Osun govt justifies foreign travel, training expenses amid criticism

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State Government has defended its spending on foreign travels and training in the first half of 2025, following widespread reports suggesting financial recklessness by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. Reports had reviewed the state’s budget performance from January to June, revealing N2.854 billion spent on international travels and transport, and N1.674 billion on refreshments and meals.

In a statement on Monday, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described the public debate over the figures as a politically motivated smear campaign. He insisted the expenditures were legitimate, tied to capacity-building initiatives for civil servants across ministries, departments, and agencies.

Rasheed clarified that the quoted amounts cover expenses for all state officials—not just the governor—including commissioners, agency heads, directors, permanent secretaries, and management of state-owned institutions. These costs include transportation, accommodation, and feeding during official duties and training programmes.

“The governor is only the head of government. It is incorrect to claim he alone spent so much on travel,” Rasheed said. “We must consider the importance and benefits of these trips and training to the state, both now and in the future.”

He listed major international events attended by state officials, including the Commonwealth Business Investment Conference where Governor Adeleke signed an MoU with ESG Management Services UK Ltd. to attract investments in agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, and other sectors.

Other official trips were undertaken by the Ministries of Commerce and Industry; Agriculture and Food Security; Science, Innovation and Digital Economy; Water Resources; and the Office of Mining and Natural Resources, among others.

Rasheed noted that the high exchange rate of the Naira significantly inflated the total cost of travel, despite the current administration reducing the number of delegates and frequency of trips compared to previous governments. He stressed that the same dollar amount now costs much more in Naira due to currency depreciation.

On expenditures for cleaning, fumigation, and refreshments, Rasheed said the figures reflect maintenance costs across the state secretariat, government offices, public schools, health facilities, and various agencies. He urged the public to avoid being misled by opposition propaganda.