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The Governor of Oyo State and Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Engr Seyi Makinde has denied any 570bn fund disbursement from the federal government to the state.
The Governor stated this in a newsletter shared across to the people of Oyo State on his verified social media handles on Thursday evening.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier stated in his nationwide broadcast in addressing the nationwide protest from Nigerians against bad governance of what his administration is doing to mitigate against hunger in the country and one of such is the disbursement of 570bn to the 36 States of the federation.
But in a reaction to the claim, Governor Seyi Makinde said “Before I speak more on further actions we have taken to show our commitment to productivity and sustainability, let me respond to a long message I received earlier in the week from a concerned citizen.
“The message was about a purported N570 billion Hardship Fund “given” to the 36 States by the Federal Government. I was queried about what I used the money for.
“Let me state categorically that this is yet another case of misrepresentation of facts. The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project—a Programme for Results intervention.
“The World Bank facilitated an intervention to help States in Nigeria with COVID-19 Recovery. CARES means COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus. It was called Programme for Results because States had to use their money in advance to implement the programme. After the World Bank verified the amount spent by the State, it reimbursed the States through the platform provided at the Federal level. The Federal Government did not give any State money; they were simply the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to States for money already spent.
“It is important to note that the World Bank fund is a loan to States, not a grant. So, States will need to repay this loan. Note also that NG-CARES, which we christened Oyo-CARES in our State, predates the present federal administration.
“So, in direct response to the message, the Federal Government did not give Oyo State any money. We were reimbursed funds (N5.98 billion in the first instance and N822 million in the second instance) we invested in the three result areas of NG-CARES, which includes inputs distribution to smallholder farmers within our State. In fact, when the World Bank saw our model for the distribution of inputs preceded by biometric capturing of beneficiary farmers, they adopted it as the NG-CARES model” the Governor was quoted as saying in his newsletter.
The 570bn claim by the President in his broadcast has generated alot of reactions from Nigeria demanding what each Governor’s has utilized such fund for in their different state
However, several netizens has started reacting to the new clarification from the Oyo State Governor
Babatunde Esan @akobieledumare said: “So Oyo State got N5.98 billion in the first instance and N822 million in the second instance? The difference is that it is not FG’s money but money from some other sources through the FG but the monies were received! Isn’t Oyo State blessed to be flushed with so much money?
@AloriBragga: “Wow, it’s actually a loan from World Bank to help cushion the post covid hardship. Federal govt sef no dey like come straight”
Edeh Theophilus Sunday @Theophilus3Edeh: “Your detailed response to this federal government induced lies and bareface propaganda is very apt and help the citizens to be better informed on the true position of things..”
Ajayi Oluwaseun @lordseun26: “With the interview of Gov Sule of Nasarawa on channelstv today & what Gov Makinde wrote here, it’s obvious President Tinubu is lying. He didn’t give any state palliative monetary support…”
@holuwafemmie: “Federal govt too dey lie Abeg, it was even world bank that reimbursed the governors for the money they spent already and it’s even a loan not a grant, federal govt now represented it that they released another 570billions to states, too much lies and propaganda..”
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