The minister who spoke Sunday, at the 12th Convocation of Babcock University, BU, Ilishan Remo, where over 1, 544 students graduated, said basic public services such as education, health and agriculture falls under the concurrent list, but wonders why citizens always blame the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the failings of some state governments, who get monthly allocation larger than countries like Liberia, Gambia and the Republic of Benin.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was awarded with Doctor of Science in Global Economic Development, Honoris Causa, urged Nigerians to begin to demand improved standards of living from their state governments, rather than accusing the federal government of insensitivity all the time.
Speaking further, the minister stated that in 2013 alone, states like Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Kaduna and Borno got the highest allocation from the federation account, pointing that what they got individually is more than the annual budgetary allocation of neighbouring countries like Liberia, Gambia and Republic of Benin.
The minister said the states were getting their monthly allocations, adding that the information was being published in the media so that the people would know what accrued to the federal, state and local governments.
She added, “We need to ask more questions; poverty eradication and building of infrastructure are not only by the Federal Government. In 2013, the top 10 allocations were going to the following states: Akwa Ibom, N260bn; Rivers, N220bn; Delta N209bn; Bayelsa, N173bn; Lagos, N168bn; Kano, N140bn; Katsina, N103bn; Oyo, N100bn; Kaduna N97bn; and Borno at number 10 with N94bn.
“These were the allocations all these states got last year. The question is what did they do with the money?”
Punch: Source
Vanguard: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/okonjo-iweala-pickets-govs-misuse-monthly-allocation/
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