Governor Ademola Adeleke
By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Government has constituted a Committee on Election Violence Victims to verify claims by persons affected by election-related violence and oversee the disbursement of the ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund established by the state government.
The committee, constituted by Governor Ademola Adeleke, is expected to undertake a transparent and credible verification process to identify genuine victims and ensure that relief reaches persons who suffered losses or hardship as a result of election-related violence.
A statement by the spokesperson to the Governor Mr Olawale Rasheed, said the committee is chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, while Mr Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary of the Osun Investment Promotion Agency, will serve as Secretary.
Other members of the committee include Mrs Eniola Omotoso; Mr Emmanuel Ologun, representing civil society organisations; Alhaja Balkiss Akinleye; a nominee of the Nigeria Police Force; Alhaji Moshood Suleiman of the Ministry of Information; Moses Faremi, Esq., representing the Ministry of Justice; a nominee of the Department of State Services (DSS); and Hon. Yemi Lawal.
According to the state government, the committee is mandated to receive and verify petitions, claims and supporting documents submitted by victims of election-related violence.
It will also determine the eligibility of claimants and recommend appropriate relief for verified victims in line with guidelines approved by the state government.
It said the initiative was part of Governor Adeleke’s commitment to supporting citizens who suffered injuries, loss of property, displacement or other forms of hardship arising from election-related violence.
The committee is expected to ensure that the relief fund is administered transparently, fairly and strictly for the benefit of verified victims.
Government therefore urged all persons affected by election-related violence with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence required for the verification process.
It said the verification exercise would be critical to preventing fraudulent claims and ensuring that the intervention reaches those genuinely affected.
The constitution of the committee follows the governor’s earlier announcement of a ₦500 million relief package for victims of political violence in the state, following heightened tensions and reported incidents surrounding the August 15 governorship election.
The development, the statement is expected to provide a structured mechanism for victims to present their claims and receive assistance after their cases have been verified.
It added that the committee would operate with transparency and fairness to ensure that the intervention achieves its intended purpose.
The committee’s work will therefore include the identification of genuine victims, assessment of their claims and recommendation of appropriate forms of relief under the
approved framework.
