Abuja, Nigeria
Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, says unconfirmed reports indicate the each of the 36 state governments received an additional N30 billion from the federal government aside their statutory monthly allocations.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday during the plenary of the red chamber of the National Assembly.
He said the states received the funds from the federation account through the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).
He said the funds were outside the states’ statutory monthly allocations to ameliorate the food crisis in the country.
The Senate President said those who participate in sponsored protests across the country are not aware of the efforts being made by the upper chamber to make life easy for Nigerians.
“Most of those sponsored protests are not aware of the efforts being made by this Senate to tackle the situation together with the joint management team of the federal government of Nigeria.
“And I must say that unverified reports have it that each of the state governments in the few months had received additional N30bn from the Federal Inland Revenue Service outside their normal allocations from the federal government to ameliorate the situation,” he said.
He urged the state governments to utilise the funds received towards ensuring that food is available.
The former Akwa-Ibom governor added that the Senate would not rubber stamp any request from the executives when they feel such a request is not in the interest of Nigerians.
