The Osun State Government has announced the recovery of ₦53,089,683.52, which was set to be overpaid to some retirees in the state.
The overpayments, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023, were uncovered during audits conducted by the state’s Auditor-General, Kolapo Idris.
Presenting the findings at the annual Audit Forum in Ede, Osun State, Idris explained that the Pension Unit processed 437 retirees’ pension files during the year. Of these, 300 files were cleared without issue, while 137 files were flagged for discrepancies, leading to penalties as stipulated by regulations.
The audit interventions resulted in the recovery of substantial sums. A total of ₦9,899,515.94 was recovered from premature promotions, while ₦19,905,615.20 was reclaimed as penalties related to insufficient notice of retirement and overpayment of salaries. Additionally, ₦2,388,075.17 was retrieved from retirees who had breaks in their service, and ₦20,896,477.51 was recovered from those who overstayed their service terms.
Idris noted that the total sum of ₦53,089,683.52 was recovered thanks to audit interventions. He also assured stakeholders that the financial statements for 2023, presented at the forum, accurately reflected the state’s financial activities.
In his address, the Osun State Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, commended Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for its transparency, adding that the forum allowed stakeholders to scrutinize the state’s financial records.
The forum was attended by officials, including the chairman of the Osun State House of Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Lawal, civil society representatives, and labor leaders, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the state’s finances.
