ONDO’S MISSING N7.3B: THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE TRUTH By Dayo Awude
The attempt by the Ondo State Government to defend its reckless financial misbehaviour over the out of budget N7.3B allegedly spent by Governor Akeredolu on his health in the last three months, has brought to the fore once again the financial recklessness of the Akeredolu/APC government.
The government’s defence is at best weak and puerile. The more they try to bury the truth, the more the truth is revealed.
With the government’s attempted defense, the money is better described as “missing”
That it was the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, speaking for the government and not the Commissioner for Information, is in itself curious.
From the government’s official response, the following stand out:
1. The government agrees that it is true that Governor AKEREDOLU spent the said amount without budgetary allocation/provision and approval.
2. The government, while claiming that the said amount was not spent “personally by the governor”, could not state in clear terms what the money was used for, (hiding behind the generic stack of hay called PALLIATIVE), only promising to bring up details of the expenditure later. Bringing up details of governmental expenditure, like a walk in the park, shouldn’t be a big deal in this age of technology. One tap on the computer would have been to the rescue. But the question is, is anything on their computer?
3. Spending unbudgeted funds is against the law. Once a budget is passed, it becomes a law (that’s why it is called the *Appropriation Law* ) and must be adhered to. By this admission, the government has clearly infracted on the law and thereby has committed an offence which cannot be explained away.
The claim that the money came after the 2023 budget was passed is not enough reason to spend funds not appropriated, particularly for reasons not known. Moreover, it doesn’t take forever for a serious House of Assembly to pass a Supplementary Budget, particularly to address serious or emergency situations.
4. The government, by claiming to commit this humongous resources to *unseen palliatives* , has shown its clear disregard for the people of the state, especially at this period when the economy is at its lowest ebb and the people are in excruciating economic pains. If this N7.3B had been correctly channeled, I’m sure it would have helped in reflating the economy and addressing critical needs. The people would have obviously been the better for it.
There is definitely more than meets the eye on this “MISSING” fund and the end to it hasn’t come yet. I believe Governor Akeredolu and his government must be held accountable for this “missing” fund.
