Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has asked the Federal Government to reveal details of the alleged disbursement of N30 billion to each of the 36 state governors to ameliorate inflation and high cost of food items.
This was contained in a statement on his X handle on Friday, where he said that the details of the disbursement should be explained for the interest of good governance and transparency.
Mr Obi also advised that the government must stop the unproductive habit of throwing scarce and borrowed money at immediate problems, and consumption
Obi made this statement in reaction to the claim by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that an “unverified report” showed that state governors received N30 billion each from the federation account to alleviate the economic hardship and ravaging hunger in their respective domains.
According to him, it would enable the masses, for whom the support is meant, to follow through and ensure that it is utilized appropriately to their benefit.
He further appealed to the state governments to ensure that the resources are genuinely and transparently invested in productive ventures to alleviate the present hardship.
“Recently, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced that a staggering financial support of N1.1 trillion, amounting to a sum of N30 billion each was doled out to the state governors to help ameliorate the present hardship in the country.
“While the Federal Government is to be commended for offering such a huge support, considering the difficult times people are going through, it is pertinent, for the interest of good governance and transparency, that the details of the disbursement of such support be explained further, so that the public, the masses for whom the support is meant, can follow through and ensure that it is utilized appropriately to the benefit of the people.
“While waiting for such details, I appeal that concerted efforts should be made to ensure that the resources are genuinely and transparently invested in productive ventures to alleviate present hardship and help the future growth of the country,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State dismissed the report, saying there was no truth in the claim by Akpabio that states of the federation got an additional N30 billion each outside of their statutory revenue allocations.
“I can speak for Oyo State, and I can also speak for any of my colleagues because I am the Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. I know when things happen. And if we want to play politics, we will keep quiet and say, let it slide, but we are not going to let this slide.
“First, the FIRS cannot give any money to any state; it is not possible. All revenues accruing to our country go into the federation account, and the money is distributed to all the tiers of government. The Federal Government does not give money to the state; the money in the federation account belongs to all of us, and it is not only to the Federal Government.
“We need to engage with our people; if our policies are not working, we need to listen to them and amend them. If the number three citizen says this is an unverified report, why does he need to say it? Does that give confidence to our people, or does it solve the problem of hunger and anger in our land?’
“Let me say it clearly: for Oyo State and my colleagues, there is nothing like N30bn being given for food security to the states, and I stand to be challenged,’’ Gov Makinde Said.
