Controversy Erupts Over Private Account Payments and Unpaid Election Allowances
By Oluwatosin Babatunde
Weeks after the 2025 local government elections in Osun State, controversy continues to trail the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) over delayed payments and irregular disbursement methods for its ad-hoc staff. At the heart of the storm is the alleged use of a private bank account to disburse ₦10,000 training allowances—while many workers say their main election allowances remain unpaid.
Private Account Used for Official Payment?
One of the most troubling discoveries is that OSSIEC allegedly used a personal account belonging to Ademola Oluwole Kolawole to pay some staff. Payment alerts viewed by Daily Revelation bear the remark: “Payment of Training Allowance – OSSIEC.”
Critics argue this undermines financial accountability and raises questions about why a statutory government agency would route official payments through an individual’s bank account rather than its own.
“This is not just unethical—it may be illegal,” said a financial governance expert in Osogbo. “Public funds must be disbursed through approved government accounts. Using a personal account creates room for fraud, mismanagement, and denial of responsibility.”
Chairman Confirms Batched Payments—But Election Allowance Still Outstanding
In response to growing outrage, OSSIEC Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye, told Daily Revelation that the commission has commenced payment in batches—beginning with training allowances. However, he confirmed that only the training stipends are being paid so far, not the actual allowances for election day duties.
This has raised further concern among unpaid workers who say they were promised both training and election stipends as part of their contractual engagement.
“If the election held in February, and we were deployed to polling units, why are we only being paid for training?” one ad-hoc staff member asked. “Where is our main allowance?”
OSSIEC Press Statement Blames Detractors, Warns of ‘Fifth Columnists’
In a press release dated March 26, OSSIEC denied wrongdoing and accused “known enemies” of the Commission of trying to blackmail the agency. The statement also warned of political thugs allegedly planning protests disguised as aggrieved ad-hoc staff.
Chairman Abioye stated: “Our genuine ad-hoc staff are not those crying a river on social media. We have their records online, and we’ve started paying them electronically.”
However, several ad-hoc workers have countered this claim, saying they have received no payments and that their details were captured through OSSIEC’s digital recruitment portal.
Transparency Questions Remain Unanswered
As public scrutiny intensifies, OSSIEC is yet to publish a full breakdown of:
- The total number of ad-hoc staff recruited;
- Payment timelines and categories already settled;
- Why a personal bank account was used for official disbursements;
- When the remaining staff will receive their election-day allowances.
With many affected workers expressing frustration and the public demanding accountability, civil society organizations are now calling for an independent investigation into OSSIEC’s financial handling of the electoral process.
Conclusion: A Case for Audit and Reform
This controversy has once again spotlighted gaps in institutional accountability within electoral bodies. Without immediate transparency from OSSIEC, the Commission risks eroding public trust in the very democratic processes it is mandated to safeguard.
Until then, ad-hoc staff—some of whom have yet to receive a single naira—are left waiting, questioning whether their service to democracy has become just another casualty of poor governance.