The Osun State government has defended its expenditure of over N500 million on entertainment, responding to a report from SaharaReporters, which had earlier revealed that the state spent N527 million on refreshments and meals within nine months.
According to a statement by Kolapo Alimi, Osun State’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, this expenditure was largely due to the hosting of numerous high-profile national events.
Alimi clarified that these events included critical policy meetings and visits from ministers, governors, and other top officials from the federal government. He emphasized that such gatherings required funding for transportation, accommodation, and event organization, which were managed under tight budgets despite the country’s high inflation rate.
The statement also noted that these activities contributed to the state’s development by attracting several projects to Osun and positioning it as a key event hub in the South West. This aligns with the state administration’s agenda to promote growth in the cultural, creative, and tourism sectors.
A review of Osun State’s budget performance documents showed that the state spent N527 million on refreshments and meals from January to September.
This expenditure surpasses capital funding allocated to some critical healthcare sectors; for instance, the University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo received N297 million, while the Osun State Hospitals Management Board was allocated N45.6 million.
Additionally, the state’s direct assessment tax revenue totaled N378 million, meaning that Osun spent more on refreshments and meals than it collected from this revenue source.
Overall, the N527 million expenditure represented about 5% of the state’s internally generated revenue during the first three quarters of the year.
