Press Release

Ekiti State government has rejected the move by the Senate to probe the usage of the bailout funds given to the state and other states of the federation by the Federal government, saying that such action was unconstitutional.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, disclosed in a letter addressed to the Senate Committee chairman on States and Local Government Administration, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, through the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The letter sighted by LEADERSHIP and dated November 11, 2016, titled “Re: Senate Oversight Assignment On Bailout Funds Granted To Ekiti State” was a response to an earlier correspondence from the Senate seeking to carry out an oversight function in the state over the bailout funds.

Katsina State Government is spending over 20 per cent of its capital allocation for 2016 to overhaul the education sector to ensure improved performance and school completion for youths and adolescents in the state.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari made this known during the inauguration of third Katsina State Children Parliament held at the banquet hall, old Government House, Katsina.
According to him, the present administration had embarked on massive renovation, upgrading and construction of new primary and secondary schools across the state in order to decongest classrooms and provide conducive learning environment to children.

Akwa Ibom State government has faulted a report released by BudgIT, a data sampling civic organisation, wherein states were said to have failed in meeting their obligation in payment of salaries.

BudgIT had released a report saying that 33 states could not pay workers’ salaries.

Reacting to the report, Ekerete Udoh, chief press secretary to the Akwa Ibom State governor, said the report, as it related to the state, was not true, as workers have received their salaries as at when due.

He said the conclusion by BudgIT was nothing but ‘voodoo analysis’ as he insisted that Akwa Ibom was one of the few states, where workers are paid regularly and on time.

According to him, Governor Udom Emmanuel has stated that he “cannot sleep and will not sleep well, if workers are owed salary,” adding that the governor “has not only paid their salaries, but has gone ahead to pay their 2016 leave allowance, as well as their pensions.”

Udoh said besides paying workers’ salaries, “Governor Emmanuel is embarking on many life- touching projects projects that align with his campaign promise to alleviate poverty and ensure wealth creation.”

The statement said Governor Emmanuel will continue to work hard to fulfil his campaign promises and “he will not be distracted by reports that are not based on facts.”

 The symposium was attended by the governors of Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Sokoto, Niger, Taraba, Kwara, Zamfara, Plateau, and Deputy Governor of Kano.The governors were led by the Chairman of the Northern Nigerian Forum, Governor Shettima of Borno State, and they met with Senior US government officials, including US Secretary of State, John Kerry and Head of USAID, Condoleezza Rice.