Gov. Adeleke, N44bn grant is too huge to develop wing. By Sesan Opadoyin

The Osun State Government's financial statements for 2023 reveals substantial receipts under various grants/aids. According to Page 43, the state received N34billion from sources such as SFTAS, TETFUND, UBEC, Islamic Development Bank, Federal Govt Intervention, Basic Health Care Fund and FG Palliative.

The analysis shows the state received N21bn as infrastructure fund, N2.5bn from SFTAS, N4.3bn from Universal Basic Education (UBEC), N1.3bn from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), N749m from Basic Health Fund, N600m from Islamic Development Bank and  N2bn as palliative from the FG.The record, in page 67, also shows that the state benefited from Other Capital Receipts such as NG-CARES, the National Social Safety Nets, and direct receipts from the Federal Government.

The breakdown of Other Receipts, totalling N9.8bn, is as follows:

- NG-CARES ₦4,531,478,428.02

- Universal Basic Education Commission: ₦2,336,091,530.04

- National Social Safety Nets ₦40,806,140.21

- Receipts from Federal Government ₦2,916,740,000.00

These gifts, ₦44 billion (approximately $49 million at an exchange rate of ₦890 to $1), from the Federal Government and its agencies, local and international donors, were meant for construction of buildings in our primary and secondary schools, enhancement of tertiary education, revitalizing primary healthcare centres, providing health insurance for the vulnerable citizens, and infrastructure development in the state. These funds are different from the over N140bn statutory federal allocation received in 2023 for both the state and 30 council areas in Osun State.

Despite this huge accrual to Osun, the state continues to suffer neglects as many of the public utilities are deplorable just as the Ademola Adeleke administration is incapacitated to address basic questions relating to the well-being of the citizens. Osun is one of the few states that its young ones have to struggle to earn decent education as both secondary and tertiary education is no longer within the reach of the common man as the government now implements unsavoury fee regime in our schools to shore up its mediocre revenue drive.

Whereas many states set aside huge resources for grant and bursary to soften the hardship faced by students, Governor Adeleke rather than emulating the good gesture of his counterparts in other states chose, against decency, to allocate N19bn to his unproductive office in 2023. 

The government of Adeleke daily faces criticism from the public on account of its lack of readiness to provide food palliative and other social supports to the poor citizens of the state who look up to him for succour and survival even though it often times receives considerable FG financial support targeted at scaling up struggling businesses. One of the special funds is NG-Cares designed to enliven businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the Adeleke government  has received no less than N15bn NG-Cares fund since its inauguration in November 2022, the effect is yet to be seen in the state as its disbursement is usually shrouded in secrecy by the government. 

While the government has been quick to rationalize its inadequacies and poor performance, it is imperative for the administration to rise above board to provide a detailed account of the expenditures related to the ₦44 billion grants/aids received in 2023.

 Transparency in governance is crucial, and the people of Osun have the right to demand answers and ensure their money is being spent on projects that benefit them.

The deafening silence of the Adeleke administration on this issue, as it is on other issues bordering on public procurements, raises serious and painful concerns.