Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday cleared the air on the true financial status of the state at the inception of his administration.
There have been controversies over an alleged N20billion left by the outgone administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
The former commissioner for information under Mimiko administration, Kayode Akinmade in an interview with a national daily disclosed that Mimiko left N20billion in the coffers of the state.
But, Akeredolu while delivering his speech at the inauguration of the 18 commissioners and 10 Special Advisers said his administration only met N9billion in the coffers of the state.
He said “As the ship of this Administration finally gathers steam to set sail, it is pertinent to acquaint the good people of this State with the true financial situation”.
Akeredolu also revealed that his administration met a debt of N220billion on ground inherited from the last administration.
“This Administration at inception met a staggering debt totaling N220,588,125,731.00, the breakdown of this highly disturbing debt profile is as follows: Internal Debt: N53,159,719,891.01, External Debt: N17,485,393,971.50, Unpaid Salaries and Allowances, Aug to Dec, 2016: N17,279,115,588.10, Unpaid Salaries and Allowances, Jan to Feb, 2017: N6,911,663,629.24
“Ondo State Pension Liabilities: N4,800,965,850.00 Ondo State Gratuity: N15,043,537, 042.74, Unpaid Local Government Salaries and Allowances Aug to Dec: 2016 N9,320,568,782.41, Unpaid Local Government Salaries and Allowances (Jan. to Feb., 2017): N5,192,437,503.30, Local Government Pension Liabilities:, N25,237,348,457.26
“Local Government Gratuities Liability: N20,965,598,590.61 Contractors’ Liabilities: N39,740,423,934.76 Outstanding payment requests in the Office of the Accountant-General without cashbacking: N5,451,352,494.25”, he said.
Akeredolu said, with a total inherited debt of over N220 billion, the government’s capacity for seeming elastic adjustment to cater for the people had been stretched to its limit.
The governor charged the new commissioners and Special Advisers to see their appointment as a call to service.
He said “These appointments must be seen as a call to service at this critical juncture in the life of our dear state.
“As our Administration renews its pledge to the people to be accountable at all times, there is the urgent need for rededication by all those who serve the public
“We must encourage broad and massive participation of our people in the business of government.
“Government and governance should not be stultifying abstractions, distant and disconnected from the service to which these modern concepts evolved to proffer”, he said.
The governor did not announce the portfolios of the commissioners at the venue of the inauguration.
Commissioners inaugurated included: Hon Toafiq Abdulsalam (Akoko North-East) Rasheed Badmus (Akoko North-West) Prince Solagbade Amodeni (Akoko South-East) Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South-West) Saka Yusuf Ogunleye (Akure North) Mrs. Omowumi Olatunji-Edet (Akure South)
Others are Ojogo Donald (Ese-Odo) Yemi Olowolabi (Idanre) Dr. Wahab Adegbenro (Ifedore) Funso Esan (Ilaje) Wale Akinterinwa (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo) Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan (Irele) Alhaji Olurimisi Ismaila (Odigbo) Femi Agagu (Okitipupa) Prof. Bayonle Ademodi (Ondo East) Lola Fagbemi (Ondo West) Otunba Timilehin Adelegbe (Ose) Kola Olawoye Esq (Owo).
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