Leading opposition figure, Peter Obi has chided the Federal Government for doling out N30 billion to each state to tackle hunger and poverty in their domain.
Recall that Senate President Godswill Akpabio at plenary on Tuesday said that an “unverified report” indicated that state governors received N30 billion each from the Federation Account to ameliorate inflation and the high cost of food in their respective states.
In September 2023, the Federal Government confirmed that N2 billion was released to governors out of the N5 billion loan it offered to each state as a palliative to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Reacting to the development, Obi said, “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.”
Obi added, “We must stop this unproductive habit of throwing scarce and borrowed money at immediate problems, and consumption, but rather through an articulated plan, invest aggressively in production, in a clear, visible, and transparent manner, in which people can see the future benefits.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) said that now more than ever, the nation needed a clear and urgent move from consumption to production by prioritising and investing in human development which will go towards providing a sure and lasting solution to many of Nigeria’s challenges of today.
He said this remained the surest way to put the nation on a path of developmental growth.