Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said the claim by President Bola Tinubu that his administration gave out the sum of ₦570 billion as Hardship Fund to the 36 state governments was a misrepresentation of facts.
In an open challenge to the president, he declared that the Federal Government did not give Oyo State any money.
President Tinubu had stated in his address to the nation on the fourth day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, on Sunday, that his administration gave out the sum to the state governors.
Tinubu further claimed that the ₦570 billion Hardship Fund was part of the measures taken by the Federal Government to cushion the bitting hardships Nigerians are going through.
However the governor claimed in the latest edition of his monthly newsletter, “The Business of Governance“, No 95, August 2024, released on Thursday, that there was nothing of such.
Makinde categorically stated that the claim by President Tinubu was a case of misrepresentation of facts. He added that the said ₦570 billion Hardship Fund was part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project, a programme for results intervention.
Makinde further asserted that the Federal Government did not give any state money. He said the government at the centre was merely the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to states for money already spent.
Makinde stated: “Each day seems to come with anxieties that make things a little more difficult for us, but I am confident that this is the darkness before the light.
“The recent protests against food inflation and general hardship reflect the broader issues our nation faces. And again, bring to the fore the need to focus on reshaping our approach to overcoming our economic challenges.
“Before I speak more on further actions we have taken to show our commitment to productivity and sustainability, let me respond to a long message I received earlier in the week from a concerned citizen.
“The message was about a purported ₦570 billion Hardship Fund “given” to the 36 states by the Federal Government. I was queried about what I used the money for.
“Let me state categorically that this is yet another case of misrepresentation of facts. The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project—a Programme for Results intervention.
“The World Bank facilitated an intervention to help states in Nigeria with COVID-19 Recovery. CARES means COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus.
“It was called Programme for Results because states had to use their money in advance to implement the programme.
“After the World Bank verified the amount spent by the state, it reimbursed the states through the platform provided at the federal level.
“The Federal Government did not give any state money; they were simply the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to states for money already spent.
“It is important to note that the World Bank fund is a loan to states, not a grant. So, states will need to repay this loan. Note also that NG-CARES, which we christened Oyo-CARES in our state, predates the present federal administration.
“So, in direct response to the message, the Federal Government did not give Oyo State any money.
“We were reimbursed funds (N5.98 billion in the first instance and N822 million in the second instance) we invested in the three result areas of NG-CARES, which includes inputs distribution to small-holder farmers within our state.
“In fact, when the World Bank saw our model for the distribution of inputs preceded by biometric capturing of beneficiary farmers, they adopted it as the NG-CARES model.”
Governor Makinde further claimed that Oyo has been a pace-setter, always leading “in ensuring transparency in any donor-facilitated interventions. This is why we are always picked as one of the sub-national beneficiaries.
“We are exhibiting the same level of transparency in another World Bank-facilitated project, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project.”
Makinde said the L-PRES Project was designed to create a resilient livestock landscape, leveraging the state’s comparative advantage in dairy, goat and sheep farming, poultry and piggery.
“We continue to embrace every opportunity to break from the norm as we implement projects and policies in the agriculture sector, which we identified since 2019 as one of the focal areas in building a sustainable economy.
“Agriculture as a business requires substantial investment. While we continue to invest in and support our small-holder farmers, we know we cannot rely solely on them to ensure food security; we need to think bigger.
“We also acknowledge that Oyo State alone cannot bring Nigeria out of its economic difficulties. What we can do is provide a model for others to follow.”
Makinde announced his four-week annual leave. He expressed the confidence that the structures put in place by his administration will continue to drive the state forward.
He thank the people of the state for their support and understanding. “Together, we can create a model of productivity and resilience that can inspire the entire nation,” Makinde added.
