Akwa Ibom State receives Highest Federal Account Allocations – Okonjo Iweala

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has named top 10 recipients of Federation Account allocations in 2013.

I guess we now know why the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio was able to pass the “Mother of All Pension” where he is guaranteed to receive over N100M just for medical treatment alone after leaving office annually as it has just been revealed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Fiance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that his state receives the highest federal account allocation in 2013. A mind-blowing (N260 billion or $1.7 billion).

It was further revealed by the minister that many Nigerian States recieve revenue budgets that was larger than that of neighbouring countries like Liberia ($433 millions), Gambia ($210 million) or Benin Republic ($1.47 billion). The top two recipients of state allocations – Akwa Ibom and Rivers received $3.2 billion combined, which is about half of the entire budget of Ghana (about $6.4 billion). Can you imagine!!!

The Minister called on Nigerian to hold their state and local governments accountable “just as we hold the federal government to account”.

She made the statement Sunday, June 1, while delivering a commencement address at the 12^th convocation ceremony and award of degrees to graduating students of Babcock University, IIishan Remo, Ogun State.

The top 10 recipients are:

1.    Akwa Ibom (N260 billion or $1.7 billion)

2.    Rivers (N230 billion or $1.5 billion)

3.    Delta (N209 billion or $1.3 billion)

4.    Bayelsa (N173 billion or $1.1 billion)

5.    Lagos (N168 billion or $1.1 billion)

6.    Kano (N140 billion or $0.9 billion)

7.    Katsina (N103 billion or $0.7 billion)

8.    Oyo (N100 billion or $0.6 billion)

9.    Kaduna (N97 billion or $0.6 billion)

10.  Borno (N94 billion or $0.6 billion)

What are they using these monies for? At least we know what Akwa Ibom is using part of its own for.

My goodness, see money, yet we can not see corresponding progress. So where is the money going to?