The avoidable imbroglio between Oyo State Government under Gov Makinde and IBEDC may have revealed the unhealthy status of the State’s finances. Reports indicated that IBEDC was forced to disconnect electricity from both the Secretariat and the Government House due to non payment of electricity bills amounting to 450 Million Naira.
In a swift reaction, a Government which always claims that it has increased the State’s IGR was roused from slumber, counter-claiming that IBEDC was also owing Oyo State Government different degrees of taxes to the tune of 40 Million Naira. What sounds more ridiculous in the whole claims is that IBEDC claimed the huge electricity bills unpaid by the Government have been piling up since three years ago. Does it mean Oyo Government does not make allowances for electricity bills in its budgets? If a Government which prides itself as being in the forefront of increased revenue fails to perform its obligation to IBEDC, what moral justification does such government have to seal off premises of tax defaulting companies?
Disturbing reports coming from the seat of Oyo Government in Agodi, away from the propaganda of clean bill of financial health being peddled by the Government and its human and institutional agencies, have it that stationeries are either in short supply or not available at all in government offices while the whole Secretariat has been battling with non existent internet connectivity as the Government was said not to have subscribed since few months ago.
No wonder that the TESCOM Chairman, one Pastor Alamu, went on air to claim that the state government has been paying three thousand naira (3000) per student to principals of secondary schools in the State as grants to run schools. This is however untrue as apart from the running grants the Government gave to school principals in 2019, a paltry over two hundred thousand naira (200,000) was reported to have been paid recently to each principal to run their schools. The aim is to give an impression of huge financial responsibilities to mask the State’s descent into bankruptcy!
Oyo State Government under Gov Makinde continues to allegedly patch the State’s finances, rationing it among critical sectors which receive what’s barely enough to keep them functioning. By the time the bubble of the alleged bankruptcy of the state bursts, time may not be able to heal what’s left of the finances.
As we speak, Oyo State is in total darkness, no thanks to the cowardly show of strength between the state government and the IBEDC. What’s honourable for the Government is to invite the IBEDC to resolve the issue amicably. After-all, they’re supposed to be partners in progress not partners in darkness.
To IBEDC, it’s legally and morally wrong to throw the whole state into darkness because of a face off with the Government. What will be the fate of the teeming citizens of the state being deprived of the already epileptic power supply? Citizens should not become grasses that suffer while the fights between the two lazy elephants last.
