Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says failure of the Federal Government to remit allocation to states from the federation account is crippling the nation’s economy.
The governor, in a media chat as part of activities to mark the nation’s 53rd Independence Anniversary, said many states are unable to pay salaries and meet other financial obligations and this may have serious security implications.
Oshiomhole said he cannot say if the Federal Government is broke as some people insinuate as he is not a Federal Government worker.
He said this is the first time since 1999 that the Federal Government will be finding it difficult to meet its obligation to states.
His words: “I don’t know if the Federal Government is broke but I know there is serious crisis and it is unprecedented in the history of this country.
“For the first time since 1999, allocations can no longer come as at when due to states.
“I have been involved in trying to understand what the reasons are and I have not seen anything yet.
“Whether we use the word broke or you deny the word broke, the truth is that there is financial crisis in Nigeria, which has very serious national security implication.
“Because when we can’t pay salaries, Federal Government can’t pay salaries as at when due, and you can’t pay your contractors and your contractors will begin to retrench their workers, that is recipe for national disaster.
“So I am hoping that NNPC should wake up and meet its obligation to the federation account.
Otherwise, the integrity of government is at stake.
“If I can’t keep my promise, the Federal Government can’t keep its promise, all other governors can’t keep their promises, the Nigerian electorate will be so disillusioned and it could be a disaster.
“So I am hoping that the NNPC recognizes that it cannot be business as usual and they have few cases to answer as far as I am concerned.
“Two years ago, it was about the kind of money we were spending on subsidy.
“In no time, following series of probes and enquiries by the National Assembly and by the Presidency, they have since discovered the kind of mone
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