Osun Names Committee To Verify Claims For N500m Violence Fund

Osun State has named a 10-member committee to verify claims from people affected by election-related violence before the government releases money from its N500 million relief fund.

The committee is the next step after Governor Ademola Adeleke announced the fund for victims and affected families, a development NaijaTrend reported here. The new panel is expected to receive petitions, examine supporting evidence and recommend relief for those found eligible.

Premium Times reported that the committee was announced on Monday and will oversee disbursement of the fund. Daily Post said the panel was constituted through a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The committee is chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Olumide Egbedun. Other listed members include Eniola Omotoso, Emmanuel Olowu for civil society organisations, Balkiss Akinleye, nominees of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, Moshood Suleiman of the Ministry of Information, Moses Faremi of the Ministry of Justice, Yemi Lawal, and Sola Sonibare as secretary.

Punch reported that the state government said the committee should run a transparent verification process and invite petitions from affected persons. The fund is meant for people who suffered losses, injuries, displacement or other hardship linked to the election period.

The committee’s work will determine who receives support and how the government turns the earlier fund announcement into actual relief.

Sources: Premium Times, Daily Post, Punch