. Says "It's Frivolous" The Oyo State Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Dare Adeleke has been accused of financial impropriety by a group that calls itself "Oyo PDP" alleged that Adeleke has been illegally deducting funds from the accounts of beneficiaries. The group also alleged that the Chairman has penciled the names of some of those not favourably disposed to the deductions for replacement.
In a message posted on the web, the group pointed out that "It is imperative to bring to the notice of the general public the various unholy activities of the SURE P State Chairman,Mr. Dare Adeleke since the commencement of the SURE P programme in the state.The SURE P programme which was established to provide employment opportunities for 3,500 beneficiaries in Oyo state was aimed at reducing unemployment amongst the teeming population of youths in the state.
The programme designed as community service women and youths empowerement programme has 3,,500 beneficiaries employed from all the 33 local governments in Oyo State with the monthly stipends of #10,000 per beneficiary.Although,the monthly stipend of #10,000 per beneficiary is too meager considering the prevailing economic situations in the country,but,half bread they say is better than none".
The group also held that "despite that the monthly stipend is too meager to cater for the daily
needs of the beneficiaries,the State Chairman,Mr. Dare Adeleke still
deducts #1,000 from each beneficiary's allowance.The monthly deductions
which accummulate to millions of naira according to him was compulsory
for all the beneficiaries. Those who refused to pay such contributions
have their allowances stopped or their accounts suspended by the state
chairman.According to findings,the career officers saddled with the day
to day running of the programme have warned of the consequences of this
illegal deductions as the higher authority in Abuja would never be in
support of any deduction in all the 36 states of the federation
including Abuja,the FCT.
Many beneficiaries who refused to subscribe to the illegal deductions have been replaced while names of thousands of beneficiaries who are also not ready to continue with the illegal deductions have been compiled for possible replacement".
The group appealed to the leaders and the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin "to call Dare Adeleke to order in order not to bring the name of our party into disrepute". They also threatened to forward a petition to the President if Dare Adeleke changes the names of thousands of beneficiaries who refused to pay the illegal fees.
When The Anchor Online called Mr. Adeleke, his response was "it is illogical. Okay let me ask you this question, is it possible for you to pay money into my account and I would go and withdraw it? The money is paid directly into the account of beneficiaries. So, it is not possible to tamper with their money".
Adeleke also revealed that "SURE-P Local Government coordinators in the state have been dissolved". He said the move was made to ensure adequate participation in the programme.
While stating that new coordinators will be inaugurated in the first week of January, he revealed that "we implore our youth, women, able men and vulnerable to go for registration in their respective wards, communities and Local governments. The existing beneficiaries shall be excluded from this program to allow the new entrants to benefit and let me also state that the program is non political".
When our reporter asked if he had any idea of what could have fueled the allegations against him, Adeleke pointed out that "well, I wouldn't have said this but just to let you know, we discovered that some of the people working with us are fraudulent. In the process of conducting some verifications, we discovered that one of them owns 15 ATM cards linked to different accounts in a particular bank. Of course that was one of the things that made us dissolve them. Some of them have slotted fictitious names and they are the ones collecting the money. So, they are angry because we have uncovered and stopped their fraud. We are involving the EFCC and ICPC. They will soon be picked up", he said.
Many beneficiaries who refused to subscribe to the illegal deductions have been replaced while names of thousands of beneficiaries who are also not ready to continue with the illegal deductions have been compiled for possible replacement".
The group appealed to the leaders and the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin "to call Dare Adeleke to order in order not to bring the name of our party into disrepute". They also threatened to forward a petition to the President if Dare Adeleke changes the names of thousands of beneficiaries who refused to pay the illegal fees.
When The Anchor Online called Mr. Adeleke, his response was "it is illogical. Okay let me ask you this question, is it possible for you to pay money into my account and I would go and withdraw it? The money is paid directly into the account of beneficiaries. So, it is not possible to tamper with their money".
Adeleke also revealed that "SURE-P Local Government coordinators in the state have been dissolved". He said the move was made to ensure adequate participation in the programme.
While stating that new coordinators will be inaugurated in the first week of January, he revealed that "we implore our youth, women, able men and vulnerable to go for registration in their respective wards, communities and Local governments. The existing beneficiaries shall be excluded from this program to allow the new entrants to benefit and let me also state that the program is non political".
When our reporter asked if he had any idea of what could have fueled the allegations against him, Adeleke pointed out that "well, I wouldn't have said this but just to let you know, we discovered that some of the people working with us are fraudulent. In the process of conducting some verifications, we discovered that one of them owns 15 ATM cards linked to different accounts in a particular bank. Of course that was one of the things that made us dissolve them. Some of them have slotted fictitious names and they are the ones collecting the money. So, they are angry because we have uncovered and stopped their fraud. We are involving the EFCC and ICPC. They will soon be picked up", he said.
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