Govt. Faults Group Over Alleged Allocations To State

Akwa Ibom State Government has criticised the leadership of the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network in the state, led by Franklyn Isong for calling for a probe into the federal allocation to the state and the 31 Local Government Transition committees.

Isong had in a statement made available to newsmen said he was aware that the Federal Government, following the removal of fuel subsidies, increased allocations to states, noting that it has released N5bn and 3,000 bags of rice to Akwa Ibom State as palliatives to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

He also requested information on the mass transit buses that the state government proposed to provide from the N5bn to mitigate the transportation challenges afflicting the people of the state as a result of the volatility of fuel prices and galloping inflation.

He further requested that the state government account for the hundreds of billions of naira received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, including the 13 per cent derivation funds.

But a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh, on Saturday described Isong’s statement as a cocktail of lies intentionally manufactured to smear the government of the day.