Osun Governor Adeleke Under Fire for N3.1 Billion Spent on Foreign Trips, Outspending Education and Water Sectors
A recent budget performance review has revealed that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration in Osun State spent a staggering ₦3.1 billion on international travels between January and June 2025 an amount that surpasses the combined funding for basic education, water supply, and primary healthcare in the state during the same period.
According to the reviewed document, ₦2.854 billion was used for “international travels and transport (others),” while another ₦256 million went to “international travels and transport (training).”
In contrast, Osun SUBEB, responsible for basic education, received ₦2.094 billion. The Ministry of Water Resources was allocated ₦1.263 billion, and the State Primary Healthcare Development Board got just ₦156 million all significantly less than what was spent on foreign trips.
Other non-essential expenditures include ₦1.674 billion on refreshments and meals, and ₦702.8 million on honorariums and allowances.
Furthermore, the state spent ₦12.097 billion on debt servicing nearly 40% of its total internally generated revenue of ₦30.5 billion in the first half of 2025. This was more than the total funding for Osun’s tertiary institutions combined: Osun State University (₦3.8B), University of Ilesa (₦2.6B), and Osun Poly Iree (₦1.957B).
The findings have sparked public concern and criticism, with fiscal experts warning that such disproportionate spending on travel and debt repayment could derail critical development efforts and exacerbate financial instability in the state.
