It’s true Akeredolu spent N7.3bn without Assembly’s approval – aide
An aide to the ailing Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has confirmed that the governor truly spent a sum of N7.3bn without the approval of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
The governor has not been to the state since he returned to Nigeria from his medical trip to Germany. He has been ruling from his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
A report emerged on Monday that the governor didn’t seek approval of the Ondo State House of Assembly to expend the said funds from the coffer of the state government.
The aide said that the expenditure would be normalized in the budget virement. The Nigerian constitution commands governors to seek approval of the lawmakers before spending government money.
Olatunde Olabode Richard said that his principal spent the money on contingency and that he committed no offence. The fund was spent between July and September, 2023. The Chief Press Secretary said it signified nothing.
He explained, “Contingency vote is often money whose nature and amount cannot be determined when the budget is prepared but may be absolutely necessary during the year. Example is the palliative spending that was not envisaged as of last year when the budget was crafted and it has to be charged somewhere before anyone could touch it,” he said.
“That is what constitutes the bulk of the spending as reported. Normally, this type of spending will be normalised during budget virement. It signifies nothing except the ignorance of those making a mountain out of the mole hill.”
