The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Kennedy Peretei, spoke with Hakeem Gbadamosi, on the controversy the 2025 budget recently signed into law by the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been generating in the state. Excerpts.
WHAT do you make of the 2025 Budget of Ondo State that was recently signed into law by the state governor?
As far as l am concerned, that budget is most insensitive to the economic realities on ground. It has no human face. Rather, the provisions therein point to looting of public funds without justifiable reason. Anybody who has seen a copy of the 167-page approved Budget will be sorry for the people of Ondo State. In specific terms, N11.5bn as Security Vote in the Ministry of Finance is questionable. N230m for purchase of vehicle for Commissioner of Finance, N250m as Honorarium and Sitting Allowance at the Finance Ministry, N280m for Speaker’s telephone expenses all call for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The money belongs to the people, not those at the helm of affairs. The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly admitted the bogus allocation for telephone expenses even for last year, but that he did not draw a kobo from it. But that is beside the point. How reasonable is N280m to be spent on telephone expenses by just one individual? It is an abuse of public office and trust. Some have argued that the Budget is an Estimate of Income and Expenditure, not that the funds have been drawn down. Are they expecting to complain after the damage has been done? All men and women of good conscience in Ondo State know that those with the responsibility of spending public funds have a duty to ensure diligent application of such funds. That is the minimum we expect from them. Anything short of that will be resisted within the ambit of the law. I am sure they will soon come out to say it was a mistake just like the former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget admitted after we raised questions last year about the N5 billion allocated for Day Care Centre Renovation that it was a mistake.
There is controversy over the N11.5bn security votes for state Finance Ministry, while principal lawmakers are allocated outrageous fund for telephone calls and other things. But why is there no allocation for Amotekun in the state?
The Commissioner of Finance has a provision of N230m to procure an SUV for her office. How can any person justify such? The State Security Network, popularly called Amotekun, [whose operatives] are supporting conventional security agencies, has no funds allocated for its operations. Was it an oversight or another “mistake” like Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget admitted in the past? A careful scrutiny of the 2025 Budget exposes a lot of our public officers as people without conscience. It is tragic and unpardonable. For the governor, who has been in the saddle for more than a year to preside over this kind of budget [is an indication that his government may not deliver on democracy dividends to the people. One would have expected budgetary provisions for Health Care, Education and infrastructure that will change the present lacklustre performance of Governor Aiyedatiwa. The truth is that the N11.5 billion Security Vote cannot be explained beyond the fact that it is [meant for some other things]. The Security Vote for Governor’s Office is not warehoused in the Ministry of Finance. The outrageous N250m for Honorarium and Sitting Allowance, N230m SUV for Commissioner for Finance all point to a plan to [mismanage] Ondo State treasury. How about the N280m for Speaker as telephone expenses? What would you call that? Will the Speaker be on phone for 356 days all round?
The state seems to be quiet after the governorship election, what do you think is happening?
After the election, you are aware the outcome is being challenged at the Tribunal. It is the concluding part of that election. Until that is decided, it is not yet Uhuru.
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