Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has provided in-depth insight into the management of his state resources including palliative measures initiated by his administration.
Addressing concerns raised by some groups, the governor, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, emphasized the importance of obtaining accurate information about government programs to avoid being perceived as serving opposition interests.
He said the administration, committed to transparency and openness, has made deliberate efforts to share its plans and intentions across various sectors.
Adeleke also urged critics to rely on publicly available facts and figures instead of distorting verifiable details about state governance.
“This administration has deliberately filled the public space with its plans and intentions across the sectors. The Governor has embraced openness and transparency.
“Our commentators should avail themselves of critical facts and figures instead of twisting and falsifying publicly verifiable details about state governance.
“On palliative distribution in Osun State, we urge the civil society to always engage in thorough field review before taking positions especially as most of the questions raised could have been answered either through desk research or direct freedom of Information request to the relevant government agencies.
“Rice distribution was handled by a non-governmental committee chaired by Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria and populated by representatives of various non-governmental groups. The inauguration of the committee and their activities were widely covered by the media.
“As for the N2 Billion palliative expenditure, we urge the group to officially contact the government if it has legal fulfillment to do so within the framework of the Freedom of Information Act especially as the group has shown mischief and refusal to accept details severally released by the government on the administration of palliative measures in the state.
“In the interest of educated discourse, It may interest the group to note that Osun is spending far above the said two billion naira which is a loan to states and which the Federal Government has even asked the state governments to start refunding.”
Governor Adeleke further highlighted ongoing government programs in Osun, including palliative interventions such as wage awards for pensioners and workers, payment of half salary and pension debt, cooperative loans for artisans and small businesses, free medical surgeries for pensioners, expansion of free grants to the impoverished, and the expected delivery of new buses to enhance transport accessibility and affordability.
He was also debunked that the N2 billion was added to the N100 billion infrastructure fund.
“It was also false to assert that the Governor has added the N2 billion to the N100 billion infrastructure fund as the state has spent far above the N2 billion in service of the needs and aspirations of her people in this hard time.
“As a responsible government, the state project account has not in any way stopped the state government from implementing many laudable palliative programmes listed above.”
Chioma Kalu
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