From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A civil society organisation in Osun State, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has urged the Federal Government to direct its relevant agencies, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence a probe of recent financial interventions given to states to ensure such interventions reach the intended beneficiaries.
The group also advised the Federal Government to begin to publish details of monthly allocations to states and local governments to enable the masses to hold their leaders accountable.
In its monthly ‘state of the state’ address by its Executive Director, Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, in Osogbo, yesterday, TOM said: “We think that for the sake of transparency, the Federal Government should begin to publish details of monthly allocations paid to state and local governments. An understanding of their state and local governments’ financial receipts will help Nigerians put leaders to task at all levels of government.
“To get things right and renew the hope of Nigerians as the president promised, we must entrench a culture of transparency and probity in governance at all levels,” the group said.
On the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, the group urged President Tinubu to rise to the occasion and restore hope in Nigerians now that the legal tussle has been over.
It condemned the refusal of Governor Ademola Adeleke to account for the N2 billion palliative fund, months after Osun had received it, saying it is ‘disappointing.’
“Where is the N2 billion subsidy removal palliative paid to Osun State? What, in exact terms, does the Osun State government intend to use the fund for, that will have an immediate and direct impact on the livelihood of Nigerians? Why is the Osun State government sitting on a fund that was meant to provide immediate succour to the people?
“No matter the good intentions of the state government, if any, the government still owes a duty to the people to inform them of steps the government is taking on their behalf,” the group said.
Speaking on the N100 billion infrastructure plan launched by Governor Adeleke, a member of the group, Ayo Ologun, queried where the state would get money to fund the project and why he is embarking on five flyovers with just 1.5km of roads in each of the local governments.
Ologun said it is not sensible to construct 1.5km of road in a local government and sink billions of naira on a flyover that is unnecessary. Construction of 1.5km is what a councillor should do and we say he has tried, not even a chairman, let alone a governor,” he said.
He disclosed the state government has failed to respond to the letter, demanding the locations of the 332 boreholes purportedly sunk by the government, the cost, and the source of funding, saying plans have been perfected to drag the state government to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission.