SENATE President, Godwin Akpabio, has disclosed that all the 36 state governors received additional N30billion each from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to tackle food scarcity situation and hardship in the country.
Akpabio, who revealled this during plenary session, described the several protests that rocked some parts of the country over rising hunger and hardship as sponsored by political stakeholders.
Akpabio also stated that the said funds released to the governors were in addition to their monthly allocation, urging them not to divert the funds for another purpose different from ameliorating food scarcity in the country.
He stated: “We can see a lot of protests here and there, most of those sponsored protesters are not aware of the kind of efforts being made by this senate to tackle the situation, together with a joint management team of the Federal Government.
“Unverified report has it that each of the state government in the last few months has received additional N30billion from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), outside their normal allocation from the federation account, to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.
“We believed that every state government should utilise the funds so received towards ensuring that food is available.
“This senate will not rubber stamp anything that will feel is not with the interest of Nigeria.”
On Monday, February 19, residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and environs protested against the current economic hardship brought about by the policies of President Bola Tinubu administration, blocking major roads in the process.
Earlier this month, similar protests were held in Minna and Suleja, the commercial cities of Niger State, with the protesters calling on the Tinubu government to end the hardship and unbearable inflation in the country.
