The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the removal of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, over alleged budget padding in the state’s 2025 Appropriation Bill. The opposition party claimed that the budget contained questionable allocations that raised concerns about financial mismanagement.
In a statement released on Monday, PDP Publicity Secretary Kennedy Peretei accused Isaac of abusing her office, citing specific allocations in the budget that he described as excessive.
“The Ondo State 2025 Appropriation Act contains some scandalous items in the office of the Commissioner for Finance, which have been the subject of public agitation in the last two weeks,” Peretei stated.
One of the key issues raised by the PDP was the N11.5 billion security vote allocated to the Ministry of Finance, which Peretei argued had not been properly explained to the public. He also pointed to a N250 million provision for honorariums and sitting allowances, as well as the procurement of a Toyota Prado SUV for the commissioner at the cost of N230 million.
The PDP questioned why the government had remained silent despite public outcry over these allocations. Peretei also noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had initially intervened in the matter, had not taken any further action. He further challenged Isaac’s professional credentials, arguing that they meant little if she was overseeing financial irregularities.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless and accusing the PDP of misunderstanding the budgetary process.
In a counterstatement, APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Steve Otaloro, defended Isaac, stating, “The All Progressives Congress, Ondo State chapter, categorically rejects the unfounded allegations made by the PDP regarding the integrity of Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, the Commissioner for Finance. The assertions presented by the PDP are not only misleading but also demonstrate a troubling lack of understanding of the budgetary process and the responsibilities of government officials.”
Otaloro clarified that the Ministry of Budget and Planning is solely responsible for preparing the state’s budget, not the finance commissioner. He stressed that Isaac had no role in determining budget allocations, making the accusations against her completely unfounded.
The APC also defended the allocations questioned by the PDP, explaining that the security vote and honorarium provisions were part of broader plans to improve governance and public safety.
“The details of the budget, including justifications for these allocations, are publicly available and can be reviewed by any interested party,” Otaloro added.
