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Adeleke Takes Office As Sixth Osun Gov … Fires 30 Perm Secs, Others, …Freezes Bank Accounts …Vows To Correct Past Injustices
Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, officially took over as the sixth governor of Osun State, at an elaborate inauguration an swearing in ceremony in Osogbo, the state capital.
Adeleke had won the Osun gubernatorial election of July 16, 2022, against the main contender and outgoing governor of the state, Prof Adegboyega Oyetola.
Adeleke won the election as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after loosing out in the same party in the 2018 gubernatorial election.
Chief Judge of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo, administered the oath of office on Adeleke at the Osogbo City Stadium.
Earlier, Justice Ojo administered the oath of allegiance on Adeleke’s deputy, Mr Kola Adewusi.
Speaking after his inauguration at the Osogbo City Stadium, he said every corrupt acts perpetrated by the past administration would be adequately addressed.
Adeleke immediately ordered the freezing of the state’s accounts in banks and in other financial institutions.
Adeleke directed an immediate return to status quo ante of all appointments, placements and other major decisions taken by Oyetola’s administration from July 17, the day after the governorship election in the state.
He said a panel would be set up to conduct out an inventory of government assets and recover those in wrong hands.
The governor ordered an immediate reversal to the Constitutionally-recognised name of the state as Osun State from former “State of Osun’’.
The penultimate governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, now minister of interior changed the name from Osun State to ‘State of Osun’.
“All government insignia, correspondences and signages should henceforth reflect Osun State, rather than `State of Osun’, which is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.
“Under my watch as the governor of Osun, I will boldly correct all past injustices, corrupt acts or policies by any previous administration, which are against the collective interest of our people,’’ he said.
He assured that all directives he gave on Sunday would be backed with appropriate executive orders.
Adeleke assured that as governor, he would meet Osun people’s expectations as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
He said his administration would also demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and poor infrastructure in the state.
“I know that as a product of the collective will of you my people, there is a heavy weight of history on my shoulders and I accept the urgency of your expectations.
“The depth of your aspirations and your conviction in me to build a better state will not be misplaced,’’ he said.
Adeleke said that all policies that were not favourable to the growth and effective local government administration would be reviewed in accordance with the law.
He assured labour unions in the state of his administration’s willingness to protect workers’ interests and to promote their welfare at all times, adding that he would be labour-friendly.
The governor frowned at what he described as mass employment by the immediate past administration without financial backing.
He pleaded with workers to give him a few weeks to review and sort out all “malicious actions and confusions’’ that the immediate past administration had created since July 17.
The governor also promised to fulfil his campaign promises.
The promises included welfare of workers and pensioners; boosting the state’s economy, home-grown infrastructure policy and people-focused policy on education.
Others were affordable healthcare, security, social welfare and agro-based industrialisation for wealth and job creation.
“I hereby extend a strong hand of fellowship to the other arms of government, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
“As a former lawmaker and a graduate of criminal justice, I appreciate the importance of collaboration between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
“I call on all political parties to unite in the best interest of the state. Election is over. Now is the time for governance. We are open to fresh ideas in line with our manifesto.
“For the purpose of emphasis, I will be a governor for all Osun people regardless of differences in language, faith, political affiliation or any other considerations,’’ he said.
Adeleke assured residents of the state of his administration’s commitment to correct injustices of the past as he assume mantle of leadership in the state.
This is as he assured the people of Osun of his readiness to meet their expectations as the new administration berths.
“I am well aware of the fact that my responsibility as the Governor and Chief Security Officer of Osun State entails meeting the legitimate expectations of our people.
“Therefore, I promise that those expectations of the workers, traders, artisans, farmers, business owners, students, pensioners, traditional and religious leaders and, indeed, all residents of Osun State will be met by the grace of God and the cooperation of everyone.
“Under my watch as the Governor of Osun State, I will boldly correct all past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by any previous administration, which are against the collective interest of our people.
“Let me state here that from the education, health, mining sectors, agriculture, road infrastructure and supply of potable water, let it be known to all that it is no longer going to be business as usual.
“And, I repeat, it is no longer business as usual.
“Our administration will demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and poor infrastructure.
“Your Governor will be a people’s Governor.
“I will be accessible, responsive, consultative and proactive in handling small and big matters of state governance,” said.
