*says predecessor must answer questions
*”amount owed contractors yet to be determined”
*says Oyetola mortgaged future of Osun
By: BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Thursday alerted that his administration has inherited N407.32 billion debt from the immediate past administration of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
The Osun State Governor who raised the alarm in Osogbo during his maiden meeting with traditional rulers from across the state, said that aside from the N407.32 billion debt, ” the amount owed contractors is yet to be determined”
According to Governor Adeleke, his administration also inherited eight outstanding loan facilities, apart from salaries and pension debts, from Governor Oyetola’s administration with the ” repayment period ranges from 16 months to about 28 years”.
He stressed that large portion of the loan was taken after July 16th, 2022 election which Governor Oyetola lost with ” no information on the repayment terms” and that ” not one kobo of this loan was left in Government Coffers, when the Deputy Governor and I resumed work on Monday 29th November 2022. And no explanation on how the loan was expended.”
“My good people of Osun State, the total loan stock as at today is N331.32 Billion. If the N76 billion debt on salaries and pension are added, the state is indebted to the tune of N407.32 Billion. The amount owed contractors is yet to be determined. The only fund in government coffers, as at Monday 29th November, was for November 2022 Salary. Otherwise, the state treasury was empty”, he said.
Governor Adeleke added, “as your Governor, I will ask questions on your behalf. And will demand for answers. Governor Oyetola must explain how the N331 billion borrowed in the name of Osun State was expended, with no obvious infrastructural development to justify this huge debt.
” Governor Oyetola must explain how the N18 billion bridge loan taken after he lost the election on July 16, 2022, was expended. Governor Oyetola must also explain why Osun State is owing salaries and pension to the tune of N76 Billion after collecting a N50 Billion Salary Bail Out Loan from the Federal Government’
According to Governor Adeleke, ” the creditors, especially the commercial banks must explain why various loans were given to an administration beyond its four-year tenure. 28 years is equivalent to the tenure of at least four governors. A child that is born today would have earned a PhD at 28 years of age. This is nothing but mortgaging the future of Osun State with nothing to show for it. This is definitely not acceptable”.
” I am pleased to welcome our royal majesties and fathers to this all important event. I called this meeting first to meet our royal fathers and to present to you the official debt profile of Osun state as at November 30th, 2022 as submitted to me by the Accountant General of Osun State.With high sense of responsibility, I am reporting to our people through our traditional rulers, the total debt profile inherited by my administration from Governor Oyetola’s administration.
” This event is in pursuance of my pledge to Osun people to be transparent and run an open government.My administration inherited eight outstanding loan facilities, apart from salaries and pension debts, from Governor Oyetola’s administration. The repayment period ranges from 16 months to about 28 years, as follows:
1. Budget Support Facility:
• Outstanding Balance: N51.8 Billion
• Monthly repayment: N154.9m
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
335 months = 27 years 9 months
2. Salary Bail Out Loan:
• Outstanding Balance: N38.8 Billion
• Monthly Repayment: N232.77m
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
•167 Months = 13 years 9months
3. Restructured Commercial Bank Loans:
• Outstanding Balance: N158.77 Billion
• Monthly Repayment: N1.14 Billion
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
139 Months = 11years 6 months.
4. Excess Crude Account (ECA) Loan:
• Outstanding Balance: N14.48 Billion
• Monthly Repayment: N89.97m
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
161 Months = 13 years 4 months
5.CBN Infrastructure Loan:
• Outstanding Balance: N9.2 Billion
• Monthly Repayment: N44.98m
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
205 months = 17 years 1 month
6. FGN Intervention Loan:
• Outstanding Balance:
N1.7Billion
• Monthly Repayment:
N100m
• Repayable Period Outstanding:
17 months
7. FGN Bridge Finance Facility: N18.04 Billion”
He stressed, ” A large portion of this particular loan was taken after July 16th, 2022 election which Governor Oyetola lost.No information on the Repayment terms.Not one kobo of this loan was left in Government Coffers, when the Deputy Governor and I resumed work on Monday 29th November 2022. And no explanation on how the loan was expended.Foreign loans: $86.2mNo information on the Repayment Terms”.
