The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has apologised to state governors for his recent comment on the alleged N30 billion hardship allowance paid to them from the federation account.
During last Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio mentioned an “unverified report” indicating that state governors received N30 billion each from the federal government to cushion the effects of inflation and high food prices.
Following denials from governors and a public outcry, Akpabio expressed regret for relying on unverified information and apologised to the governors.
In a statement titled “N30bn to state governors from unverified report: I hold governors in high esteem – Akpabio,” signed by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President affirmed his respect for the governors and acknowledged their role as valuable stakeholders in various legislative engagements.
Part of the statement read: “The office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to various misconceptions in the public domain on the statement credited to the President of the Senate in plenary of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the presentation of a report of the joint Committees on Finance, Agriculture/Food Sufficiency, Banking and Insurance.
“During the session the President of the Senate commented on the payment of an unverified cumulative sum of about #30bn to the sub-national governments by the Federal Government for various interventions to ameliorate the food situation of our citizens at the sub-national governments.
“The unfortunate conjectures to take away the kernel in the material facts of FAAC payment are rather regretted.
“In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the Federal government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.
“The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that state governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“They are also valuable stakeholders’ in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.
“The President of the Senate has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in the circumstance.
“He, therefore, urges the sub-national governments not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.
“The President of the Senate recognises and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plough to complement the renewed hope agenda.”
Sir, is this another cover-up?