The Osun State budget performance report has shown that in 2023, the sum of N10billion was recorded as the loan figures obtained for the year.
This is despite claims by the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, few days ago that he did not take any loans.
Governor Adeleke had noted that he has not borrowed money since he became governor of Osun State nor has he taken any loans.
Adeleke became Osun State governor in November 2022, when he was sworn in. He had insisted at the second year anniversary of his administration that he didn’t borrow money, instead he blocked financial leakages in the state.
“I want our people to note for the record that for all our projects and programmes, we did not obtain any loan. We only blocked leakages in the state finance and employed the local content to moderate project cost and enforce high standards.
“We never discriminated on inherited projects and we never sacked any contractors engaged by our predecessor. We run an open, transparent government,” he said.
According to the budget performance document of the state, in 2023, the sum of N10billion was recorded as the loan figures obtained for the year.
Also, between January and September, 2024, N593.4million was recorded as loan obtained by the state.
Also, the governor said he has not received any security vote in Osun State.
“In Osun State Governor Adeleke is not, has not and will not take such security votes. Mr Governor is however committed to supporting the security agencies with their logistics needs under security services expenditure which are fully applied for and processed through the office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters.
“The present administration in Osun State therefore wishes to state, emphatically that, Governor Adeleke approves funds to address security issues only when occasion demands for such and there are always record to justify such expenditure as opposed to being latched on as a free money to be expended at will by any sitting Governor as was the tradition with the past administration.”
SaharaReporters saw that between 2023 and September 2024, the sum of N2.6 billion was recorded as security votes expenditure by the state.
In 2023, it spent N2 billion for service votes and another N684 million between January and September, 2024.
While the state government says “security votes should be distinguished from security services”, it spent a different money of N1.1 billion on security services between January and September, 2024 and another N527 million in 2023.
