The Osun State Government has faced renewed criticism over its fiscal management after being ranked 32nd among 35 states in BudgIT's 2026 State of States assessment. This ranking has raised concerns about the government's ability to manage public resources effectively and improve the state's economic performance. The assessment, conducted by BudgIT, a Nigerian civic technology organization, evaluated the fiscal performance of states across the country.
The opposition Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA, has attributed Osun's poor ranking to what it described as poor financial management and the absence of a clear economic development strategy. In a statement issued on Thursday by its state chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, the party questioned the government's ability to establish a sustainable economic direction despite available financial resources. The DLA also expressed concern over the government's expenditure, alleging that it has failed to produce measurable improvements in the lives of residents.
According to BudgIT's assessment, Lagos, Enugu, and Bayelsa emerged as the top three ranked states, while Cross River occupied the bottom position. The DLA chairman, Odeyemi, noted that Osun's performance was particularly disappointing given its potential, and that states like Kebbi, Jigawa, and Katsina had demonstrated better resource management despite their economic circumstances. He questioned why Osun performed below these states, which have shown more prudent management of their resources.
The DLA also raised concerns over Osun's internally generated revenue, alleging that the government has become overly dependent on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC. The party stated that the government's reliance on FAAC allocations alone, without effort to grow internally generated revenue, is a major concern. This, according to the DLA, shows that the government is not making sufficient efforts to diversify its revenue streams.
Reacting to the report, Odeyemi said Osun's performance reflected the failure of Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration to establish a sustainable economic direction. He alleged that government expenditure has failed to produce measurable improvements in the lives of residents, questioning the relationship between public spending and the state's economic performance. The DLA chairman also accused the government of being more focused on propaganda than addressing the state's economic challenges.
The DLA has urged Governor Adeleke to introduce measures aimed at improving the state's economy, plugging financial leakages, and directing public funds towards productive sectors. The party also called on Osun residents to demand greater accountability in the management of public resources, insisting that the BudgIT assessment should prompt the state government to address the financial and economic challenges highlighted by the ranking.
The opposition party's criticism comes at a time when the state government is under pressure to improve its economic performance. With the state's ranking in the BudgIT assessment, the DLA's call for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public resources is likely to add to the pressure on Governor Adeleke's administration to take action to address the state's economic challenges.
Key points
- Osun State ranked 32nd among 35 states in BudgIT's 2026 State of States assessment.
- The opposition DLA has attributed Osun's poor ranking to poor financial management and the absence of a clear economic development strategy.
- The DLA has urged Governor Adeleke to introduce measures aimed at improving the state's economy and plugging financial leakages.
