The House of representatives yesterday
mandated its committees on Special Duties, National Planning and Economic Development and Inter-Governmental Affairs to look into state spending and utilisation of the increased allocation from Federal Account allocation Committee (FAAC) and report back to the house in four weeks for further legislative action.
The House resolution followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Important on the ” Need to Monitor Increased FAAC Allocation and usage I. accordance with Enabling laws in the Country in order to reduce Poverty in Nigeria” moved by Hon. Ademorin A. Kuye
Presenting the Motion, Kuye said “Aware that amount shared by the Federal, states and local governments from the Federal Account allocation Committee (FAAC) has increased significantly, due to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, floating of the naira and other economic policies unanimously introduced by the government.
“Aware that States and local governments got the most cash from FAAC in at least seven years after the subsidy removal took away its burden on public coffers and a currency reform delivered a 40% boost on naira income.
“Informed that States and local Governments received a total of N6.57 trillion in 2023, double the N3.16 trillion they received in 2022
“Concerned that despite the availability of more cash to the states, 14.2million more citizens continue to grapple with poverty even as Delta that received N217.74 billion; River N179.81 billion, Akwa Ibom – N145.57, Bayelsa 128 billion, have poverty rate of 13.1%, 7. 3%, 22.9%, 24.3% respectively according to a World report.
“More Concerned that most of these states with increase allocation faces significant challenge in payment of salaries, effective management of public institution, provision of public transportation and access to potable water as unemployment rate have increased to over 51% in some of them.
“Most worried that state governors have brazenly refused to complement the federal government poverty amelioration efforts and are not driving the necessary economic transformation that will reduce citizen suffering in their respective states with the increased allocation at their disposal”