The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Ondo State Chapter On Monday, sought the expulsion of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, as a result of alleged budget padding in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
As a matter of fact, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC stated that the PDP lacked a proper understanding of budgetary processes, while dismissing the allegation.
At the aftermath of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recent dismissal of other members in preparation for his new administration’s inauguration on February 24, 2025, Isaac and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, are the only two commissioners left.
The PDP Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement on Monday beckoned on Isaac’s dismissal, on allegation of office abuse.
Peretei said: “The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act contains some scandalous items in the office of the Commissioner for Finance, which have been the subject of public agitation in the last two weeks.”
He decried the government’s silence on the issue, suggesting complicity in the budget padding allegation.
“The N11.5bn security vote in the Ministry of Finance captured in the 2025 approved budget has not been explained to the people of the state, despite the public outcry. The provision of N250m as honorarium and sitting allowance in the ministry is another padded item in the budget for the enjoyment and pleasure of the commissioner.
Perhaps, the most insensitive of the items is the procurement of one number of Toyota Prado SUV for the commissioner at a princely sum of N230m,” the PDP alleged.
Peretei asserted that Isaac’s antecedent as a UK-trained accountant were baseless if she was supervising financial mismanagement.
The silence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was questioned at the aftermath of it initial arrival in the state following the budget controversy.
While responding, APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Steve Otaloro, refuted the PDP’s claims, stating it as baseless.
He stated: “The All Progressives Congress, Ondo State chapter, categorically rejects the unfounded allegations made by the PDP regarding the integrity of Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, the Commissioner for Finance. The assertions presented by the PDP are not only misleading but also demonstrate a troubling lack of understanding of the budgetary process and the responsibilities of government officials,”
“Mrs. Isaac, as the Commissioner for Finance, plays no role in the direct formulation of budgetary allocations, and any insinuation that she has padded the 2025 budget is entirely false,” he said.
Otaloro added that the budget details, including justifications for allocations, are publicly available and can be reviewed by any interested party.
