Out-going governor of Osun, Gboyega Oyetola, says he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers for his successor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. This is as the state owes serving and retired workers a humongous backlog in salaries, pensions and gratuities in excess of N145 billion.

In his farewell message, released in Osogbo on Sunday by Ismaila Omipidan, his media aide, Mr Oyetola stated that his administration paid N97 of the debt it inherited in 2018, when he assumed office.

Mr Oyetola declared that his administration did not borrow any money from anywhere to finance the state’s economy, stressing that he kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises throughout his tenure.

“We are leaving behind a cash balance of more than N14 billion.

“In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January 2023 from our performance in States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme (SFTAS) and from Internally Generated Revenue.”

SFTAS is a government programme designed to advance fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability of states of the federation.

“For four years, we did not take any bank loan.

“We benefited from the N3 billion monthly interventions by the Federal Government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailouts taken by the previous administration.

“We paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018,’’ he stated.

The out-going governor added that the state was also expecting $72 million from other programmes and from the NG-CARES programme of the federal government, among others.

“These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them,’’ he stressed.

Mr Oyetola stated also that his administration put the state’s economy on a surer footing through its myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects, promptly executed to make life worthwhile for the people.

He stressed that Osun’s economy stabilised during his tenure as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the state.

He affirmed that Osun was more stable economically than he met it in 2018 in spite of all the visible socio-economic challenges that confronted the state.

He stated that he contained the fears and evils of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation which hampered the execution of projects and delivery of services.

“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank the people of Osun for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years,” Mr Oyetola stated.

He said he wished to continue to serve the people of Osun, but was constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 governorship election, which he said he was already challenging in court.

“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.

“We look forward to continuing to serve you in no distant future.

“We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it,’’ he stated

(NAN)