Ondo Assembly Crisis Over N531bn Budget Dispute

Ondo State Assembly Faces Internal Conflict Over Budget Approval

Tension has erupted in the Ondo State House of Assembly as lawmakers openly opposed Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji over moves to expedite the passage of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s N531 billion supplementary budget. The situation has raised concerns about the state’s governance and the integrity of its legislative process.

Governor Aiyedatiwa submitted the bill on November 4, 2025, seeking N254.4 billion for recurrent expenses and N277.3 billion for capital projects for the 2025 fiscal year ending December 31. However, the proposal faced immediate backlash from several lawmakers who questioned the necessity of such a large request so close to the end of the year.

One anonymous lawmaker criticized the move, stating: “What is the logic of requesting another N531 billion when the current budget has largely underperformed? Most projects in the 2025 budget have recorded less than 35 percent performance.” This sentiment was echoed by other members of the assembly who expressed concern over the executive branch’s financial management.

The budget was read by the Clerk, Barrister Benjamin Jayeola, and referred to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi. However, the session turned chaotic as some lawmakers staged a walkout after heated debate. “We did not even finish the sitting. Many lawmakers had to walk out. It became a rowdy session because several of us questioned what the executive has done with the funds already approved,” said one source.

Lawmakers accused the Speaker of siding with the governor, claiming his actions were politically motivated. “The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oladiji, who has turned himself into a rubber stamp in the hands of the executive, is aligning with the governor because of his political ambition to contest for the House of Representatives. But we are saying enough is enough,” said one aggrieved member.

Another lawmaker alleged threats from the executive: “They are now threatening us. You know we don’t have autonomy yet, they have control of our salary through the executive. They have been threatening that we won’t get a second return if we don’t pass the supplementary budget. They have even embarked on blackmailing some of us using our constituents. This government has not been transparent in its financial dealings. The budget performance is abysmal, yet they want another ₦531 billion. It’s simply unacceptable.”

Sources revealed that only 11 members loyal to the Speaker pushed the budget to the Finance and Appropriation Committee and plan to reconvene for what dissenting lawmakers called a “kangaroo sitting.” “Now, 11 members have had their way to commit the budget to the Committee. They plan to reconvene by 9 a.m. on Wednesday for a kangaroo sitting to pass the budget,” an insider said.

Opposition lawmakers have vowed to boycott the session, arguing that the Speaker lacks the two-thirds majority required for passage. “It’s better the people of Ondo State open their eyes to this carnage that is about to happen in the Assembly,” a lawmaker warned.

Governor Aiyedatiwa had earlier signed the ₦698.659 billion 2025 Budget of Recovery, which allocated 62 percent to capital and 38 percent to recurrent expenditure, describing it as reflecting “the collective aspirations of Ondo residents.” However, lawmakers maintain that with the current budget largely unimplemented, a new N531 billion request amounts to “a fiscal disaster in the making.”

State Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, confirmed the supplementary bill was sent to the Assembly but denied reports of division among lawmakers, saying he was confident it would be passed.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of attempting an “executive coup” by pushing a rejected N531 billion supplementary budget. In a statement, the PDP described the move as “reckless” and “a direct assault on democracy.” The party noted that the proposal came just two months before year-end and followed the N698.6 billion “Budget of Recovery,” which already allocated 62 percent to capital and 38 percent to recurrent expenditure.

The PDP added that N254 billion of the supplementary plan was set aside for recurrent costs, including salaries and overheads, despite most major projects under the 2025 budget performing below 35 percent. “This request, barely two months from the end of the fiscal year, is indefensible, particularly when the 2025 Appropriation Law of N698.6 billion has recorded less than 35 percent implementation on major projects.”

The statement also accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of planning to sign the rejected budget into law without proper legislative approval — an act the PDP called “brazen defiance of the rule of law.” The party commended lawmakers who resisted pressure and “protected the integrity of their institution.”

“Their courage to reject illegality is a service to the people of Ondo State. We urge them to remain steadfast, summon the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General, and demand a public audit of all funds released under the 2025 Appropriation Law. The people deserve to know why major projects remain uncompleted despite massive allocations.”

The PDP called on the governor to withdraw the proposal, publish full expenditure records, and allow an independent forensic audit with civil society oversight. “Ondo State belongs to its people, not to a desperate cabal bent on institutionalizing impunity and looting the treasury under the pretext of governance,” the statement concluded.