Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there is no truth in the claim by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the states of the federation got an additional N30 billion each outside of their statutory revenue allocations to address food insecurity in their states.
Makinde made this declaration in Iseyin during the commissioning of the newly renovated Iseyin Central Mosque.
Sunrise reported that Akpabio had earlier claimed that each of the states of the federation has gotten an additional N30 billion allocation from the federal government.
But Makinde, who doubled as the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, stated while reacting that Oyo State has not received any N30 billion from the FIRS or the Federal Government.
Makinde added that he has been doing everything to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the people. He then warned that leaders should instil confidence and hope in the citizenry in this trying time rather than playing the blame game.
Makinde said: “This is not the time to play politics, as we have real issues that deserve real solutions. But yesterday, I saw the video and read in the news where the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, made a statement, though he said it was an unverified report, stating that the state governments received an additional N30 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, outside of our statutory allocation, in the last few months, to address food security.
“This is a very difficult period in our nation’s history because all of us are aware of what we are going through economically. But for us as an administration, I can say we are the first in Nigeria to announce and implement measures on 9th of June 2023, to cushion the effect of this policy through SAfER.
“We have been doing our bit. And the reason I came here is for us to talk to ourselves and intensify our prayers. So, this is one of the edifices through which we can reach God, though we have done our bit. We have health insurance for our own people, we give farm inputs to our farmers; but, at this stage, we need to cry to God.
“For the workers, we have been paying a wage award, N25,000 for workers and N15,000 for pensioners, and we have paid for close to six months. Only last week, I announced an extension for another six months so that we can have the time to conclude the discussion on minimum wage.”