The Osun State Government announced on Monday that it had recovered a total of ₦53,089,683.52, which would otherwise have been overpaid to some retirees in the state.
The overpayments, which ranged from January 1 to December 31, 2023, were discovered during audits undertaken by the state’s Auditor-General, Kolapo Idris. The findings were presented during the annual Audit Forum in Ede, Osun State.
Presenting the report, Idris explained that the Pension Unit within the Auditor-General’s office processed 437 retirees’ pension files during the year under review. Of these, 300 files were cleared without issues, while 137 files were flagged for various discrepancies, resulting in penalties as outlined in existing regulations.
Providing further details about the recovery, Idris stated:
“N9,899,515.94 was recovered due to premature promotions; ₦19,905,615.20 was recovered as penalties for insufficient notice of retirement and overpayment of salaries; ₦2,388,075.17 was recovered from retirees with a break in service; and ₦20,896,477.51 was recovered from retirees who overstayed their service.
“The total sum of ₦53,089,683.52, which would have been paid as overpayments to retirees, was recovered due to audit interventions during the year under review,” Idris said.
Audit Highlights
Idris added that the accounts of the Osun State Government for 2023 were audited under his supervision, in line with Section 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution. The audit report included statements of financial performance, financial position, net assets/equity, cash flow, budget-to-actual comparisons, and explanatory notes.
He assured attendees that the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2023, as presented in the report, accurately reflected the state’s financial activities and position. Idris also committed to addressing any queries arising from the report.
Remarks on Financial Transparency
In his remarks, the Osun State Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina, praised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for its transparency in financial matters.
“The governor is very transparent and honest. He has nothing to hide, which is why we have this forum. Today, the Auditor-General will present a detailed report on Osun State’s revenue, expenditure, assets, and liabilities,” Aina said.
Stakeholder Engagement
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Osun State House of Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Lawal, as well as representatives from civil society and labour groups. The forum provided an opportunity for participants to scrutinise the state’s financial records and ensure accountability.
