In an effort to reduce inflation and the high cost of food, Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has requested information from the Federal Government regarding the purported N30 billion in payments made to each of the 36 state governors.
This is in addition to his earlier statement that the government should break the wasteful practice of using borrowed and limited resources to address pressing issues and boost consumption.
Obi’s demand came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio claimed that N30 billion each in state governors’ share of the federation account had been given to them to combat raging hunger and economic distress in their respective regions, citing a “unverified report.”
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, however, disregarded the news, stating that Akpabio’s assertion that each member state of the federation received an extra N30 billion beyond their allotted statutory revenue was untrue.
In a message posted on his X handle on Friday, Obi stated that transparency and good governance required an explanation of the disbursement’s specifics.
He claimed that it would make it possible for the general public, for whom the support is intended, to follow through and make sure it is applied correctly and to their advantage.
In an effort to lessen the current suffering, he also made a plea to the state governments to make sure that funds are honestly and openly allocated to profitable endeavors.
“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.
