TheCable

The Osun government says the immediate past administration of Gboyega Oyetola left a debt of N75.25 billion in salaries and pensions. 

Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Ademola Adeleke, the Osun governor, in a statement on Thursday, said the figure was made public during a meeting with permanent secretaries of ministries on the financial status of the state.

“The Osun state government has uncovered a monumental debt in salaries, pensions, and insurance commitments incurred by the administration of Mr Gboyega Oyetola amounting to N76 billion,” the statement reads.

“This revelation was made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Bimpe Ogunlumade, while briefing officials of the new administration on the financial status of the state on Thursday.

“The disclosure was contrary to the claim by the former Governor that he left N14bn in cash for the new government among other bogus claims that have now been found to be an outright falsehood.

“The breakdown of the salaries and pension-related liabilities as disclosed by the Permanent Secretary are as follows: (I) Salary: N29,875,191,128.64 (II) Pension Arrears: N45,375,237,693.40 (III) Group Life Assurance Scheme: N554,644,028.97. Total: N75,805,072,851.01.

“The public is advised that this is not the total debt left by the past administration as briefings on other sources of liabilities continue tomorrow.”

In a farewell message on Sunday, Oyetola, immediate past governor of Osun, said he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers, and that he did not take loans during his tenure.

Oyetola had also said his administration paid “N97 billion from the total debt” inherited in 2018 when he assumed office.