Osun’s Monthly Allocation Rose to ₦17bn After Subsidy Removal, Says AMBO Group

Segun Ojo, Osogbo

The AMBO Media Fronts has said Osun State’s monthly federal allocation rose to about ₦17 billion in July, compared with approximately ₦4 billion before the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, urging the state government to translate increased revenue into improved public services.

The group disclosed this in an Independence Day statement issued on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, highlighting what it described as the effects of federal government policies and interventions in Osun State.

According to the statement signed by the group’s Coordinator, Adebayo Adedeji, the July allocation represented an increase of approximately 350 per cent over the pre-subsidy-removal figure cited by the group.

It, however, acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy had imposed economic hardship on residents through higher transportation costs and increased living expenses.

“The impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda is becoming increasingly visible, even though the effects of some economic policies continue to weigh heavily on the people,” the statement said.

The group argued that the increase in federal allocations should provide the state government with greater capacity to address pressing development needs, particularly in education, healthcare, transportation, infrastructure and social welfare.

“Ordinarily, such a substantial increase in available public resources should translate into greater succour for the people through improved education, healthcare, social security services, infrastructure and a more efficient transportation system, provided the resources are properly and transparently channelled,” it stated.

The group also cited federal government support provided to Osun in 2023, including palliatives valued at ₦15 billion and a ₦2 billion grant for the purchase of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

It further said the Federal Government refunded about ₦8 billion in personnel tax arrears relating to federal government employees working in the state, providing additional funds for government programmes.

On infrastructure, the group listed major federal road projects in Osun, including the Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road, the Gbongan–Osogbo Road and the Ilesa–Ife–Ibadan corridor, which it said had a combined value of more than ₦300 billion. It also cited approval for the Ilobu–Ogbomoso Road.

The statement added that federal constituency projects facilitated by legislators from Osun had attracted approximately ₦10 billion over the last three years, covering road construction, school renovations, solar-powered streetlights and other community interventions.

The group maintained that the benefits of increased allocations and federal investments would depend on effective implementation, transparency and accountability.

It urged the Osun State Government to ensure that available public resources and development interventions produced measurable improvements in the living conditions of residents.

The group also congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, expressing optimism that sustained reforms and investments could support economic growth and development.