Economic hardship: Makinde refutes Akpabio’s claim governors received N30bn from FIRS

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has refuted the claim that governors received N30 billion each from the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) to ameliorate the rising cost of food in their states. 

During plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had said an “unverified report” indicated that state governors received additional N30 billion each from the FIRS to ameliorate inflation and the high cost of food in their respective states.

However, Makinde said neither he nor the other state governors received such an amount of money from the FIRS.

Makinde spoke during the commissioning of the renovated Iseyin central mosque in Iseyin area of Oyo state on Thursday.

The Oyo governor argued that the FIRS cannot disburse any money to the state, adding that all the country’s revenue go directly into the federation account and allocated to all tiers of government.

“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, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made a statement, though he said it was unverified report, stating that the state governments received additional N30 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) outside of our statutory allocation, in the last few months, to address food security,” Makinde said.

“I can speak for Oyo state and I can also speak for any of my colleagues because as the vice chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, I know when things happen. And if we want to play politics, we will keep quiet and say let it slide, but we are not going to let this slide,” Makinde said.

“First, FIRS cannot give any money to any state, it is not possible. All revenue accruing to our country goes into the federation account and it is distributed to all the tiers of government.

“The federal government does not give money to the state, the money in the federation account belong to all of us. It does not only belong to the FG.

“If the senate president, the number three citizen in this country will say unverified report, people are looking at us as leaders. This is the period we are supposed to give confidence to our people, it is not the time to start playing politics and to start looking for scape goat.

“We need to engage with our people. If our policies are not working, we need to listen to them and amend. If the number three citizen says he heard nothing but unverified report, why does he need to say it then. Does his statement give confidence to the people or does it solve the problem of hunger and anger in our land?

“Let me say it clearly, for Oyo state and my colleagues, there is nothing like N30 billion being given for food security to the state and I stand to be challenged.”

Makinde added that government at all levels need to be transparent and work together to solve the country’s challenges.

He added that it was not the time to “engage in blame games and propaganda”.