Victor EzejaNigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has withdrawn his statement that the Federal Government allegedly gave N30 billion to each state governor to cushion the effect of the high cost of things in the country.
Akpabio apologised to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.
This came after the Senate President held a meeting with the NGF Chairman and some other governors in Abuja on Monday.
Akpabio had, at a plenary sitting last Tuesday, said an “unverified report” indicated that state governors received N30 billion each from the Federation Account to cushion the effect of inflation and the high cost of food prices.
The Senate President’s comment has since been generating reactions from Nigerians who have called on their state governors to give an account of the funds.
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi had in a statement on Friday, called for transparency in the utilisation of the funds, adding that they should be invested in productive ventures not just consumption at the moment.
However, on Monday, Akpabio in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, retracted the statement, saying the Senate President held the governors in high esteem.
The statement reads: “During the session, the President of the Senate commented on the payment of an unverified cumulative sum of about N30bn to the sub-national governments by the Federal Government for various interventions to ameliorate the food situation of our citizens at the sub-national governments.
“The unfortunate conjectures to take away the kernel in the material facts of FAAC payment are rather regretted. In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the Federal government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.
“The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that state governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and are also valuable stakeholders in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.”
The aide added that Akpabio has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in the circumstance.
He pleaded with the governors not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.
“The President of the Senate recognises and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plow to complement the renewed hope agenda,” the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
