According to a recent report, there are allegations that, during his medical vacation, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, expended a substantial N7.3 billion in a span of three months.
Responding to concerns circulating on social media, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, issued a statement on Tuesday November 21, to clarify the situation.
The highlighted N7.3 billion, according to the statement, comprised palliative funds received from the federal government. These funds were allocated under the contingency sub-heading, intended to address unforeseen expenses not initially budgeted for but considered necessary during the fiscal year.
It is emphasized that the original contingency fund in the 2023 budget was N1,069,000,000.00, with an additional N7 billion labeled as the “Infrastructure Support Fund.” This supplementary amount was specifically designated for palliatives to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Quoting the Ondo State Public Finance Management Law 2017, the statement underscores the establishment of a Contingency Fund and its purpose to meet emergency expenditures crucial to public interest.
The clarification emphasizes that Governor Akeredolu did not personally spend the N7.3 billion. Instead, these funds were appropriately utilized for palliatives, released by the federal government to address the nationwide impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The administration asserts its commitment to financial responsibility and dismisses claims of impropriety as unfounded. It urges the public to rely on accurate information and avoid being swayed by sensational claims lacking factual basis.
Ondo Executive Council Members Back Akeredolu Despite Absence
In a pledge to transparency, the statement concludes with the assurance that the Palliative committee will soon provide the public with detailed expenditure information regarding the palliative fund.
See Full Statement Below:
PRESS STATEMENT
Re: Akeredolu Spent N7.3billion In Three Months On ‘Contingency’ Without House Of Assembly Approval
We have read the report published on SaharaReporters news platform claiming that the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, CON, spent N7.3billion in three months while he was on medical vacation.
In response to the concerns raised across various social media platforms, we wish to provide clarification for the sake of transparency and accountability, which are values synonymous with the Akeredolu-led administration.
It is important to state unequivocally that the referenced N7.3 billion constituted the cumulative amount of palliative funds received from the federal government. These funds were allocated under the contingency sub-heading to address unforeseen expenses not initially budgeted for but deemed necessary during the fiscal year.
While the original contingency fund in the 2023 budget was N1,069,000,000.00, the additional N7 billion represents funds received from the federal government labeled as “Infrastructure Support Fund,” specifically for palliatives meant to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
In accordance with the Ondo State Public Finance Management Law 2017, the establishment of a Contingency Fund is outlined in Part five, subsection (i) and (ii). It states: A contingency Fund is hereby established. (ii) The contingency Fund may be utilised for making money available to meet emergency expenditure (other than statutory expenditure) which is not provided for in the Appropriation Law for the current year and which although otherwise failing to be met out of the consolidated Revenue Fund or Capital Expenditure and Development Fund cannot without serious injury to the public interest be postponed until a Supplementary Appropriation Law providing for it can be enacted.”
Contingency funds are designed to address emergency expenditures not provided for in the current year’s Appropriation Law, but crucial to the public interest and requiring immediate attention.
Governor Akeredolu did not personally spend the N7.3billion; rather, these funds were appropriately utilised for palliatives. The funds were released to the state by the federal government as part of the efforts to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal nationwide.
Our administration remains committed to the highest standards of financial responsibility. Any claim of impropriety is unfounded. We encourage the public to rely on accurate information and refrain from being swayed by sensational claims lacking factual basis.
The Palliative committee will in due course avail members of the public the details of the expenditure of the palliative fund.
Signed:
Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
November 21, 2023.
