By Divine Sam
The Osun State Government has faced criticism over its handling of public finances following the state’s 32nd position among 35 states in the 2026 State of States assessment released by BudgIT.
The opposition Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) said the ranking had raised concerns about the management of public funds and the government’s efforts to strengthen the state’s economy.
In a statement released on Thursday, the party’s state chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, blamed Osun’s poor position on what he described as weak financial management and the absence of a well-defined economic development plan.
BudgIT, a civic technology organisation that assesses the fiscal performance of Nigerian states, placed Lagos, Enugu and Bayelsa in the top three positions, while Cross River came last.
Reacting to the assessment, Odeyemi said the outcome reflected concerns his party had repeatedly raised about Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, particularly its approach to economic planning and resource management.
He said, “This ranking is not surprising to us. It only confirms what we have been saying, that Governor Ademola Adeleke has no economic blueprint for Osun.”
The DLA chairman also expressed concern that Osun ranked below states such as Kebbi, Jigawa and Katsina, which he said had managed their resources more prudently despite facing different economic circumstances.
“While states like Kebbi, Jigawa and Katsina are managing their resources prudently and ranking in the top 10, Osun, with all its potential, is ranked 32nd,” he stated.
Odeyemi further questioned the impact of government spending on residents, arguing that the level of expenditure claimed by the administration had not translated into measurable economic improvements.
“How can a state that claims to be spending billions on paper be ranked among the worst in fiscal performance? It shows the government is only good at propaganda while the state’s economy is in shambles,” he said.
The opposition party also raised concerns about Osun’s internally generated revenue (IGR), alleging that the state relied heavily on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) rather than strengthening its own revenue base.
“The table does not lie. It shows that Osun is being run on FAAC allocation alone with no effort to grow the Internally Generated Revenue,” the statement added.
The DLA called on the Adeleke administration to take urgent steps to address the concerns highlighted by the assessment, improve revenue generation, block financial leakages and ensure that public funds are channelled towards productive sectors.
It also urged residents to demand greater transparency and accountability from the government, saying the latest BudgIT report should serve as an opportunity for the administration to review its fiscal policies and address the state’s economic challenges.
Note: All quoted statements have been retained exactly as supplied. Allegations and opinions remain attributed to the DLA and its chairman.
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