The Oyo State House of Assembly and Hon. Ibrahim Shittu, the lawmaker representing Saki West State Constituency, are locked in a public dispute over the recent approval of a ₦300 billion loan request by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
Hon. Shittu had earlier dissociated himself from the process, alleging that the loan was hurriedly passed during an emergency plenary without proper notification to all members. He described the development as lacking transparency and stressed that he was not part of the lawmakers who gave their approval.
However, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the Assembly leadership, represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, and the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs and ICT, Hon. Waheed Akintayo (Ilumoka), dismissed Shittu’s claims as misleading.
According to the Assembly’s statement, the ₦300 billion facility comprises ₦149 billion to refinance an existing loan with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and ₦151 billion in fresh borrowing to support infrastructure and contractors’ financing.
The House explained that the emergency plenary held on August 19, 2025, was constitutionally valid and officially communicated to members via the Assembly’s general platform. Leadership cited a screenshot of the notice as evidence that lawmakers were duly informed.
Beyond the loan controversy, the Assembly leadership criticized Hon. Shittu’s legislative record, claiming he has one of the lowest attendance rates in the 10th Assembly, estimated at around 20 percent. They further alleged that he missed several critical sittings, including budget presentations, oversight visits, and committee activities.
“Hon. Shittu has neither sponsored a bill nor a motion and has consistently failed to participate in oversight duties,” the Assembly’s statement read, urging the public to disregard his allegations.
In response, Shittu has insisted that his concerns are about transparency and due process, not personal attacks. His allies argue that the Assembly’s focus on his attendance record is an attempt to divert attention from questions surrounding the loan approval.
