Osun State House of Assembly has cleared Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola on the manner he spent the N34.988 billion bailout fund that the state received from the federal government.
In a 6-pages report jointly signed by the Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee, Hon. Kamil Oyedele and Chairman, public Accounts Committee, Hon. Olalekan Afolabi, the ssemblyexonerated the governor on the utilization of the fund.
The report was presented and read on the floor of the House during the sitting in Osogbo on Tuesday and it was endorsed by the legislators who also commended the governor for his diligence in spending the money.
According to the report, “The request for the sum of N88,215,468,757.27 which comprised of N64,327,492,947.01 and N23,887,975,810.26 for state and local governments respectively was forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria in July, 2015.
“However, the sum of N34,988,990,000, covering N25,871,920,000 and N9,117,070,000 for state and local governments respectively was actually approved and released by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the state government of Osun in August, 2015.
“the utilisation of the approved fund in respect of the state government are as stated below: Actual amount received=N25,871,920,000.00; payment made in respect of salaries and allowances of state government workers (civil servants and teachers)=N20,651,082,846.25.”
“Payment made in respect of pensions for the retired civil servants and teachers=N5,212,057,964.89; Accrued Bank Charges=N5,426,154.60; Total amount spent=N25,868,566,925.74; Balance=3,353,034.26.”
“the Actual amount received=N9,117,070,000.00; payment made in respect of salaries and allowances of staff of Local Governments and Primary school teachers=N7,789,943,410.92; payment made in respect of pensions for the retired workers of local governments and primary school teachers=N1,147,237,237,318.66; Accrued Bank Charges=N6,662,480.97;
Total amount spent=N8,943,843,210.55; Balance=N173,226,789.45.”
The Speaker of the House, Hon Najeem Salaam said the funds were judiciously utilised to pay workers’ salaries and pensions.