The Osun State Government has reiterated its commitment to retreiving all government assets in the possession of former political appontees in the state. The government said the retrieval is not and should not be deemed as a wicth hunting exercise and is not targetted at anyone or political party in particular.
Disclosing this in Osogbo on Tuesday, Secretary to the state government, Teslim Igbalaye, clarified that the The Task Force on Recovery of Assets of Government properties will carry out its duties without fear or favour. “The Executive Governor of Osun State, during the inauguration of the Task Force on Recovery of Assets and Government Project Vehicles on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, charged members of the Task Force to ensure immediate recovery of government assets and project vehicles that were illegally carted away by the officials of the immediate past administration.”
“At its meeting held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the Task Force observed that due diligence should be done with a view to ascertaining vehicles and assets that were lawfully permissible to be taken home from those illegally taken away;
“That the Executive Governor had the prerogative power to allow any political appointee go home with his/her official vehicle, having served for at least a period of two (2) years and payment of some amount of money into the coffers of the government, and if the vehicle was less than four (4) years old, the appointee would pay 10% of the residual value of such official vehicles
“That the approval granted by the immediate past Executive Governor for the release and eventual ownership of the official vehicles (Kia cars) allocated to members of the immediate past Osun State Executive Council followed due process”
“That the letter of permission written by the immediate past Head of Service, directing political appointees of the immediate past administration to go home with the official vehicles allocated to them, was, however, illegal.” Igbalaye emphasised.