Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has inaugurated a verification committee and released N500 million from the state’s Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund to assist persons affected by election-related violence.
In a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor said the fund was established to verify and address claims from individuals who suffered losses, injuries, displacement, or other hardships as a consequence of electoral violence.
The committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, is mandated to undertake a transparent and credible verification process to establish genuine claims and ensure that relief reaches deserving victims.
Other committee members include Eniola Omotoso, Emmanuel Ologun (representing Civil Society Organisations), Balkiss Akinleye, Moshood Suleiman (Ministry of Information), Moses Faremi (Ministry of Justice), Yemi Lawal, and Sola Sonibare (Executive Secretary, Osun Investment Promotion Agency), who serves as secretary. Nominees from the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service (SSS) are also represented.
The committee is tasked with receiving and verifying petitions, claims, and supporting evidence submitted by victims; determining claimant eligibility; and recommending appropriate relief in line with government-approved guidelines.
The state government directed all affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence. The administration emphasised its commitment to ensuring that the N500 million relief fund is administered transparently, fairly, and strictly for the benefit of verified victims.