By Erewunmi Peace

Members of the Osun State caucus in the National Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have raised concerns over an alleged N13.7 billion payroll fraud in Osun State, calling on anti-corruption agencies to immediately investigate the matter.

The lawmakers, who are members of the ruling party at the federal level, alleged that irregularities were discovered in the state’s payroll system following an audit exercise reportedly conducted by a consulting firm. According to the caucus, the audit uncovered thousands of questionable entries, including alleged “ghost workers” and irregular salary payments.

The APC lawmakers have urged agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to launch a full investigation into the allegations to determine the authenticity of the claims and ensure accountability.

However, the Osun State Government has denied the allegations, describing the claims as politically motivated and insisting that its payroll system remains transparent and lawful. State officials have reportedly questioned the credibility and interpretation of the audit findings cited by the lawmakers.

As of the time of filing this report, no official investigative outcome has been released by anti-corruption agencies.

The matter remains an ongoing political and administrative dispute, with further developments expected.