Osun: Oyetola, Aregbesola Commissioners Differ On N48bn Fed Govt Refund

The Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji and ex-commissioner of Home Affairs, Hon Sikiru Ayedun under the administration of Rauf Aregbesola, differed over the claim that the state received N48 billion from the Federal Government as a refund on roads.

Ayedun during a factional meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the Oranmiyan House which video was shared on social media claimed that the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola received N48b from the Federal Government as a refund on federal roads constructed within the state.

He held that “the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has received N48 billion from the federal government in three tranches as the money that Aregbesola used for the federal road.”

Meanwhile, the current Commissioner for Finance, Hon Bola Oyebamiji, in a statement on Saturday denied the claim of Ayedun noting it is untrue, misleading and capable of creating disharmony, strife and bad blood within the progressive family.

He also said that the total contract sum is N38 billion which is lesser than the amount the ex-commissioner claimed.

“The total refund by the FG to the state as of today, in three tranches, stands at N11.9bn based on the project delivered by the contractors. The refund was expended on four road projects inherited from the previous administration as against the claim by Mr Ayedun that the refund was being used to pay full salaries to civil servants in the state.

Oyebamiji urged well-meaning Osun citizens to endeavour to verify all information before publication and dissemination to ensure a peaceful and healthy political atmosphere for all and sundry.

“The projects in question, as of November 2018, on the average, was less than 35% completion. Available records show that the Osun State Government awarded the 29km Gbongan – Akoda dualization project in 2013 for N29bn while the 40km Osogbo – Ikirun – Ila Odo Kwara boundary was awarded for N17.5bn in the same year, making both projects amount to N46.5bn as proposed by Osun State Government.

“However, after due diligence and thorough assessment by the FG Public Procurement Agency, the contract sum was reviewed downward thus: Gbongan – Akoda road at N23bn, and Osogbo – Ila Odo road at N15bn respectively to carry the approved award contract sum of N38bn for all the ongoing FG roads under construction. This review was duly communicated to the Osun State Government.

“As of November 2018, the contractor handling Gbongan – Akoda Road project had received a total sum of N10.2bn, out of which 3.5km of the 29km stretched road has been completed including the Gbongan Interchange and the project was at 29% completion, while the contractor handling the Osogbo – Ila Odo road collected a total sum of N9.2bn, with 49% completion rate.

“The implication is that the Osun State Government had paid both contractors the sum of N19.4bn as of November 2018. Similarly, the total refund by the FG to the state as of today, in three tranches, stood at N11.9bn based on the project delivered by both contractors.

“It is imperative to state that the FG refund of N11.9bn has been judiciously utilized and ploughed back into four (4) inherited road projects embarked upon by the previous administration contrary to the unsubstantiated claims by Mr Ayedun that the refund is being used to pay full salaries to civil servants in the state.

“As of today, Gbongan – Akoda road project is at 36% completion stage, with 8.6km asphalt on both sides of the road. Also, the Osogbo – Ila-Odo project which was 49% in November 2018 is now at 55% completion. Oba Adesoji Aderemi Road which was equally inherited at 65% completion is at 74% now and Ilesa – Iperindo – Ipetu Ijesa road project rose from 40% to 66% completion stage.”

“It is also instructive to note that since the advent of the Oyetola administration, an additional 60km of the road had been reconstructed and fully completed, with another 10 township roads presently under construction. These are expected to be completed before the end of 2021, including the Iconic Olaiya flyover.”