THE Lagos State government topped recipients of the refund of monies spent by state governments on federal projects in their states with N114.6 billion, with Akwa-Ibom coming a distant second with N78. 7 billion.
Other states that got good chunk of the approval are: Zamfara N60. 02 billion; Ogun state N59. 2 billion and Anambra N37. 9 billion, among others.
In all, a total of N488,743,526,204.77k was approved to be refunded to states.
In an interview with journalists in Awka, the Anambra state capital, yesterday, the Senator representing Anambra Central District, Chief Victor Umeh who is a member of the Ad hoc committee on Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance that gave the approval said that it became possible following the rescinding of earlier Senate resolution on the committee’s interim report of 7th June 2018.
Following that the Senate move to settle some of the outstanding claims and liabilities of states which can defend their claims all of which amounted to N488,743,526,204.77k based on state by state claims. In all, 21 states got the Senate approval for refund.
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Approval of the refund followed a motion moved by Senator Francis A Alimikhomu (Edo North) that Senate settles “Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations on Refund to States Government for Projects Executed on behalf of the Federal Government.”
Umeh, however, asked the Federal government to release the money in time so that states, especially, Anambra can put its own to use.
Umeh, who said he led the deputy governor of Anambra state, Dr. Nkem Okeke who headed Anambra delegation to the refund defence said he devoted his time to it because Governor Willie Obiano is doing well and needed as much assistance possible to continue his good work.
He explained that Anambra state presented a bill for N43 billion and N37, 970,048,097.03 was approved.
and then