The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, reacted after President Muhammadu Buhari sought the permission of the Senate to approve over N10billion for Kogi State.
The PDP called on the National Assembly to invoke its statutory powers and directly channel the N10.069billion Presidential funds for payment of salaries and pensions of suffering Kogi State workers.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP insisted that it was “scandalous” that Buhari Presidency, with its claims of transparency and integrity, would seek to mislead the National Assembly by asserting that the fund is for projects done by the state government on behalf of the Federal Government, “when in reality no one can point to any such project executed by Governor Yahaya Bello in the last four years.”
The opposition party described as “endorsement of corruption and inexcusable injury” to the people of Kogi State, for President Buhari to seek to direct funds to Governor Yahaya Bello, for “phantom projects, and neglect the Kogi workers many of whom are owed salaries and pension in arrears of 36 months.”
The statement reads: “Such action by Mr. President further confirms that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is directly in league with Governor Yahaya Bello to strangulate the people of Kogi State.
“We hold that if there are no intentions of pushing the fund to Governor Bello for anti-people purposes, the Presidency is challenged to name and point to the particular project executed by Governor Bello as well as make the terms and payment agreements public for Nigerians to see.
“If the Buhari Presidency means well for Kogi State, it should reword its request and put the interest of the masses ahead of all selfish and parochial political considerations, particularly as the state approaches a critical election in which the people have made up their minds to vote out Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Mr. President cannot claim to be unaware of the critical situation of workers in Kogi State. He cannot claim to be unaware that workers in Kogi State are being owed, in some cases up to 36 months, and that retirees and seniors are dying over non-payments of their pensions after giving the best of their lives in public service.”
The PDP, therefore, urged President Buhari to resist attempts by his handlers and Governor Bello to drag his Presidency into this shameful attempt to steal fund that ought to go to the suffering masses in Kogi State.
However, the Senate, yesterday, received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for an approval to pay Kogi State Government N10.069billion being a refund of money spent by the state on behalf of Federal Government.
The request was contained in a letter dated October 10, 2019, and read by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, during plenary.
The requested amount is for the settlement of inherited local debts and contractual obligations of the Federal Government to the state for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Buhari recalled that 24 out of 25 state governments had received the approval of the National Assembly for the settlement of claims on projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
He added that the sum of N10.069billion was an outstanding amount due to Kogi State Government, which was the only state yet to receive a refund.
The letter reads: “The Distinguished Senate President would recall that, based on my request for the resolution of the National Assembly approving the establishment of a promissory note programme and a bond issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations of the Federal Government, the 8th National Assembly passed resolutions approving the issuance of promissory notes to refund state governments for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
“The resolutions of the 8th Assembly were conveyed through three different letters from the Clerk of the National Assembly as follows: Letter dated July 27, 2018, and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.10/277, which approved the issuance of promissory notes to 21 states.
“Letter dated January 29, 2019, and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.11/004, which approved the issuance of promissory notes to Delta and Taraba states; and letter dated May 23, 2019, and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.11/164, which approved the issuance of promissory notes to Bauchi State.
“The three resolutions approved the issuance of promissory notes to 24 out of the 25 state governments requested, and the only state for which approval has not been given is Kogi State, with an outstanding claim of N10,069,692,410.15.
“The Senate may wish to note that, subsequent to resolutions of the National Assembly approving the refunds to the 24 state governments, the Federal Government has issued promissory notes to all the approved states for the settlement of their claims.
“Accordingly, the Senate is hereby requested to kindly approve, the issuance of a promissory note in the sum of N10,069,692,410.15 as a refund to Kogi State Government for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.”
The Senate President referred Buhari’s request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative work.