The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed concern over the state’s development, citing a lack of progress in key areas such as workers’ welfare, education, healthcare, and agriculture.
In a press conference addressed by its Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo on Thursday, the party urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to re-strategize and prioritize the welfare and well-being of the state’s citizens.
Olabisi said, ”There is acute food shortage in the state because of lack of political will on the part of the leadership in the state to formulate the right strategy in Agriculture”.
” The government has also been a fantastic failure in health in the last two years. Rather than devoting resources to rehabilitate health centres in dire need, the government continues to pour huge fund to paint and decorate health facilities previously revatilized by the Oyetola government.”
The party noted that despite the state’s significant revenue accruals, Governor Adeleke’s administration has failed to make any meaningful impact on the lives of Osun citizens.
The APC cited the lack of teachers in public schools, the high fees charged by the newly established University of Ilesa, and the neglect of the state’s healthcare sector as examples of the administration’s shortcomings.
“On Education, Adeleke’s government has proven to be an irredeemable failure. Ranging from the sack of 1,500 teachers employed by his predecessor without replacement yet, to satanic fees in public schools, it is obvious the government does not mean well for the people of the state”.
”The nursing students are charged N1.2 million per session. Whereas their counterparts in Osun State University are charged N300,000- N500,000 for the same courses”.
The APC also expressed concern over the state’s financial management, citing the lack of transparency and accountability in the allocation of funds.
The opposition party said, “the state government received from January 2023 to September 2024 a sum of N385 billion from federal allocation, grants, IGR, etc. This include N4.3 billion UBEC and N1.3 billion TETFUND grants received from the federal government in 2023 to uplift infrastructure in our primary and tertiary institutions. All these FG grants do not form part of the federation allocation which has doubled since 2023 when subsidies on fuel and forex were removed “.
The party urged Governor Adeleke to prioritize transparency and accountability in the management of the state’s finances.
”Of the N82 billion earmarked for Personnel this year, only N39 billion, representing 47% of the projection for the year, was released as at September. This is according to the budget performance record for the third quarter. It is strange to note also that out of N20.5 billion earmarked for pension and gratuity in 2024, only N4.8 billion, representing less than 20%, had been released as of September”
In conclusion, the APC urged Governor Adeleke to re-strategize and prioritize the welfare and well-being of the state’s citizens.
“The administration of Senator Adeleke in health sector is lack of adequate personnel having sacked, without replacement, about 2000 health workers, comprising nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists employed by his predecessor.”
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