The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has apologized to the state governors over his comment on the N30bn hardship allowance allegedly paid to them from the federation account. Akpabio, during plenary last Tuesday, had said an “unverified report” indicated that state governors received N30bn each from the Federal Government to cushion the effect of inflation and high cost of food prices.
He made the comments during deliberation on the alleged N30trn Ways and Means advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. In response to the Senate President’s unverified claims, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and the Akwa Ibom State government had denied receiving the N30 billion Federal Government’s cash disbursement to states to cushion the effects of the prevailing socio-economic hardship as stated by Akpabio. However, Akpabio, last night apologized to the governors and regretted making the statement while relying on unverified information.
The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, said the claims were unintended as Akpabio holds the governors in high esteem.
