APC chieftain calls for Adeleke’s resignation over alleged payroll fraud

…as Osun government dismisses allegations

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere Constituency II of Lagos State, Hon. Quassim Shittu, has called for the resignation of Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, following allegations of a payroll fraud estimated at ₦13.7 billion.

Shittu, who addressed journalists on Saturday in Lagos, also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter, insisting that the claims require independent scrutiny to safeguard public funds.

The allegations stemmed from findings presented by a, a Lagos-based forensic audit firm engaged by the Osun State Government in April 2023 to conduct a comprehensive verification and validation of the state’s payroll. 

According to the firm, its audit reduced the state’s monthly payroll from ₦4.48 billion for 37,456 workers and 17,918 pensioners in January 2023 to approximately ₦3.34 billion for 29,004 workers, with pensioners unchanged. It further alleged the discovery of 8,452 ghost workers, translating to purported monthly savings of ₦1.14 billion and an annual savings estimate of ₦13.7 billion.

Condemning the alleged findings, Shittu described Osun State as endowed with significant potentials that require leadership anchored on transparency and accountability. He asserted that the allegations, if proven true, should compel Governor Adeleke to resign.

“What we have been reading in the news about the Osun State Government under Ademola Adeleke is disturbing. If these allegations are true, the governor ought to have resigned by now,” he said.

He urged residents to consider the APC’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the 2026 governorship election, describing him as a credible alternative capable of repositioning the state. 

Shittu maintained that Oyebamiji’s experience as a former Managing Director of NIWA equips him with the integrity and vision required for reforms.

However, the Osun State Government has firmly rejected the allegations, describing the audit firm’s claims as an attempt to impose a faulty and potentially fraudulent report on the state.

In a statement issued on Friday, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the figures presented by Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited were inflated and prompted a re-verification exercise that revealed significant discrepancies. 

According to the government, many individuals listed as ghost workers appeared physically during the re-verification, confirming their status as legitimate employees.

The government stated that it had offered to provide the firm with proof of the existence of the affected workers but noted that the company did not request such documentation or issue an acceptance letter for payment based on the 1,316 workers who were genuinely unaccounted for.

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The statement further alleged that the consultant’s fees were tied to the amount purportedly saved for the state, raising concerns over financial motives. It also accused the firm of excluding legitimate staff during the audit and engaging in conduct that undermined the process.

While reaffirming its commitment to sanitising the payroll system, the government insisted it would not remove legitimate employees or endorse an audit report that could inflict further financial harm. It added that gaps and inconsistencies in the firm’s report necessitated the constitution of a verification committee before any implementation.

The Osun State Government maintained that it remains accountable to its workforce and citizens and would pursue reforms grounded in accuracy and fairness.