The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the state government of disguising a vote-buying scheme as a N20,000 palliative payment to workers and residents ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The opposition party alleged that the timing of the disbursement suggested a political motive, calling on relevant authorities to investigate the payments.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, the APC Campaign Council’s Media and Publicity Committee said thousands of workers and other beneficiaries received the money directly into their bank accounts days before the election.
The statement, signed by the committee’s head, Oluremi Omowaiye, alleged that the government was using public funds to influence voters.
“The timing of the payments raised concerns over the intention behind the exercise. The government is attempting to sway public support with public funds in the build-up to the election,” Omowaiye said.
The APC also claimed that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state, who normally receive N5,000 monthly support from the government, were also paid N20,000 under the latest disbursement.
The party further accused the administration of failing to clear outstanding obligations, including contributory pension remittances and cooperative deductions, while prioritising the palliative payments.
It also alleged that the government failed to fulfil a N6 billion provision in the 2025 budget meant to address gratuity arrears, leaving pensioners unpaid.
Describing the payments as unlawful, the APC said the government was using state resources to gain electoral advantage.
However, the Osun State Government defended the payments, describing them as part of measures to support workers amid economic challenges.
In a statement by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the government said the palliatives were aimed at improving workers’ welfare and had been part of its support programmes.
Rasheed said the administration began periodic palliative payments before the implementation of the new minimum wage and maintained that its labour policies had improved on those of the previous government.
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