Politics
Senate okays N10.069bn refund payment to Kogi ahead of guber election
Yahaya Bello
Less than a week to the governorship election in Kogi State, the Senate has approved the payment of N10.069 billion promissory note for the state government for refund of projects executed on behalf of federal government in the state.
The approval, followed the presentation and consideration of a report by Committee on Local and Foreign debts chaired by Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP Edo Central) during the plenary.
President Muhammadu Buhari had sought the approval of the Senate for issuance of N10.69 billion Promissory Note for refund on federal projects executed by Kogi State government.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and read on October 15 at plenary, which he referred to Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative input and report back to Senate in two weeks.
Presenting the report, Ordia said Kogi State was qualified to be paid given its fundings on the federal projects executed by the state government.
According to him, findings of the committee revealed that the state government had paid the contractors which executed the projects on behalf on federal government and therefore qualified for a refund.
The committee, therefore, recommended that the Senate approval of the refund to the state government.
Contributing, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC Kano North), said the Senate should approved the request following the execution of projects by the state government.
He said Kogi had done very well by spending its money to execute federal projects in the state.
Though Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), agreed to the payment of the money, he however, said the request for approval called for concerns following the up-coming governorship election slated for November 16 in the state.
He said: “Who does not know that on Saturday, there is going to be an election in Kogi and money is going there today.
“What I don’t want is misuse of the fund for another purpose because it is for the people of Kogi.”
Abaribe said he has the mandate of the minority in the Senate to suggest that the approval be shifted with one week after the election was over.
The Minority Leader had raised concerns that the money, if approved may not be used for the interest of Kogi , adding that the time for the approval was not right.
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, however, overruled him, saying that the 8th National Assembly had passed resolutions approving issuance of promissory notes to refund state governments for projects executed on behalf of federal government.
He said that National Assembly had approved the issuance of promissory notes to all the states that requested expect Kogi
“Gods time is always the best, Kogi was not approved then, and the 9th Senate has seen the necessity.
“We have done justice to other states, let us do justice to Kogi state,” Lawan said.
After his remark, Lawan Consequently, he put a voice vote for the approval of the money as recommended by the committee and was unanimously affirmed by majority of the lawmakers.
But Senator Uche Ekwenife (PDP Anambra Central) in a point of order, said it was important that “he that seeks equity must do equity,” pointing out that states like Enugu, Anambra and Imo were yet to be refunded monies spent on execution of federal government’s projects in their states.
She was therefore advised by the Senate President that states who were yet to be refunded should apply properly via the right process to the federal government.
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng