Osun Sets Up Committee to Disburse N500m Relief Fund for Election Violence Victims

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has set up a committee to verify victims of election-related violence and facilitate the disbursement of the state government’s N500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund.

Governor’s spokesperson Olawale Rasheed disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo, saying the committee would examine claims from individuals affected by election violence before and during the governorship election.

The committee is headed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.

It is expected to carry out a transparent and credible verification exercise aimed at separating genuine claims from false ones and ensuring that assistance gets to deserving victims.

Members of the committee include Eniola Omotoso, Emmanuel Olowu, who represents civil society organisations, Balkiss Akinleye, Moshood Sulaiman and Barrister Moses Faremi.

Representatives nominated by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) are also part of the committee, alongside Yemi Lawal.

Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary of the Osun Investment Promotion Agency, was appointed secretary of the committee.

Under its mandate, the committee will receive petitions and claims from victims, examine the supporting evidence, establish the eligibility of applicants and recommend suitable relief for those whose claims are verified.

The recommendations will be made in accordance with guidelines approved by the Osun State Government.

The government said the relief initiative demonstrates Governor Adeleke’s commitment to helping residents who experienced losses, injuries, displacement or other forms of hardship linked to election-related violence.

It called on affected individuals with genuine claims to assist the committee by providing truthful information and relevant documentation for the verification exercise.

The state government further assured that the N500 million fund would be managed transparently and fairly and applied strictly to the benefit of victims whose claims are successfully verified.

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