Hijack of N300bn Osun LG funds delaying projects – Adeleke

Governor Ademola Adeleke is blaming delays of several ongoing infrastructure projects in Osun State on what he described as the “hijack” of about N300 billion in local government funds by court-sacked council chairmen.

Speaking during a project review meeting with top government officials, Adeleke said the funding crisis has significantly slowed the pace of execution of key projects across the state.

Projects reviewed at the meeting include the Ile-Ife flyover and dualisation, Lameco flyover in Osogbo, Ila Orangun township dualisation, Osogbo–Ofatedo–Awo junction dualisation, and Iwo township dualisation.

Others are the reconstruction of the bridge linking Ilahun and Ere-Ijesa, as well as the Ibokun/Ilahun/Ere Ijesa–Iwoye Ijesa and Otan-Ile–Esa Odo–Iwoye Ijesa roads in Obokun Local Government Area.

The governor noted that despite the financial strain, the state government has continued to shoulder the responsibility of paying local government workers, including teachers, health personnel, and pensioners, for over a year.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of diverting funds meant for grassroots administration, insisting his administration would not abandon workers at the local level.

“If Osun APC lacks conscience by diverting funds meant for local workers to personal use, I cannot do so. I will not abandon local workers whom the court-sacked chairmen intend to punish through the illegal diversion of council funds,” he said.