In response to its earlier directive that government agencies provide it with the most recent information regarding the state’s debt as soon as possible, the Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday established a committee to investigate the debt profile.
A 10-person ad hoc committee was established by the Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, during a plenary session to conduct a detailed examination of the state’s precise debt profile.
According to a statement made by Owoeye’s media assistant Kunle Alabi, the House of Assembly’s figure differs from that provided by the executive branch of government.
According to the statement, “The committee has the Speaker as the Chairman, Chairman House Committee on Public Account and Chairman of Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Gbenga Ogunkanmi and Adebayo Olodo respectively as the Co- Chairmen.
“Other members of the committee are the Minority leader, Kofo Adewunmi, Tunde Olatunji, Michael Adetoyi, Babatunde Ibirogba, Lateef Adebisi, Babatunde Komolafe, Adiru Abefe and the Clerk, Simeon Amusan as the Secretary.”
The Speaker while inaugurating the committee noted that the situation if not carefully handled may affect investors and people who want to have transaction with the state.
The Speaker, while relying on sections 128 and 129 said, “For the purposes of any investigation under section 128 of this constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, a House of Assembly or a committee appointed in accordance within section 103 of this constitution shall have power to.
“(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter;
“The only institution that can clear the air on this is the House of Assembly, government is continum, this exercise is going to be transparent, that’s why we have co-opted the Minority leader into the committee,” the Speaker emphasized.
Recall that on Friday, December 16, 2022, the Osun State House of Assembly expressed concerns over the reactions trailing the debt profile declaration by Governor of the State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement by Kunle Akande, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Publicity, the House noted that as the accredited representatives of the people, it was duty bound to seek clarifications and inform the people of the state accordingly.
The statement by the House was a reaction to the declaration a day earlier by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke before the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers that the state was in debt to the tune of N407.32 billion which was left behind by the previous administration of Adegboyega Oyetola.
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