The Osun state government has spent over NGN260 million on new Toyota Camry XLE 2019 cars meant for 26 members of the State House of Assembly, each going by the unit price of $29,175 in the U.S.

Considering the government’s failure to pay retired civil servants’ pensions and gratuities for several years, critics have described the government’s action as a “misplacement of priority.” Despite reports that the state has been cash strapped, Governor Gboyega Oyetola has justified the expenditure.

In January, Osun retirees narrated tales of neglect by the government describing their ordeal as ‘from service to suffering.’ Some of them have also been unable to access proper medical care as a result. Others have been ejected from rented houses and forced to withdraw their children from school due to lack of funds.

Many civil servants who retired between 2015 and 2018 under Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) were neither receiving monthly pension nor the lump sum due them as bond.

During the tenure of Rauf Aregbesola who served two terms of eight years in office, Osun state received bailout funds from the federal government but still defaulted in payment of salaries and pensions.

In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari disbursed N338 billion to states to assist them in payment of salaries and owed arrears, of which Osun State got N34.9 billion. The Osun government also received N11.74 billion as refunds from the Paris Club in November 2016.

Again, President Buhari approved the release of more funds from the London-Paris Club refund to state governors across the country in 2017, out of which Osun State received N6.3 billion as the second tranche of Paris Club refund in July.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in 2016 said the Aregbesola administration disbursed only N16.3 billion out of the N34.9 billion bailout released in 2015.  The report also added that the commission was investigating allegations that the state had not paid salaries since July 2015. Mr Aregbesola countered the allegations of diversion but did not dispute that only N16.3 billion was disbursed.

Justifying his action for the purchase of Toyota Camry XLE 2019 for the current lawmakers, Governor Oyetola through his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, said the government was controlling its expenditures. “It would be unthinkable to say lawmakers got cars eight years ago and they should continue to use the same thing. Don’t forget that it is not the same set of people in the house eight years ago that are there now. Even for the ones re-elected, there’s always a budget and emoluments of office which must be provided. It is a three-arm government and everybody must be taken care of.” He refused to disclose the exact amount the state paid for the vehicles but assured that the expenditure on cars would not affect the running of government and payment of workers and pensioners.

This latest action raises the question of priorities prevalent within the state leadership. Salaries and pensions are being owed, families going through difficult times as well as a rapidly growing rate of poverty. Yet, it appears the government placed the luxury of its lawmakers over the survival of the masses. Also, given the previous record on the misappropriation of NGN270 million disbursed to Orolu local government council, Osun state in 2019, it clearly shows that this issue has eaten deep into all levels of governance. A lot more needs to be done to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds and the advancement of the state.

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