The Osun State Government has refuted claims circulating about the cost of international travels and trainings in the first two quarters of 2025, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s personal expenses form only a negligible part of the total sum.
In a statement on Sunday, the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the figures being shared by opposition elements are misleading and mischievous, stressing that the expenditures cover training, travel, and maintenance costs for over 100 state agencies and public institutions.
Rasheed explained that most of Governor Adeleke’s international trips, including his ongoing visit to the United States, were privately funded through the family-owned private jet, rather than state resources.
“The sponsored publication is a failed attempt by the opposition to misrepresent much-needed expenditure on local and international training programmes for public servants, service-wide facility maintenance cost, and other critical overhead expenses,” he said.
“The fact that the state government actually posted those details on its website confirms that there is no foul play or misapplication of state funds.”
Breakdown of Travel and Training Expenses
The spokesperson clarified that the quoted amount represents the collective expenditure of commissioners, agency heads, permanent secretaries, directors of parastatals, and management staff of state-owned tertiary institutions.
“The governor is only the head of the government; there are several other sectoral heads and career officers whose expenditures on travels and training make up the state government expenditure. So it is incorrect to say Governor Adeleke spent so much on traveling,” Rasheed stated.
He also noted that many agencies scheduled their training programmes early in the year to avoid clashes with pre-2026 political activities.
Highlighting the value derived from the trips, Rasheed listed several strategic international engagements undertaken by the Adeleke administration, including: The Commonwealth Business Investment Conference, where Governor Adeleke signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ESG Management Services UK Ltd. to attract UK-based investments into agriculture, manufacturing, and solid minerals.
Sector-specific trips by ministries of Commerce and Industry, Agriculture and Food Security, Science, Innovation and Digital Economy, Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Water Resources, and the Office of Mining and Natural Resources.
“Top permanent officials have undergone several international trainings to enhance their skills and productivity as part of public service reforms to meet global standards,” Rasheed added.
According to the statement, the current exchange rate of the Naira has significantly inflated the quoted amounts.
“To get $1,000 today, you will need about ₦1.6 million, unlike a few years ago when you only needed about ₦400,000. Despite this, the number of delegates and frequency of travels have reduced compared to past administrations,” he explained.
Rasheed also addressed other expenditure items, clarifying that costs for cleaning and fumigation services cover the maintenance of the state secretariat, agency offices, the Government House, state institutions, health facilities, and public schools.
Reaffirming Adeleke’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Rasheed noted that the government itself published the expenditure details online as part of its open-governance policy.
“There are no smoking guns. We urge those interested in a full breakdown of state expenditure to apply under the Federal Freedom of Information Act,” he concluded.
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