*Delta State to Buhari: Okowa not among stealing governorsIn a step apparently aimed at ensuring that governors of oil-producing states account for the 13 per cent derivation money disbursed to them, the Presidency yesterday revealed that the nine states in the club received N625.43 billion from derivation, subsidy, and SURE-P refunds, from the Federation Account in the last two years.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, and titled, “Oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds: Nine oil producing states received N625.43 billion in two years; N1.1trn still outstanding,” noted that the Buhari-led regime would continue to render equal service to all the states regardless of affiliation.
Shehu continues: “The States were paid in eight installments between October 2, 2021 and January 11, 2022, while the ninth to 12th instalments are still outstanding. “The refund, which is for all the states and local government councils, was paid on 10th November, 2022. The 13 per cent derivation payments became a controversial issue after comments by Wike, alleging that the oil-producing states had refused to disclose their own shares after the federal government released the money.
He stated that in case the President had information that such pilfering happened in some states, “the reverse is the case in Delta, where rather than touch the funds of local governments, the governor gives them nothing less than N300 million monthly to augment their salaries and pension bills, and remain afloat.”
“You are also aware that the government of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa recently released N5 billion for pension arrears; N2.5 billion of that was a grant to the local government for payment of pensions.