Makinde’s transparency policy falls short, as Oyo state conceals money spent on farm settlements contracts

The Oyo state government refused to disclose its expenditure on the state’s three major farm sites;

This act is an obstruction to transparency and accountability in government spending;

What’s more? Agriculture takes a pivotal role in the state’s economy necessitating transparency in transactions;

Makinde’s transparency policy, possibly a ploy to get funding, expert claims. 

Once again, Makinde’s transparency policy falls short in reality. This time it was the hidden agricultural expenditure for the construction of Akufo, Eruwa and Fasola farms, last year. Dataphyte gleaned this data from the state’s open contracting portal. 

In recent times, however, nameless or ambiguous projects have become commonplace in the state’s financial dealings. Dataphyte reported severally to that effect. 

Further, the portal revealed Governor Makinde’s administration awarded the contract to Messrs. Brain and Hammer Ltd, however, omitted the contract figure for the three farm sites. The award date is present though- December 23rd 2020.

Again, these actions contravene the state’s procurement law which states that all contracting must be done in probity, accountability and transparency. 

Besides the procurement regulation infringement, Makinde’s administration also broke its transparency promise. 

Recall, the state government vowed to transparently spend the  ₦7.6 billion ‘agricultural equipment’ loan they prevented the previous administration from misappropriating on Akufo and other farm settlements. However, omitting the contract sum does not bode well for Engineer Seyi’s transparency mantra. 

Makinde’s favour on farmland insufficient to alter reality 

Save the ambiguity in state open contracting, Makinde’s government raised the allocation bar for the agric sector. And it was about time too; agriculture provides 38% of Oyo’s Gross Domestic Product, after all. Not to mention it employs over 70% of the state’s residents. So, when the good Engineer kicked off his debut in 2019 with promises to prioritise this sector, everyone was pleased. And for the most part, Governor Seyi followed through, on paper at least. 

Last year, Agriculture gulped 4.43% of the state’s budget, corresponding to ₦9.26billion. Likewise, the 2021 budget portioned out ₦9.5 billion to the sector. In contrast, the housing sector got ₦9.3billion. But for all Makinde’s favour on farmlands, reality tells a different tale. A story of infrastructural deficits and equipment inadequacies for farmers in the state. While these challenges may be more nuanced, the role of opacity cannot be disconnected with some of these outcomes.

“(Oyo Government) focused on what they stand to gain”- Expert. 

For Segun Elemo, a transparency and audit expert, the Oyo state government reduces its trust index on governance and accountability. And their once hailed openness may not have been so altruistic. Instead, it was a ploy to receive funds from the federal government and the world bank, as the case may be. 

“While it appeared that the administration was keen on transparency and accountability at the inception, it seems what we have now in the administration is quite different. Although the state government is ticking some boxes, they are more focused on what they stand to gain from the government. The government has to do better. For instance, there is no citizen involvement; there is no independent auditor general in Oyo state. All of this will break the citizen trust index, and affect the state economy, with the agriculture sector as an example.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”- state actor.

Meanwhile, state actors are allegedly none the wiser to these improprieties. Dataphyte gleaned this from a phone conversation with the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo state government. Responding to this reporter, Taiwo Adisa claimed to be oblivious to any report regarding omitted details. 

“I think you should send the document to me if anyone has mixed up anything we will know. I know that IITA funded fasola estates but I don’t know what you are talking about.”

However, Debo Akande, Director of Oyo State Agric -Business Development Agency (OYSADA), put a call across to this reporter claiming that missing information in the document was an error. “The missing information was an error; I will call the appropriate quarter to correct it.”