Ex-Osun IPAC boss wants Adeleke to account for N135bn excess revenue 

A former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Osun State, Adewale Adebayo, has demanded an account of excess revenue made by the Osun State Government in the outgoing year 2024.

Adebayo, who currently serves as the state chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement, in a statement obtained in Osogbo, the state capital on Saturday, explained that in the 2024 budget approved by the State House of Assembly, which was pegged at N273 billion, there was a clear framework for revenue generation and expenditure.

PUNCH Online reports that on November 9, 2023, Adeleke presented the state’s 2024 budget of N273,908,997,410 to the State House of Assembly.

Adeleke noted that N165,654,976,700 was for recurrent expenditure while the sum of  N108,254,020,710 was for capital expenditure.

However, the APM boss said reports at his disposal indicated that the state has realised N408bn in revenue, leaving a surplus of N135 billion.

He said, “Governor Adeleke and his administration must provide a detailed breakdown of how the N135bn excess revenue was utilised. The people of Osun deserve to know the specific projects or programmes funded with this surplus.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke promised to be open to the general public while contesting. We observed that his government is shrouded in secrecy too much, this should stop forthwith to enhance public trust and foster an inclusive governance process.”

Responding, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi challenged Adebayo to state the source of the mentioned figures.

While quoting Adebayo’s statement as ” fabricated lies,” Alimi noted that the Adeleke-led administration wouldn’t spend money that isn’t cited in the state’s budget.

“People just come out with figures, you should be able to state the source like FAAC and IGR. The claims by the ex-IPAC chair are fabricated lies. Our government has never and will never embark on spending money which is not budgeted for.

“There is no way any government will spend money these days and the money will not be budgeted for.

“It’s not a surprise to us since they know that the government is performing. The only weapon they can use is blackmail because we are performing,” Alimi said.