COVID-19: APC kicks as C’River Assembly approves N900m cut from LG funds to tackle pandemic

The approval by the Cross River House of Assembly for the state government to deduct N50 million from each of the 18 LGAs’ funds in the state has been criticized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The assembly gave the approval for the fund cut, which totaled to N900 million, as its corporate support to boost Governor Ben Ayade’s campaign to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.

The governor was said to have announced, after he received the approval of the fund deduction from the state House of Assembly, that the government would release the sum of N500 million to support the COVID-19 fight.

The governor had added that the state, so far, had enjoyed financial and material donations from corporate firms, individuals and religious organisations to cushion the effects the virus had on the people of the state.

The state, though with no record of the dreaded virus yet, had like other states in Nigeria, restricted movements in the state and placed other measures.

READ ALSO: ASUU knocks Nigerian govt for cuts in education, health budgets, handling of COVID-19 intervention funds

However, the state APC, in a statement by Mr Bassey Ita, its Publicity Secretary said:

“It is ridiculous that with whooping provisions in the previous and recent budgets for healthcare in the state, the government is still going cap in hand to councils for funds to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic.”

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