Fiscal Rascality: Adeleke blew N38bn in 21months...By Adebayo Adedeji

Governor Ademola Adeleke took his spending spree to the next level in 2024 when he spent N19.3 billion on his office alone in nine months, exceeding the N13 billion budgeted for the entire year. This brings the total expenses for the Office of the Governor of Osun State to N38 billion from January 2023. This was revealed in the Q3 2024 Budget Performance of the state published October 28.

This reckless spending is concerning given the government's failure to address pension and gratuity arrears, despite allocating N11.4 billion for these purposes in 2024. No fund was released for pension and gratuity arrears from Jan-Sept 2024, putting pay to the lie of the government as to its commitment to the welfare of the senior citizens. Many retirees on the Defined Pension Scheme (the old pension  plan) still receive as low as N5,000 monthly, making it difficult for them to cope with economic challenges.

It is troubling that despite the substantial rise in the revenue accrued to the state, Governor Adeleke is not interested in solving the welfare difficulties faced by struggling Osun citizens. Whereas the government had estimated to receive N99.9bn from federal allocation , as at end of third quarter, N152 billion had already come its way, over N50 billion in excess of its forecast for the year.

But rather than investing the windfal in mass transit to ameliorate transport challenges in the state, Governor Adeleke, like a profligate merry-andrew, is concerned about his own luxury and that of his perfunctory handlers. A review of the budget indicates a whooping N8.09 billion was expended on vehicle purchase for mediocre and unproductive politicians who enjoy at the detriment of helpless citizens. This appropriation, it should be noted, is different from the 2023 car procurement of N4bn for cabinet members and state legislators.

It defies common-sense that a governor who came to government with a populist mantra will prioritise purchase of 20 units of Landcruiser Jeep, each costing N150 million, over expenditure that will bring relief to the governed. It is shocking to read that of the N4.3 billion allocated for youth affairs in 2024, only N353 million was released as at September. Just as the government released only N176.9 million out of the N2.4 billion budgeted for women, children and social services.