In the run-up to the 2023 elections, Labour Party’s presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has called on the Nigerian Federal Government for a detailed account of the ₦30 billion relief funds reportedly distributed to state governors.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio recently disclosed that a sum of ₦30 billion was allocated to each governor to mitigate the ongoing food scarcity and the escalating cost of living across the states. This allocation, according to Akpabio, citing a report whose accuracy he couldn’t confirm, was facilitated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, in addition to the regular funds from the national treasury.
In response, Obi took to Twitter on Friday, February 23, 2024, urging the Federal Government to publicize the specifics of these allocations in a bid to uphold principles of transparency and responsible governance.
He elaborated, “The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, recently revealed the allocation of an enormous financial aid totaling ₦1.1 trillion, which translates to ₦30 billion for each State Governor, intended to ease the current socioeconomic difficulties.
“While the Federal Government’s initiative to extend such substantial aid is laudable given the harsh realities faced by citizens, it remains crucial, for the sake of transparency and effective governance, to clarify the dispersal process of these funds. This is to ensure the citizenry, the ultimate beneficiaries of this aid, can monitor its application towards meaningful improvements in their living conditions.”
Further, Obi counseled the governors on the prudent use of these funds, emphasizing the importance of channeling them towards sustainable development projects rather than short-term consumption. He advocated for a strategic focus on production over consumption, underscoring the necessity for investments in human capital development as a pathway to national progress.
In a contrasting statement, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde refuted Akpabio’s claims, asserting that his state did not receive the alleged ₦30 billion for relief purposes. This denial was formalized through a communique from his Chief Press Secretary, Suleiman Olarenwaju, issued in Ibadan on Thursday, challenging the accuracy of Akpabio’s assertions.
