Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has released N500 million from the state’s Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund to provide assistance to people affected by election-related violence.
The governor also inaugurated a 10-member committee saddled with the responsibility of identifying genuine victims, verifying their claims and overseeing the disbursement of the funds.
The committee is chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, while representatives of relevant security agencies are also members.
The state government said the initiative was designed to ensure that the relief reaches individuals and families genuinely affected by violence before, during and after the governorship election.
The committee is expected to undertake a transparent verification process before approving beneficiaries, with the aim of preventing fraudulent claims and ensuring that available funds are directed to those who suffered losses.
The establishment of the relief fund followed the violence recorded around the election, which raised concerns over the safety and welfare of residents and other individuals affected by the incidents.
Adeleke had earlier announced the creation of the N500 million endowment fund after securing victory in the governorship election.
The latest move formalises the process for accessing the intervention, with the newly inaugurated committee expected to receive and assess petitions from victims and affected families.
The development comes as authorities continue to assess the human and social consequences of election-related violence in the state.
Beyond financial assistance, the initiative is expected to provide a formal mechanism through which victims can present their cases and seek government intervention.
The committee will therefore play a critical role in determining eligible beneficiaries and ensuring that the relief programme is administered in a credible and accountable manner.
The Osun State Government has urged affected persons to make their claims available to the committee for verification as the process gets underway.
The intervention is expected to provide some relief to victims and families who suffered losses as a result of election-related violence.
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