Ondo PDP calls for finance commissioner’s sack over alleged budget padding

The Ondo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate sack of the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Omowunmi Isaac over the allegation that the 2025 budget was padded.

This was contained in a statement issued by the party and signed by the State’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Pererei, who alleged that the budget contained several contentious items that have sparked public outcry in the state.

The party frowned over the failure of the relevant authorities in the state to explain to the public the allocation of N11.5b security votes to the Ministry of Finance, despite widespread calls for transparency by the public.

The party called for an independent investigation into the N11.5b security votes allocated for the finance ministry in the 2025 budget.

Peretei in the statement listed among others the procurement of a Toyota Prado SUV Jeep for the Commissioner, priced at an extravagant N230 million, describing it as insensitive to the plight of the common man in the state.

The statement read: “The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act contains some scandalous items in the office of the Commissioner for Finance, that have been the subject of public agitation in the last two weeks.

“The Lucky Aiyedatiwa government has maintained such a deafening silence and complicity that are making tongues wag if indeed, there is more to it than meets the eye.

“The N11.5 billion security vote in the Ministry of Finance captured in the 2025 approved budget has not been explained to the people of the State, in spite of the public outcry.

“The provision of N250m as Honorarium and Sitting Allowance in the Ministry of Finance is another padded item in the budget for the enjoyment and pleasure of the Commissioner.

“Perhaps, the most insensitive of the items is the procurement of one Toyota Prado SUV Jeep for the Honorable Commissioner for Finance at a princely sum of N230m.

“In view of the above approved Budgetary allocations, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ondo State Chapter believes that Mrs Isaac Omowunmi, the Ondo State Commissioner for Finance must be sacked immediately, for criminally abusing her office.

“Her claim of being a UK-trained accountant falls flat on its back if all she can do is to fleece the people’s Treasury. The supposed gatekeeper of our treasury.

“If Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa fails to relieve the Commissioner of her duties, having failed the people of the Sunshine State, steps will be taken to prove that, what is at stake is the people’s funds.

“Whatever happened to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) team that arrived in the state in the wake of the 2025 budget scandal is inexplicable.

“A government that presides over a huge infrastructural deficit, a totally collapsed health care delivery system and unacceptable falling educational standards can ill-afford the financial recklessness of the Commissioner for Finance in our state.”

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