Politics
Osun Govt Speaks on Budget 2023
. . . Debunks Sahara Reporters’ Take On Gov Adeleke
The Osun State Government (OSG) has denied news reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke spent N8 billion in three months, clarifying that the Governor’s Office comprises more than seven agencies and departments alongside many government-wide operations and activities.
The OSG’s clarification was conveyed in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo by Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon Kolapo Alimi.
It described as laughable the presumption that the Governor’s Office stands for Mr. Governor alone.
Hon Alimi explained that the allocation to the Governor’s Office stood for capital, the recurrent and overhead cost of all agencies, departments, and units operating within the Governor’s Office and with several government-wide responsibilities.
While clearing Gov Adeleke of any misdemeanor, the statement noted that the Sahara Reporters’ publication mischievously and falsely attributed expenditure on the refurbishment of government quarters, Imole Medical outreach, salaries and emoluments of staff of several agencies, and other governmental activities as expenses by the Governor.
The statement added that “This is false and mere fabrication arising from deliberate misinterpretation of budget data”, and listed the several departments under the Governor’s Office to include “the Bureau of Social Services, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Security Department, Osun Investment Promotion Agency, Osun New Towns Development Agency, Osun Signage Agency, Osun Agric and Osun Land Bank, among others.”
Government expenditure across the various departments, according to Hon Alimi includes refurbishment of vandalised government quarters, procurement of official vehicles, replacement of vehicles carted away by the previous government, refurbishment of offices of agencies that make up the Office of the Governor which were left in terrible states by the previous administration; provision of funds for the execution of Imole Medical outreach series; provision of funds for emergencies in the welfare of the citizens as individuals and groups.
He said, “The N6.01 Billion referred to in the publication therefore encompasses the entire expenditures (Personnel, Overhead & Capital) of the Office of the Governor including the agencies and parastatals under it, for the period in question.”
The statement also posited that the personnel cost which was a sum of N209 million was for the 771 staff of 12 Bureau and Offices under the Office of the Governor while the overhead which was a sum of N4 billion represented the amount spent on acquisition/replacement of vehicles and financing of Imole Medical outreach.
“The 1.7Bn on Capital represents the amount spent on the refurbishment of quarters and government offices.
“In the same vein, the N800m naira referred to in the publication represents the entire expenditure of the State House of Assembly for the period.
“It should be noted that the amount quoted for the refreshments and meals, welfare packages, and publicity and advertising was meant for all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies including all Tertiary Institutions in the State.
“Moreso, the fraction spent by the Office of the Governor from these, includes the amount expended on the second phase of Imole Medical Outreach conducted for the three (3) Senatorial Districts of the state,” Hon Alimi stated.
The OSG maintained that the details provided above confirmed that Gov Adeleke did not spend any money outside his statutory salaries and allowances while the funds in question were mostly the overhead, capital, and personnel costs of agencies and departments under the Governor’s office with government-wide mandate and operations.
The OSG called on citizens to avail themselves of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act for information on government activities.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has promised to introduce a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage for Nigerian workers if elected president in 2027.
Sowore disclosed this in an interview with Independent Newspaper on Sunday, as he outlined his economic agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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He said the proposed wage would address the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and reduce the gap between ordinary citizens and political office holders.
“We intend to change that fundamentally. We are proposing a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage because Nigerian workers cannot continue receiving starvation wages while senators, governors and political appointees consume millions every month,” Sowore said.
The AAC candidate said the wage proposal was part of a broader plan to ensure that Nigeria’s wealth benefits ordinary Nigerians.
He also promised to deliver 24-hour electricity, arguing that reliable power was necessary for economic growth and industrial development.
“We will deliver 24-hour electricity because no serious industrial economy can operate permanently on generators,” he said.
Sowore further pledged to make education free and accessible at all levels, construct one million public mixed-income homes, reform tenancy laws, improve healthcare and expand agricultural production and processing.
On the economy, he said his administration would focus on raising wages, reducing transportation and energy costs, supporting domestic manufacturing and agriculture, and investing in productive infrastructure.
“Economic policy must answer one basic question. Does it improve the material condition of the Nigerian people? If it does not, it has failed,” Sowore said.
He also promised an “uncompromising war against corruption” and vowed to recover public resources stolen by political office holders.
Sowore, who is contesting the presidency for the third time, said he believed AAC had a stronger chance in the 2027 election, with Nigerians serving as the party’s greatest strength.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged Nigerian Catholics to become more actively involved in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that faith should extend beyond the church into the public square.
Fayemi made the call while delivering a lecture titled “Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections” at the September Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State.
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He argued that Christians should reject the notion that politics is inherently a “dirty game,” describing political participation as both a responsibility and an avenue to serve the common good.
According to him, Nigerian Catholics should register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards, study candidates and their programmes, participate in election monitoring, support credible candidates and hold elected officials accountable.
Fayemi also urged citizens to resist vote-buying, electoral violence and other forms of malpractice while assessing political programmes based on their impact on poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare, security, justice, families and vulnerable Nigerians.
He stressed the need for structured political formation within the Catholic Church, particularly for young people, covering areas such as Catholic Social Teaching, the Constitution, electoral laws, leadership ethics, human rights and media literacy.
The former governor, however, cautioned against turning the Church into an electoral machine for any political party, noting that Catholics could belong to different parties as long as their positions remained compatible with faith and moral principles.
Fayemi linked his own pro-democracy activism and public service to Catholic social engagement, citing initiatives implemented during his tenure as Ekiti governor, including free healthcare for the elderly, pregnant women and children, as well as monthly stipends for senior citizens.
He said the 2027 elections should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, adding that the objective should not simply be to produce more Catholic politicians but to form politically conscious, morally courageous and competent Catholic citizens committed to the common good.
“Faith must not remain in the sanctuary,” Fayemi said, stressing that politics remains a noble vocation of service when approached with integrity and responsibility.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for by-elections to fill five vacant legislative seats across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states.
INEC announced the date on Friday, saying voting would take place at polling units within the affected constituencies.
According to the commission, polling will open at 8:30am and close at 2:30pm on election day.
SEE MORE: INEC Raises Alarm as Fake 2027 Election Recruitment Website Surfaces
The affected constituencies are the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State; Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano; Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi; and Udu State Constituency in Delta.
The five vacancies emerged under different circumstances.
In Gombe, the federal constituency seat became vacant following the death of its representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who died in June 2026.
In Bauchi, the Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of its former occupant, while the lawmaker representing Disina resigned from the State House of Assembly to contest a chairmanship position.
The Udu constituency seat in Delta became vacant after its former representative, Collins Egbetamah, defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, prompting the state legislature to declare the seat vacant.
In Kano, the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency seat became vacant after its former representative, Rabiu Shuaibu, left the State Assembly to contest the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency election.
Shuaibu subsequently won the federal constituency by-election conducted in June, leaving his former state assembly seat vacant.
The September 19 exercise will therefore determine new representatives for the five constituencies.
The elections will also attract political attention as parties and candidates seek to consolidate their positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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