‘We Have Been Using Money For State Projects To Sustain Local Govt Workers’ – Gov. Adeleke

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has blamed the withheld ₦300 billion local government funds for the inability to execute some major projects in the state.

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Speaking on Thursday during a review and inspection of some ongoing projects in the state, Governor Adeleke said the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) hijacked the ₦300 billion without thinking of the welfare of local government employees.

He, however, said his government needed to step in and shoulder the responsibility of paying local teachers, health workers, pensioners, and local government workers for more than one year now, amidst the alleged hijacking of the local government funds.

Adeleke said that despite the court having sacked the APC chairmen, Osun APC lacks conscience and has diverted the funds meant for local workers.

“If Osun APC lacks conscience by diverting funds meant for local workers to their personal use, I can not do it. I can not abandon local workers who the court sacked APC chairmen intend to punish by criminally hijacking and diverting LG funds in open violation of local government finance laws.

“The workers have families and their own needs. Why should a party decide to hate and punish workers for no just reason? So, the state government has been footing the bills all along.

“If we had refused to financially sustain the local workforce, local health and education services would have collapsed by now. Hardship at the local level would have increased.

“The pain would be too much to bear for our grassroots people. So, we have been using money for state projects to sustain the local workforce. Close to N300 billion of state money is trapped and hijacked by the Osun APC,”

he said.

Naija News reports that the projects reviewed at the meeting were Ile-Ife flyover and dualisation, Lameco flyover at Osogbo, Ila Orangun township dualisation, Osogbo-Ofatedo-Awo junction dualisation, Iwo township dualisation.

Others include reconstruction of the bridge linking Ilahun and Ere Ìjèsà as well as Ibokun/Ilahun/Ere Ijesa – Iwoye ìjèsà, and OtanIle – Esa Odo – Iwoye Ìjèsà Roads in Obokun Local Government area, among others.

The Governor expressed satisfaction over the laying of asphalt ongoing at Ile Ife, Iwo, and Ila Orangun, charging the contractors to speed up the pace of work in all the infrastructure programmes.

He vowed that his administration would not abandon the people.

“I congratulate the people of Ile Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Osogbo, Ila Orangun, and other areas. You are exiting under development.

“We are sacrificing. We are denying ourselves of personal comfort to deliver ongoing projects and more for your use and greatness of your communities. We will not abandon you,” he said.