Senate approves FG’s request to pay N6.7bn refund to Kebbi

The senate has approved the request of former President Muhammadu Buhari to pay the Kebbi government N6.7 billion for projects the state undertook for the federal government.

The Kebbi government had constructed some federal government roads within its jurisdiction.

Buhari had made the request in September 2022.

The approval followed a report presented by the senate committee on local and foreign debts on Thursday.

While presenting his report on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, Clifford Ordia, chairman of the committee, said representatives of the Kebbi government appeared before his panel to defend the state’s claim.

“It was for projects executed on behalf of the federal government. The report was referred to the committee for further legislative action,” Ordia said.

“The communication contained a request for approval of N18.6 billion for the Yobe government, N2.47 billion for the Taraba government and N6.7 billion for the Kebbi government.

“It will be recalled that the committee noted that it would resume the consideration of the outstanding request in respect of Kebbi as soon as possible.

“Subsequently, on Nov. 23, 2022, the senate considered the committee’s report on the promissory note programme for Taraba and Yobe, for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.

“The upper chamber then mandated the committee to re-invite the Kebbi government to defend its claim before the committee within two weeks

“The contract specifications can stand the test of time. That the projects were executed between 2006 and 2012 and are federal roads.

“That series of inspection visits were carried out by the ministry of works and housing on the federal roads completed in the state and it ascertained that the level of work had met the required standard.

“That the state government had paid all the contractors that executed the projects.”