NATIONAL ZERO CORRUPTION COALITION
Restoring Confidence in Anti‑Corruption Efforts in Public Service
The National Zero Corruption Coalition (NZCC) has completed a rigorous, on‑ground investigation into governance and public‑service accountability in Ondo State. Our monitoring focused on the management of federal allocations, the integrity of public‑service operations, and the handling of recent controversies, notably the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) scandal.
Our findings reveal ongoing project across the state capital and a new level of public confidence in the performance of the governor. We also found a high level of democratic vitality, with the major opposition party PDP rejiging itself with a minimal strength to query the activities of governance in the state. Largely Ondo State remains overwhelmingly an APC state, which offers the government the leverage to implement its policies, captured as “OUR EASE”
Our findings reveal a pattern of job racketeering and sharp practices that implicated senior politicians and civil servants. While the state government responded to public pressure by suspending three senior civil servants officials, the alleged involvement of the former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly—who also headed the SUBEB, has not been met with comparable action. Our investigations found Mr. Victor Olabimtan, a former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly culpable. This selective enforcement raises serious concerns about the Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa administration’s commitment to a zero‑tolerance anti‑corruption agenda.
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has suspended three senior officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) over their alleged involvement in a recruitment fraud scandal. The suspended officials, including two directors and a deputy director, are accused of colluding with external actors to defraud job seekers by issuing fake recruitment documents.
The scandal was exposed when several individuals who had paid between N500,000 and #750,000 for forged employment letters were barred from a biometric verification exercise.
The state government has launched an investigation into the matter, and the Ondo State Public Complaints Financial Crimes and Anti Corruption Commission (ODSPCFAC) is probing the scandal.
The government has assured that the over 2,000 legitimately recruited teachers have already resumed duty, and efforts are being made to bring those involved in the fraud to justice. While these directors fates are ultimately been decided to serve as deterrent, the political class seems totally shielded from any wrong doings.
Our investigations revealed complacency and collaboration from the high tower of the SUBEB. With our team independently investigating staffers of SUBEB who pleaded to be kept anonymous, for the fear of their job and other live threatening impacts, the Chairman of the Board Rt. Honorable Victor Olabimtan seems to have been shielded from prosecution despite overwhelming evidence.
The continued practice of penalising lower‑level officials while shielding political elites erodes public trust and hampers the state’s development aspirations. As Ondo State pursues new economic partnerships and seeks to position itself as a hub in the oil‑rich Southwest. The need for decisive, impartial action against corruption is essential to attract responsible investment and deliver tangible benefits to the people.
The contending issue remains that despite the high level of corruption found to be associated with Mr. Victor Olabimtan the SUBEB boss, the Governor for political convenience and correctness have failed to act.
The impact of the sharp practices and inability of the government to take decisive actions on corrupt politicians continues to put a clog in the wheels of progress of the state. Raising concerns whether some people are above the law, or selective justice may be a pattern to look forward to. One of our sources noted that the governor was shielding the SUBEB boss to avoid political backlash.
RECOMMENDATION
NZCC calls on the Governor and all relevant authorities to:
1. Conduct a transparent, independent investigation into all allegations of corruption linked to SUBEB and related agencies.
2. Ensure that any public official, regardless of rank, found culpable faces appropriate legal and administrative sanctions.
3. Strengthen institutional mechanisms for whistle‑blower protection and oversight to prevent recurrence of such abuses.
The people of Ondo State deserve a government that is accountable, transparent, and unequivocally intolerant of corruption. NZCC remains committed to monitoring progress and will continue to hold public officials to the highest standards of integrity.
Iniembong Pius
Chief Correspondent, National Zero Corruption Coalition
WARNING: If You Are Not 18+, Don’t Click The Link Below 👇🫣
https://rayvirtual.com/m3e85u39j?key=f0014e9d9438d5115e4d66e73ca3f04b
Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.
Never Miss A Single News Or Gist, Kindly Join Us On WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vad8g81Eawdsio6INn3B
Telegram Channel:
https://t.me/gistsmateNG
