Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has explained that he does not utilise his security votes “in the sense Nigerians understand it.”

According to him, the funds have been expended through due process and within the context of the statutory approval procedure, which involves raising memos and compliance with the government payment process.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sustaining security services through the budgetary process, Adeleke declared that

“Osun has no slush fund which many Nigerians regard as ‘security votes’.”

The governor made this known in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Adeleke maintained, “Our expenditure on security services is undertaken within the confines of the public finance law and regulations.”

He listed such security expenditures as operational support for security agencies operating in the state; funding of operations to quell communal crises; support for communal peace activities, and funding of the state security outfit, Amotekun, among others.

“I am proud to declare that the Osun State government under my watch does not operate a slush fund that our media friends call security votes. Our security needs are met through the approval process. I face resistance over the policy, but I stick to it even at great cost.

“My motivation for insisting on the policy was the situation I met on the ground in November 2022. I believe Osun needs every kobo to meet her numerous developmental challenges. Our earnings from FAAC allocations and internally generated revenues are channelled to key sectoral projects from infrastructure to agriculture to health, among others.

“We also target payment of workers’ emoluments, pensions and outstanding salary debt. We maintain a delicate balance on expenditure across human and infra sectors. Within less than three years, we have good records widely verified by local and national stakeholders,” the governor submitted.

The governor said his administration demonstrated foresight early on when it created a special project account to save unexpected inflows from FAAC, pointing out that the initiative serves as a shock absorber and a smart way to ensure the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects in the state.

While expecting an early resolution of the Osun local government fund seizure, Governor Adeleke reassured the people of Osun and other stakeholders that his administration remains focused and committed to completing its human and capital projects on schedule.