The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, ‘Seyi Makinde, has refuted the allegation that the federal government gave N30 billion each to the 36 state governors to tackle the food crisis.
The governor made this statement on Thursday, in Iseyin, where he inaugurated the newly-upgraded multi-billion naira Iseyin Central Mosque facilitated by legal icon Ahmed Raji, SAN.
He praised the religious harmony in Oyo State as exemplary.
Makinde denied the assertion by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the states of the federation received an extra N30 billion each besides their statutory revenue allocations, to address food insecurity in their states.
He said that Oyo State did not get any N30 billion from the FIRS or the federal government, and that his government was always honest and transparent to the people of the state.Makinde, who is also the Oyo State governor, said that he was doing everything he could to ease the economic hardship on the people.
He advised leaders to inspire confidence and hope in the citizens in this difficult time rather than engaging in blame games.
More Read
He also said that he could confirm that his fellow governors did not get N30 billion from any agency or department of the federal government, as the vice chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Makinde criticized Akpabio’s reliance on unconfirmed reports, explaining that it was impossible for states to receive funds from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), since all revenues go into the Federation Account and belong to the federal government, states and the local governments.
Makinde said that the only fund that Oyo State got from the federal government outside of statutory allocation was N2 billion out of the N5 billion promised to all states after the removal of fuel subsidy, and that the federal government had even been asking for the repayment of the N2 billion.
He said: “So, if the Senate President, who is the number three citizen in this country, could be quoting an unconfirmed report, people are looking at us as leaders.
This is the time that we are supposed to give confidence to our people. It is not the time to start playing politics or to start looking for scapegoats.“We need to engage with our people.
If our policies are not working, we need to listen to the people and adjust. So, if the Number Three Citizen had nothing but unconfirmed report, why did he need to say it?
Does his statement give confidence to the people or solve the problem of hunger and anger in the land?“Let me say it clearly: as for Oyo State and for most of my colleagues, there is nothing like N30 billion given to states for food security and I stand to be challenged,’’ he said.
