As Govt Fails To Capture 10 LGAs
OVER ten local governments in Osun State were not captured in the 2025 Osun Infrastructure plan, findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday, announced a new N159 billion infrastructure plan aimed at addressing deficits in road construction, healthcare, and education in Osun State.
Meanwhile, some of the communities captured for the projects fall under Ife, Ilesa, Irewole, Iwo, Bopripe, Ede, Odo-Otin, Osogbo, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ila and Atakumosa local governments.
Other LGAs sidelined in the plan are, Irepodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Isokan, Olaoluwa, Ayedire, Boluwaduro among others.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Adeleke had on October 27, 2023, unveiled his administration’s first phase of infrastructure plan of N100 billion, which focused on the construction of five flyovers and major township roads across the state.
However, none of the flyovers have been completed as at the time of filling this report.
Speaking at the Exco Lounge, Governor’s Office, Abere, Adeleke disclosed that in the new Infra plan, one hundred and one billion, seven hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred and nine three thousand naira (N101,799,993,595.05) is earmarked for road and lightning.
While one billion, nine hundred and eighty-nine million, four hundred and thirty-three thousand naira (N1,989,433,956.69) was billed for the education sector, the health sector will gulp two billion, seven hundred and sixty-three million, one hundred and twenty-four thousand, three hundred and sixty-four naira (N2,763,124,364.50).
The governor said, “The grand total for the infra plan is one hundred and fifty-nine billion, one hundred and fifty-six million, three hundred and ninety-two thousand naira (159,156,392,674.20)”
Meanwhile, reactions have trailed the governor’s new infrastructure plan,, particularly in the area of education and road construction.
OSUN DEFENDER observed that in the N159bn infrastructure plan, the state government under Adeleke did not earmark any funds for public primary schools in the state under the education aspect.
Meanwhile, the document released by the state government showed that four secondary school halls would be renovated with about N300m.
According to the document shared by the state government after the meeting, the new infrastructure plan budgeted N50,276,412,52 for the renovation of Ede High School hall and pavillion.
Also, the sum of N56,720,181.00 was budgeted for the renovation of Community High School hall, Ilesa, while the renovation of a school hall at Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, will cost N97, 234,520.00.
The government also earmarked the sum of N98,239,569.25 for the renovation of a block of school hall at St. Mark’s Commercial High School, Osogbo.
In the education aspect, the state government will also spend over N898 million for the renovation of 42 classrooms in different secondary schools in the state.
While a block of four classrooms at C.A.C. Grammar School, Ede will be renovated with N171,580,936.43, the state government disclosed that another four blocks of classrooms at St. David’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife, will be renovated at the cost of N30,880,593.06.
Also, 2 blocks of 8 classrooms and an examination hall at Ogedengbe School of Science, Ilesa will be renovated with N137,047,772.40, while 2 blocks of 6 Classrooms and another 2 blocks of 8 classrooms at Islamic High School, Ikire, and St. Augustine’s Commercial Grammar School, Ikire will be renovated at the cost of N178,280,175.80 and N171,580,936.43 respectively.
Similarly, 2 blocks of 8 classrooms at Unity School, Iragbiji, will be renovated at the cost of N40,246,657.61, while a block of 4 classrooms at Ekusa Community Grammar School, Ekusa, will be renovated for N171,129,179.76.
Meanwhile, the examination hall at Seventh Day Adventist Grammar School, Ile-Ife will also be renovated at the cost of N81,841,871.60.
In the health sector, Adeleke’s government earmarked two billion, seven hundred and sixty-three million, one hundred and twenty-four thousand, three hundred and sixty-four naira (N2,763,124,364.50) for the complete renovation of the remaining 124 Primary Health Centres in the state.
Reacting to the latest infrastructure plan of the state government, the Coordinator of the Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), Akin Akanji, said there was nothing to applaud Adeleke on about the plan, especially on the education aspect.
Akanji, in a statement sent to OSUN DEFENDER, said there was nothing earmarked for Primary Schools in the state, noting that most of the primary schools, especially in the rural areas, are not in good shape.
He said the money the government wanted to use to renovate secondary school halls could be used for the upgrade of some of the dilapidated primary schools in the state.
He urged the state government to adjust the infrastructure plan and incorporate primary schools, which will resonate more with people at the grassroots.
He said, “There is nothing to applaud in the infrastructure plan by the state government. What I see is a governor who wants flamboyant projects. Let’s leave the other sector and face education; how will you draft a plan without incorporating the primary school, which is the first point of contact for our future leaders.
“Also, look at most of the schools the Adeleke’s administration penciled down for renovation, how many of them are in the rural areas? This shows one thing, the government is not really concerned about those in that area.
“How will a government budget about N300 million for the renovation of four secondary school halls while a lot of primary school buildings are dilapidated. Maybe I should believe that an updated version of the plan will come out.
“The schools we are even talking about are faced with inadequate teachers, and the government, two years after coming on board, is yet to recruit a single teacher. This is totally absurd.
“Adeleke should not take Osun people for a ride. We gave him the mandate and we expected more from him than what he is currently giving out.”
A political analyst Abimbola Oyadomi, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, said Adeleke has not stopped his obsession with the construction and renovation of roads in his hometown, Ede, against other towns.
Oyadomi said despite the huge amount of money spent on Ede roads in the last infrastructure plan, Adeleke has again earmarked three roads in the town for dualisation.
“Adeleke is the governor of Osun State and not Ede. His over-concentration on Ede when it comes to road infrastructure is becoming another thing. I read the new infrastructure plan and it was stated that more than N21 billion will be used for the dualisation of roads linking Ede.
“Are there no bad roads in other towns in the state? Our farmers are crying about bad roads in the rural areas, and the governor is only focused on dualising, constructing, and renovating roads in Ede. He should know that Osun people are watching”, Oyadomi stated.
