Opposition Party Criticizes Osun’s Low Fiscal Ranking in New Report

The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), an opposition party in Osun State, has raised alarms about the state’s financial situation following a recent report. The report by BudgIT, a civic technology group, ranked Osun 32nd out of 35 states in its 2026 assessment of fiscal performance.

According to the DLA, this ranking reflects poorly on the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke. Tosin Odeyemi, the party’s chairman in Osun, described the situation as shameful and said it highlights the government’s failure to create a strong local economy.

Odeyemi pointed out that despite an increase in federal funding, the state has not seen corresponding economic growth or responsible financial management. He emphasized that while other states like Kebbi, Jigawa, and Katsina are effectively managing their resources and ranking higher, Osun is lagging behind.

He criticized the state government for relying solely on federal allocations to pay salaries, without making efforts to boost its own revenue. Odeyemi challenged the governor to focus on improving the state’s economy and investing in productive sectors.

Attempts to get a response from the governor’s spokesperson were unsuccessful. However, Olalekan Badmus, the governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, noted that local government allocations have not been released since February 2025, forcing the state to use its own funds for local government expenses.

Badmus also mentioned that Osun had previously ranked 12th in fiscal performance in 2024, indicating that the current ranking is a setback. He argued that the government does have a plan in place, contrary to the claims made by the opposition.