Dignitaries at the inauguration included Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Udom Emmanuel, of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta; Aminu Tambuwal of Kano; and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.
Others were PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his wife, Titi, PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyiorcha Ayu, and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
The rest were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose; Tony Elumelu; and David Adeleke, aka Davido; among others.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Nigerian Police, Osun State Command and other sister security agencies in the state had also assured that security had been put in place to prevent a breakdown of law and order before, during and after the inauguration ceremony.
The state Commissioner of Police, Faleye Sunday Olaleye, while giving the assurance, also warned criminally minded individuals to steer clear of the state as the Osun Police Command was well placed to make the state inhabitable for them.
Parents and guardians were also warned to dissuade their children and wards from being used as tools in the hands of disgruntled politicians.
The security agencies, to back up their resolve, last Saturday, embarked on a show of force around major parts of Osogbo, the state capital.
Meanwhile, in a farewell statement to the residents of the state, the outgone governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed that his administration is leaving behind ¦ 14billion cash in the state’s coffers, just as it had paid ¦ 97billion of the debts it inherited from the Rauf Aregbesola administration in 2018.
While maintaining that he was stepping aside, he stated that the results of the last gubernatorial election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which favoured Senator Ademola Adeleke was already being challenged by him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank you for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.
“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.
“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law take its course.
“However, we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.
“We are confident that this period of temporary political eclipse shall pass. The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which have been applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.
“As we end our first term, we are rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.”
Meanwhile, loyalists of the new Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had reportedly slaughtered over 100 cows to mark his inauguration ceremony as the Osun State governor.
It was gathered that celebrations held across the various councils in the state after the official oath-taking.
The PDP members and Adeleke loyalists, it was gathered, bought the cows were bought to celebrate Adeleke’s swearing-in, which they described as ‘the burial of All Progressives Congress (APC) government’ in the state.
According to sources at the party’s secretariat, the cows had been distributed to the 332 wards of the 30 local government areas of the state, while prayers from selected Christian and Muslim leaders would be held to seek God’s blessings for the incoming government.
Aside from the cows that arrived in trailers provided by committed PDP leaders in the state, other party members were said to have contributed money towards their entertainment, while arrangements for musical performances have been made.
It was gathered that in Ede, the country home of Adeleke, the celebration held at different locations of the town.
Celebration also took place at the market square of Ipetumodu, the headquarters of Ife North Local Government Area of the state.
In Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of the state, 15 cows were reportedly slaughtered, while 20 were used for the celebration in Osogbo, the state capital.
While 20 cows were also slaughtered for the celebration in Ejigbo, the headquarters of Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state, four were slaughtered in Modakeke of Ife East Local Government Area of the state.
One of the organisers and PDP chieftains, Bola Oyebowale, told newsmen that the events took the form of a carnival.
Oyebowale expressed excitement at Adeleke’s victory at the poll, which, according to him, “would lift the state out of backwardness and poverty which the APC forced on it.”
Recall that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command said it deployed a total of 3,700 personnel for the inauguration.
Similarly, Osun State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps, said the agency had deployed 250 personnel for the inauguration.
On its part, for the inauguration, Osun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Paul Okpe, said 350 personnel would be on duty.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it has now received a total of 129 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties.
The update was provided during the commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, yesterday.
According to a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, seven new applications were submitted within the past week, adding to the previous number.
“At its regular weekly meeting held today, Thursday 10th July 2025, the commission received a further update on additional requests from associations seeking registration as political parties.
“Since last week, seven more applications have been received, bringing the total number so far to 129. All the requests are being processed,” the commission stated.
The commission revealed the introduction of a new digital platform for political party registration. The platform is part of the Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System and aims to streamline the registration process.
Olumekun disclosed that final testing of the portal would be completed within the next week.
“INEC also plans to release comprehensive guidelines to help associations file their applications using the new system.
“Unlike the manual method used in previous registration, the Commission is introducing a political party registration portal, which is a module in our Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System.
“This will make the process faster and seamless. In the next week, the commission will conclude the final testing of the portal before deployment.
“Thereafter, the next step for associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage will be announced. The commission will also issue guidelines to facilitate the filing of applications using the PFRAS,” the statement added.
In the meantime, the list of new associations that have submitted applications has been made available to the public on INEC’s website and other official platforms.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.