EFCC must be thorough in investigating Ondo’s ‘budget of looting’ – PDP

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be thorough while investigating the alleged inflated overhead costs in the 2025 budget of the state.

While describing the fiscal document as ‘budget of looting’, the opposition party expressed dismay over the allocation of N11.5 billion security vote to the State’s Ministry of Finance.

PDP spokesperson, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said it is beyond human comprehension for a security vote to be allocated for a ministry.

Peretei, who frowned at the huge amount voted for by lawmakers for the maintenance of their cars and the making of telephone calls, expressed dismay that sectors like education and health were not adequately catered for in the budget.

He said, “The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act, signed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, can be appropriately described as a “Budget of Looting.”. Surprisingly, the Governor called it a “Budget of Recovery.”

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“Of the N698B earmarked for spending in the year 2025, a whopping N11.5B was allocated to the Ministry of Finance as a “security vote.”. Not even budget experts could explain the meaning of a security vote in a ministry, different from the one the governor receives monthly under the same subhead.

“There are other outrageous allocations, such as N200m to House of Assembly Members and N280m to the Speaker of the Ondo State Assembly, respectively, as phone expenses.

“The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Ondo State Chapter is not in any doubt that these dubious allocations are certainly not in the interest of the State, as they are brazen, “the devil never cares” moves to empty the State Treasury.”

“There is nowhere in the world where the people’s money is so stolen with official stamp in this reckless manner.

“Critical sectors like Education and Health Care received only N77.024B and N46.016B, respectively. Is there any doubt why Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s government has achieved nothing since its inception over a year ago? The focus is more on looting than the development of the state.

“Our party calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be thorough in their investigation of the stealing of public funds in Ondo State, through the 2025 Budget.

“No state can make progress if those entrusted with the people’s funds are not accountable but use underhanded tactics to steal.”