The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has inaugurated a committee to oversee the disbursement of N500 million to victims of election-related violence in the state.

The fund is from the state’s Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund and is meant to assist people who suffered losses, injuries, displacement and other forms of hardship as a result of election-related violence.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Monday, the initiative is aimed at verifying genuine claims and ensuring that the relief reaches deserving victims.

The committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will conduct the verification exercise and assess petitions, claims and supporting documents submitted by affected persons.

Other members of the committee are Eniola Omotoso; Emmanuel Ologun, representing Civil Society Organisations; Balkiss Akinleye; Moshood Suleiman of the Ministry of Information; Moses Faremi of the Ministry of Justice; Yemi Lawal; and Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary of the Osun Investment Promotion Agency, who will serve as secretary. Nominees from the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service are also members.

The committee is expected to determine the eligibility of claimants and recommend appropriate relief for verified victims in line with the guidelines approved by the state government.

The government urged affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence needed for the verification process.

It said the N500 million fund would be administered transparently and fairly, with the assistance strictly reserved for verified victims.

(NAN)