The Osun Mastermind claims that it has finalized its plans to drag the Osun State Government before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Commission (ICPC) in relation to the N100 billion in infrastructure development funds.
The group further charged the federal government with the responsibility of directing relevant agencies to initiate an in-depth investigation of recent financial interventions given to states in order to guarantee that these interventions reach the people who were supposed to benefit from them.
During a press conference held on Monday in Osogbo, the Executive Director of TOM, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, made the call.
He expressed concern that Osun State may return to her days of excessive borrowing and financial recklessness.
He cautioned the government of Osun State to exercise extreme caution in its decision-making regarding the state’s finances, particularly in light of the fact that the state is currently insolvent.
“In order to put things in order and fulfill the promise made by the President to restore the faith of the Nigerian people, we need to instill a culture of openness and honesty in all levels of government.
“Is it known to the government that the state procurement law does not permit the awarding of contracts based on arbitrary criteria? Plans to petition the ICPC regarding borehole projects, procurement laws, and official documentation of the N100 billion infrastructural development fund have been finalized by our team.
“Are all of these projects accounted for in the budget, and how did the Governor come up with the money? According to Oyedokun-Alli, “We believe the ICPC will do what needs to be done in order to rescue the state from financial recklessness.”
According to him, the Osun Mastermind will get the petition after it has been handed in to the EFCC and after it has been received by them at the end of the business day on Monday.
In addition, Oyedokun-Alli stated that the plans that the government has in place to build flyover bridges would amount to a waste of resources in an economy that is in a downward spiral.
He suggested that the money allocated for flyover bridges be redirected toward the accelerated development of infrastructure across all local government areas and the opening of new roads throughout the state.
“The Akoda-Oke and Gada-Ofatedo roads, which were both listed as three items in the Infrastructure plan, had already begun construction a very long time ago. We are fully aware that construction on the road began some time ago, and we have been keeping up with the progress.
“The work that has already been completed includes widening the right of way, beginning at the Akoda end. We are not aware of any supplementary budget that has been submitted to the House of Assembly, nor are we aware of any budgetary provision that has been made for the construction of that road in the 2023 State Appropriations Act. Where did the Governor and his government get the money to get contractors out to the site so that they could get work started on that road?
Is it true that the state’s procurement law does not permit the awarding of contracts based on arbitrary criteria to state agencies? Will the funds that have already been spent on the work that has been done so far be reworked into the budget for the year 2024 so that they can cover the obvious extra-budgetary spending that has been done earlier now that the road has been included in the recently launched infrastructure plan?
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