Efio-Ita Nyok|23 March 2017
Cross River-born development economist and World Bank consultant, Mr Princewill Odidi, has joined other Nigerians to pooh pooh against the Federal Government of Nigeria disbursing a second tranche of the London Paris Club refunds to state governments.
Odidi made his mind known recently on his Facebook account where he contended that the refunds actually tantamounted to spoon-feeding both state and local governments, a trend which to him, is a disservice to Nigerians. Odidi who noted that this practice fuels corruption and indolence rather suggested that the federal government should invest the money directly into infrastructural development and education, claiming that that was the best way the people will benefit.
His words, 'Spoon feeding states and local governments is becoming a disservice to Nigerians. Why share the Paris Club funds to Governors? This cap in hand mentality is what fuels corruption and laziness among our Chief Executives. A Governor that cannot mobilize his local economy through IGR has no business being in office. Half of these Paris club funds will enter frivolous accounts and death trap meaningless projects. By this time in less than six months these same governors will run cap in hand scatting the federation accounts for hand outs. No genuine federation operates this way.
'A 60 year old man that still feeds from his parent's house is a failure. It may have even been better if the federal government used the money and invest directly in the states, building federal highways and investing in our schools. At least the people will see the dividends of the Paris club bail out. But giving it to state governors is just some expendable income to mobilize capacity for next elections. The people's primary interest and sufferings is secondary. Ordinary Nigerians in the streets have not had it so tough for a longtime. Getting it right is a matter of political will. At least we can do better if we align our priorities right', Odidi concluded.
Recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had released the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refund to state governments, a sum which amounted to N522.74 billion to states as refunds pending reconciliation of records. Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion, being 25 per cent of the amounts claimed.
In this second tranche states are demanding US$6, 923,722,131.81 refund from the Federal Government.
The breakdown is as follows: Abia ($151, 410, 816.39); Adamawa($161, 968, 221.27); Akwa Ibom($344, 122,584.90); Anambra($162, 163, 091.98); Bauchi ($182, 192, 756.59); Bayelsa ($329, 744, 322.49); Benue($81, 580, 708.60); Borno($194, 461, 850.74); Cross River ($160, 936, 263.51); Delta ($365, 655, 143.86); Ebonyi($119, 419,427.28); and Edo( $161, 354, 346, .83).Others are Ekiti($126, 432, 758.86); Enugu($142, 034, 156.54); Gombe ($118,486,826.45); Imo($185, 451, 792. 92); Jigawa ($188, 282, 561.77); Kaduna($204, 549, 118.60); Kano( $287, 952, 190.23); Katsina($217, 274, 991.01); Kebbi($158,344,357.37); Kogi($159, 674,903.18); Kwara($135, 646, 207 .33); Lagos($223, 773, 195.58);
The list includes Nasarawa($120, 557, 593.92); Niger($191, 014, 388.20); Ogun($152, 036, 415.75); Ondo ($ 185, 527, 107.67); Osun(4167, 261, 095.11); Oyo(4209, 314, 168.61); Plateau($149, 512, 027.96); Rivers ($462, 593, 183.07); Sokoto($170, 625, 921.77); Taraba(4148, 662,635.52); Yobe($143, 393,460.04); Zamfara($144, 169, 154. 81); and FCT($18, 142, 185).
There has been criticisms that these funds have been diverted by the state governments.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org
