ENUGU—Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has told the Nigeria Senate that the state judiciously utilized the N4.207 billion bailout fund his administration received from the Federal Government in 2015.
Ugwuanyi stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration led by its Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, to the Government House, Enugu. The Committee was on an oversight function on the utilization of bailout funds released to states.
Speaking at the event, the governor disclosed that the function was a very important assignment that promotes the enthronement of accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. He said the state applied for bailout funds of N40.9 billion from the Federal government but that out of this sum, the state received only N4.207 billion to be used for the liquidation of outstanding pensions and subvention to parastatals, agencies and departments.
“Distinguished Senators, I am happy to announce that we successfully utilized the funds for the stated purposes, as you would confirm from the records (to be) made available to you by the State Ministry of Finance. “You will also be furnished with the details of how we applied other funds released to the State by the Federal Government within the life of this administration,” Governor Ugwuanyi explained.
The governor commended “the bold and timely initiative” of the federal government to provide states with bailout funds for use in addressing critical issues of development. He also used the opportunity to further appeal for the refund of over N22 billion the state government has spent on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of some federal roads in the state.
Governor Ugwuanyi however, urged the Committee to help make a case for the release of more resources to states to enable them address their peculiar challenges adequately. Earlier, Senator Gumel thanked the governor for receiving them and applauded his administration’s giant strides in the state especially in the areas of good governance, infrastructural development and payment of workers’ salaries.
He explained that the visit was in furtherance of their legislative oversight duties to ensure transparency and accountability.
