2013 Budget Passage: Amosun Splashes N.5bn on Ogun Legislators’ US Trip

All the 26 members of Ogun State House of Assembly are in the United States of America on a trip sponsored by the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. This trip is aimed at facilitating the passage of the 2013 appropriation bill. The governor who is expected to join them soon also doled out 500 million naira to the members for easy passage of the budget.

This would not be the first time the House of Assembly members would be induced for carrying out their statutory functions. The members were reported to have demanded and received 2.6 billion naira, 10% of the 26 billion naira loan obtained by Amosun some months ago. The demand was to facilitate the approval of a controversial bond bill presented by the Governor. The bill which many people of Ogun State kicked against including some members of the House eventually scaled through when money exchanged hands. Governor Amosun, had accused his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, of planning to plunge the State into eternal debt when the latter wanted to approach the capital market for bond in 2008. He said the State was economically strong to survive and he wouldn’t need to approach the capital market for bond if elected. Less than two years into his administration, Amosun has taken loans in the region of 140billion naira including 100 billion naira facility for road construction .

The governor has also been accused of awarding contracts at a cut throat price. Ogun State now has the most expensive road per kilometre in the Southwest and even beyond as awarded by the Governor.