By Thefrontrank Editorial Board
Budget is a financial plan that outlines the expected income and expenses for a defined or specific period. It is equally a roadmap guiding resource allocation to achieve organisational goals and objectives efficiently.
As the tradition, in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on December 10, 2024 presented the 2025 Budget of N655.230 billion to the state House of Assembly. Twenty days after the presentation, a total budget of N698 billion was signed into law on December 30, 2024 by the governor with an increment of N43. 4 billion.
In the Appropriation dubbed “Budget of Recovery”, the sum of N406.307 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure, while N248.923 billion was for recurrent expenditure. Further analysis of the budget showed that Infrastructural Development has N238.572 billion allocation, Public Finance has N125.456 billion, Education with N77.024 billion and Agricultural Development with N56.102 billion. Also, the Administration of Justice was allocated N132.163 billion, Trade and Industry N8.839 billion, Health N46.016 billion and Environment and Sewage Management N13.084 billion. Besides, General Administration got N34.398 billion, Information N3.230 billion, Legislative Administration N7.636 billion, Regional Development N8.869 billion, Community Development N14.128 billion and Energy N3.742 billion.
A cursory analysis of the 2025 Budget posted on the state website revealed some illegal allocations which raised more questions begging for answers. It equally cast doubt on the accountability of the current managers of the state resources entrusted in their hands by the electorate. The entire budget was deliberately fraught with unmitigated discrepancies aimed at milking the Sunshine State dry, while the citizens are grappling with economic hardship.
Leading the unmitigated discrepancies are the 26 lawmakers elected to improve on welfare of their constituents. In the passed budget, the sum of N235 million was allocated for telephone calls by the legislators. In addition, N33 million was earmarked for electricity charges in the office of the Speaker, N8 million for the office of the Deputy Speaker, and N300 million for the entire House of Assembly. The sum of N50 million was earmarked for refreshment and meals for the lawmakers, while the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will receive N25 million and N10 million respectively.
In the budget, the sum of N300 million was allocated as welfare packages for the lawmakers. Apart from the brand-new SUVs presented to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker about a year ago, the sum of N462 million was set aside for the maintenance of lawmakers’ cars. Also, N77 million was budgeted for the office of the Speaker for maintenance of motor vehicles and transport equipment, while the office of the Deputy Speaker’s office will receive N35 million and the other 24 lawmakers will get N350 million. Besides, the Assembly is to spend the sum of N791 million on local and international travels. For printing of non-security documents in the Assembly, the sum of N200 million was earmarked.
At the Executive arm, the 2025 Budget was full of questionable allocations which are still begging for answers. In the passed budget, the sum of N11.5 billion was earmarked as a security vote to the Ministry of Finance. Also, N250 million was budgeted as honorarium and sitting allowance for the commissioner for finance. In the budget, the sum of N230 million was for buying a Prado jeep for the Commissioner for Finance, while another N1.5 billion was allocated for contingencies in the Ministry of Finance.
Sadly, the government failed to provide convincing explanations on these questionable and indiscriminate allocation of humongous amounts in the budget. Particularly, the government failed to address why the sum of N11.5 billion security vote is under the Ministry of Finance and the beneficiary. Also the government failed to provide tangible response for buying a Prado jeep at the cost N230 million for only Commissioner for Finance while there are at least 18 Commissioners in the state. Rather than addressing the key questions being asked daily by the people of the state, government’s spin doctors embarked on unintelligent argument. The worst of it is the justification of the illegality, claiming that it was done under the Peoples Democratic Party’s administration and that “it is the tradition” to have security vote in the Ministry of Finance. This clearly shows the level of intellectuals in the administration which the people of the state have to endure for the next four years.
We believe Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should come out boldly to explain to the people of Ondo State why the sum of N11. 5 billion Security Vote is domicile in the Ministry of Finance. Leaving the explanation for professional sycophants, praise singers and fair weather friends has actually done more damage to the government image.
It is imperative for Aiyedatiwa’s administration to take a queue from leadership provided by Chief Adebayo Adefarati and Dr Olusegun Agagu in terms prudence and accountability rather than descending into jejune arrangements to pilfer the state resources. Today, people are making reference to Governor Agagu’s accountability. The man who left over N30 billion in the state treasury in 2009 during his sudden exit from power, while money was filtered away by the succeeding administration.
Amidst worsening insecurity and dearth of infrastructural development in the state, the Executive led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Legislative arm under Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji willingly allocated humongous amounts on intangibles just to stash away our commonwealth. It is a clear sign of heartlessness on the part of the leadership that people voted for with the hope of protecting them, improve their welfare and move the Sunshine State to greater heights.
There is need for the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to espouse vision in governance, especially on developmental projects and to be prudent in the management of the state resources. Rather than dancing “Azonto” at every state function, Aiyedatiwa should see governance as serious business and put on his thinking cap towards providing dividends of democracy to the people of the state as promised during the electioneering.
One thing that is clear in this budget malfeasance is planned looting, and that is if it has not started. We hope this administration will not be the worst in the history of the Sunshine State.
Thefrontrank Editorial
