RE: N200M TELEPHONE CALL ALLOWANCE FOR THE SPEAKER AND N11BILLION SECURITY VOTE FOR A COMMISSIONER IN THE 2025 ONDO STATE BUDGET.
We have 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year. So, we have 1,440 minutes in a day (60 x 24) and 525,600 minutes in a year (1440 x 365). Even with the recent approval for a 50% increase in call tariff from N11 to N16.5 per minute by the Federal Government, a non-stop telephone call for the entire 525,600 minutes in a year would cost only N8,672,400.
The allegation that the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly claimed, inserted, and approved N200m as telephone call allowance for his office in the 2025 Ondo State Budget is, therefore, totally scandalous, senseless, tactless, and heartbreaking.
Could this be part of a mutual arrangement by the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Ondo State to plunder the State, particularly in view of the allegation that the State’s Commissioner for Finance (just a Commissioner) got an approval for a strange, unprecedented, and illegal N11Billion as ‘Security Vote’ in the same Budget, under the watch of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa? Are these allegations mere political propaganda and smear campaign?
Unfortunately, unlike the normal practice in the days of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the current Ondo State 2025 Budget is not on the State Government’s official website for Nigerians to crosscheck the facts and figures.
However, if these allegations are true, then I demand the immediate resignation of Mr. Speaker and the State Commissioner for Finance. They need not wait to be investigated by the EFCC.
If, on the other hand, the allegations are false or inaccurate, there is a need for the Speaker and State Commissioner for Finance to immediately allay the fears and concerns of the people of Ondo and all well-meaning Nigerians by publishing the 2025 Budget of Ondo State as assented to by the Governor on the State Government’s website.
E-Signed,
Femi Emmanuel Emodamori,
(An Akure-Based Legal Practitioner)
28th January, 2025.
