The Senate has approved a refund in the sum of N10 billion to Kogi state for executing some projects on behalf of the federal government by the Kogi state government.
Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari had requested via a letter which was read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, that the said fund be released to Kogi state government.
Chairman of the Senate committee on local and foreign debts, Clifford Ordia who presented his report to the house said the Kogi government carried out repairs on seven federal government roads in the state.
His words, “Based on our findings, some of the highways were in the state of disrepair before the intervention was carried out.”
“The state government has paid all the contractors that constructed the road.
“Our humble recommendation is that the senate do approve the refund of N10 billion for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.”
However, Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, disagreed with the recommendation by the committee, stating that he is wary that the funds may be disused if disbursed.
The senate president noted however that the senate’s approval of the refund only coincides with election.
“Kogi state applied for this in the last senate, all the other states were paid. Kogi was not approved at that time, we as a senate has seen it as a necessity and it is a coincidence,” he said.
This approval comes barely two days to the governorship election in the state.
