APM Faults Gov. Abiodun For Taking N7bn Loan To Pay Workers' Salaries

The Allied Peoples’ Movement in Ogun State has described the claim by the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, that he took N7bn from banks to pay May salaries as the “height of gross irresponsibility.”

The acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olumide Balogun, in a statement on Tuesday, said Abiodun’s words was a concoction of lies and clear evidence of lack of preparedness for governance.

Scooper reports that Dapo Abiodun had said he took N7bn loan from banks to pay May salaries of the workers in the state.

But, the party hinted that it was aware that Amosun had prepared the cash for salary payment before handing over to Abiodun on May 28, 2019.

The Statement reads: “We must note that he took an oath of office on May 29, 2019, and information had it that his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had already prepared the payment before the handover.

APM Candidate- Adekunle Akinlade

“It is a surprise that a governor who had barely spent three days (as of May 31 when the payment was made) in office had borrowed such a huge amount to pay salaries alone.

“Would such borrowing not require the approval of the Ogun State House of Assembly?  Is such a transaction in line with the Financial Regulations? Or was the transaction made based on a personal relationship or on behalf of the state government?

“Indeed, enquiries suggest that the state received over N5bn from the FAAC for May, which should be more than enough to cover staff salaries, including what Senator Amosun left in the state treasury for the new government. What happened to the money within 48 hours?

“We must not forget quickly that Dapo Abiodun resumed office with a brand new 2019 G-wagon worth of N127m as his official car and changed all the governor’s fleet. This must have cost him hundreds of millions of naira of taxpayers’ money.”