within the context of hyper inflation plaguing the country.
“The state benefited immensely as several developmental projects are attracted into the state while Osun state is gradually assuming the position of event hub of the South West, boosting the agenda of the administration on the cultural, creative and tourism industry.
“We notice deliberate endeavour of the opposition to dent the image of the current government by misinterpreting, misrepresenting and fabricating financial conjectures especially after it has become overwhelmed by current good governance delivery. It is however gratifying to note that Osun people understand the gimmick of the unelectable opposition and are not falling for surveyors of fake news who failed miserably when they had opportunities to govern the state.
“The public is aware through fact check that the increment in federal allocation to Osun state are being channeled to workers’ welfare, infrastructure upgrade, social sector renewal, small business financial supports as well as phased and liquidation of billions of naira in pension and salary debt inherited from the former administration.
“We urge the public to ignore agents of fake news and to further fact check the preceding submissions from the state government to reaffirm that the current administration has shown exceptional prudence in resource management, outperforming its predecessor despite today’s challenging global economic landscape.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
