By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has been described as a transparent administrator with nothing to hide from public scrutiny. This statement comes as the state government announced the recovery of N53 million in retirement benefits that would have been paid in excess due to proper financial scrutiny.
At the presentation of the 2023 Financial Statement and Account of the State Government at Western Sun Hotel, Ede, on Monday, the Governor’s commitment to transparency was highlighted. The state has adopted the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS), a reform initiated by his predecessor, to ensure transparency in financial record-keeping and eliminate any withholding of facts and figures.
The Head of Service (HOS) emphasized that the continued implementation of IPSAS under Governor Adeleke’s administration is a testament to his genuine commitment to good governance and openness. “For the Governor to have continued with the programme is a clear indication that he is genuinely committed to good governance and has nothing to hide regarding the state’s finances,” the HOS said. “This allows people to have insight into the finances of the state government. I encourage all participants to engage with the report content and arrive at informed conclusions.”
During the presentation, the State Auditor-General, Kolapo Idris, revealed that the state government had recovered a total of N53 million, which would have been overpaid to retirees. Idris explained that the pension unit of the Auditor General’s office is responsible for scrutinizing and approving all retirement benefits for state public officers, public school teachers, tertiary institutions, and state parastatals.
The breakdown of the recovery includes:
N9,899,515.94 from premature promotions,
N19,905,615.20 as a penalty from insufficient notice of retirement and overpayment of salaries,
N2,388,075.17 from retirees who had breaks in service, and N20,896,477.51 from retirees who overstayed their service.
The total sum of N53,089,683.52 was recovered, preventing the state from making unnecessary payments to retirees.
RC: VANGUARD
