Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has defended the N11.5 billion security vote allocated to the state’s Ministry of Finance and the N250 million sitting allowance in the 2025 budget, calling them “normal traditions.” Aiyedatiwa, through his Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication, Allen Sowore, justified the allocations, stating that similar practices were employed during the tenure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in the state.
“It has been a longstanding budgetary tradition in Ondo State to domicile contingency funds, security votes, committee and commission expenses, and honorariums under the Ministry of Finance,” Aiyedatiwa explained. “A review of budgets from 2007 to 2013 when the PDP was in power shows that the same method was used.”
The governor’s clarification came in response to criticism from the PDP, which had condemned Aiyedatiwa’s silence on the alleged padding of the 2025 budget. Aiyedatiwa dismissed the criticism, calling it “hypocritical and deceptive” from the same party that established the budgetary practices being questioned.
However, the governor’s stance has sparked public outrage, with many residents accusing him of attempting to justify what they deem illegalities. Wande Ajayi, a resident, commented: “You claim it is a long-standing budgetary tradition to allocate security votes for the Ministry of Finance. Fascinating! Yet, tradition doesn’t equate to propriety. The EFCC seems to agree, as they’re currently investigating this very allocation. Perhaps, it’s time to revisit these ‘traditions’ that raise red flags.”
Damilola Oladele also voiced concern, saying: “Every time, there is a long note on defence. What is the governor doing differently?”
As the controversy continues to unfold, Aiyedatiwa maintains that the budget is merely an estimate, and the government is committed to following procurement laws to ensure transparency in its spending.