Budget Of Looting!’ – Fury As Aiyedatiwa Approves ₦200 Million For Telephone Expenses

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized the recently signed 2025 state budget, labeling it a “budget of looting.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa signed the ₦698.6 billion budget into law just a week after its passage by the state House of Assembly. The budget includes contentious allocations such as ₦200 million for lawmakers and ₦280 million for the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, specifically for “phone expenses.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, condemned the allocations as excessive and unnecessary.

“The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act, signed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is aptly a ‘Budget of Looting.’ Yet, the Governor branded it a ‘Budget of Recovery,’” Peretei stated.

The PDP also questioned the allocation of ₦11.5 billion to the Ministry of Finance under the category of “security vote.” The party argued that such a figure is unjustifiable and raises serious accountability concerns.

“Not even budget experts can explain the rationale for a Ministry receiving a ‘security vote,’ which is distinct from what the Governor himself collects monthly under the same subhead,” the statement added.

The PDP called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate what it described as the “brazen looting” embedded in the budget.

However, the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the PDP’s claims, calling them baseless and a distortion of facts.

In a counterstatement, the APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, defended the budget, arguing that it was structured to promote economic growth and development in the state.

“The allocations align with the state’s development priorities. The PDP’s allegations are nothing more than a bitter attempt to discredit the administration after losing the last governorship election,” Otaloro stated.

Stay connected via Google News

Follow us for the latest travel updates and guides.