Osun Sets Up Committee to Verify Election Violence Victims, Disburse N500m Relief Fund
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has constituted a committee to verify claims by victims of election-related violence and oversee the disbursement of the N500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund.
The committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, is expected to carry out a transparent and credible verification exercise to establish genuine claims and ensure that assistance gets to those affected.
In statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, said the committee comprises representatives of government agencies, security organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
Members of the committee are Adewale Olumide Egbedun, Chairman, Mrs Eniola Omotoso, Member, Mr Emmanuel Olowu, representative of Civil Society Organisations, Alhaja Balkiss Akinleye, Member, a nominee of the Nigeria Police Force, Alhaji Moshood Suleiman of the Ministry of Information, Moses Faremi, Esq., of the Ministry of Justice, a nominee of the Department of State Services, Hon. Yemi Lawal, Member, and Mr Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary of the Osun Investment Promotion Agency, who will serve as Secretary.
According to the statement, “The committee is mandated to receive and verify petitions, claims and supporting evidence submitted by victims, determine the eligibility of claimants, and recommend appropriate relief to verified victims in accordance with the guidelines approved by the State Government.”
The government said the initiative was part of Governor Adeleke’s efforts to support residents who suffered losses, injuries, displacement and other forms of hardship arising from election-related violence.
It urged all affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence needed for the verification process.
The government further stated that “The committee is expected to ensure that the ₦500 million relief fund is administered transparently, fairly and strictly for the benefit of verified victims.”