The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, has strongly criticized the recently signed Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act, describing it as a “Budget of Looting.” Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who referred to the budget as a “Budget of Recovery,” allocated N698 billion for expenditure in 2025, raising serious concerns about its transparency and priorities.
In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the party highlighted several contentious allocations, including an N11.5 billion “security vote” allocated to the Ministry of Finance, separate from the Governor’s monthly security vote under the same sub-head. According to Peretei, “Not even budget experts can explain the meaning of a security vote in a Ministry that is distinct from the Governor’s allocation.”
Other contentious allocations highlighted by the PDP include:
N200 million for phone expenses for members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
N280 million for phone expenses specifically allocated to the Speaker of the House.
The PDP further criticized the minimal allocations to critical sectors such as Education (N77.024 billion) and Health Care (N46.016 billion), describing them as grossly inadequate. The statement alleged that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration prioritizes looting over meaningful development, resulting in a lack of progress since the government came into office over a year ago.
“There is nowhere in the world where the people’s money is so recklessly stolen with an official stamp,” Peretei stated.
The PDP has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into what it described as “the stealing of public funds in Ondo State through the 2025 Budget.” The party argued that no state could progress if public funds are mismanaged and officials fail to remain accountable.
