States get N535.5bn refund for road projects

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

A number of state governments in the country will soon get financial relieve as the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the reimbursement of N535.5 billion to states for expenses incurred on Federal roads.

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, disclosed at the end of the meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He was accompanied to the briefing by Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Ajimobi said: “Another issue discussed is on refund of expenses incurred on repair of federal roads by states. As listed here, we have 13 states that have fully complied with the re-imbursement requirements.

“We have eight states that have partially complied, 21 states without compliance and the total sum of claims to be reimbursed is exactly 535, 596, 386, in other words N535.5 billion.”

He said that N13 billion has been disbursed to states as at 2013 and that the challenges had to do with inadequate funding in the ministry.

He also disclosed that 26 state governments have applied for restructuring of their bank loans amounting to N500 billion.

Read also:Govs seek refunds for FG projects as bailout

While 11 of the states have concluded and submitted all relevant documents, he disclosed that 13 states are involved in the second phase to commence soon.

According to him, the Accountant General of the Federation informed the Council that the Excess Crude proceeds balance was over $2.257 billion as at 15th September, 2015.

He also said that the Council deliberated on the NEC Ad-Hoc committee on the management of the ECA and the Federation Account.

The governor said that the committee, which informed the Council that it interacted with many revenue generation agencies, also disclosed that there was lack of transparency, accountability and lack of check and balances in the operation of the Federation Account.

He said that the Council was also briefed about the planned agricultural training programme that the ministry of agriculture intends to pursue.

According to him, 12 states and FCT have been selected for the first phase, while the second phase would include non-educated youths to be spread across states by geopolitical zones.

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