In a move to ensure transparency and accountability, the Oyo State Government has instructed all political appointees who served during Governor Seyi Makinde’s first tenure to promptly return any official vehicles that were allocated to them. The government has set a deadline of Friday, 25th August, 2023, for the return of these vehicles.

Issuing the directive on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, emphasized the importance of compliance. However, certain high-ranking officials, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker and members of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge, Judges, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General, Auditors-General, and Surveyor-General, are exempted from this directive.

The statement also clarified that individuals who were gifted vehicles at the discretion of the governor are exempted as well. For those with legitimate evidence to support their claim of being gifted official vehicles, they are required to present the necessary documentation to the designated officers at their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, confirmed the statement’s authenticity and urged anyone currently in possession of official vehicles without proper authorization to return them by the specified deadline.

“Schedule officers in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the State Public/Civil Service are mandated to recover official vehicles that have been taken away without due authorization if they are not returned by Friday, 25th August, 2023,” the statement further emphasized.