News
Makinde kicks off distribution of palliatives in Ibarapa
Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, kickstarted the distribution of relief materials to 90,000 households identified as the poorest of the poor, to cushion the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor kicked off the distribution of the palliatives in Igboora, Ibarapa North Local Government Area and commended the people of Ibarapa Zone for their consistency in supporting him since he started his political journey in 2007.
He maintained that the state government decided to distribute palliatives to assist people “whose means of income have been badly affected” by the partial shutdown of activities in the state.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that apart from the distribution of palliatives to 90,000 households, the government would embark on the distribution of another set of palliatives to 30,000 vulnerable persons in the society.
The governor, who also visited the Primary Health Care Centres in Idere and Igboora, which have been marked for improvement and renovation as isolation centres, explained that though the state government decided against total lockdown of the state, it embarked on intense sensitisation to ensure that the people follow safety precautions.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate you all. I have not had the time to thank you since we got into office and that is why I am using this opportunity to do so today. I can assure you that this government will not disappoint you.
“I am actually here for a reason and I believe all of us are also aware of the coronavirus pandemic. Though I also tested positive for the virus, I was able to defeat it and come out stronger.
“When other states were embarking on lockdown, I was averse to that decision and made sure that Oyo State was not locked down like others. So, what we did was a partial lockdown and we warned our people to follow safety precautions we have provided because it is a very contagious one.
“However, the means of livelihood of some of our people have been partially affected. There are people within us who earn what will feed them in the evening period but we said this should come to an end because of the curfew. Many businesses have also been affected.
“So, because of the people whose means of income have been badly affected, we decided to come and distribute these palliatives package to you. I was supposed to stay back in Ibadan, take the pictures of these packages and show it to the whole world but we are not running eye-service or the cosmetic government. What we are concerned about is to make dividends of this government get to the doorsteps of everyone.
“That was why we decentralised the distribution of the palliatives. All the packages that we have brought here are mainly for the people of Ibarapa land. The ones that are being distributed right now will be for the poorest of the poor that are among us.”
The governor explained that the distribution of palliatives would be done without bias for partisanship, noting that the palliatives would be shared to everyone that is vulnerable and hungry in different localities in the state.
He said: “What we did was to, throughout Oyo State, identify over 90,000 poorest of the poor households. We sent some people out for that assignment. So, the first phase of the palliatives we are giving out is for 90,000 households. By next week, we will distribute another palliative to the 30,000 vulnerable within us. We have the contact details of those we are targeting. We will call and give it to them. We will even call them again to confirm if they have received it or not.
“I personally put calls through to people, and some of them told me they are farmers, tailors, petty traders. The farmers that spoke to me said they already had food but the government should assist them by providing seedlings, pesticides to grow their farming business. So, because of this, we are going to give special palliatives to our farmers.
“Those who are going to share the palliatives told me that the first batch will be distributed in three days. So, I want to appeal to the elders here that the distribution should be well supervised. Help us ensure that the people that will be given must be from your locality. In any case, I am sure that with the work that the committee in charge has done so far, there is no external person that can come for this palliative.”
… Assures Prompt Salary Payment
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced the release of withheld local government allocations, assuring that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.
Ibas disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt, describing the engagement as a crucial step towards restoring stability and progress in the state.
He lamented the economic hardship in the Niger Delta, noting that despite the region’s wealth of natural resources, many of its people continued to suffer.
“This is unacceptable,” he said, stressing the need for transformation and financial accountability.
The administrator expressed concern over the delay in salary payments across local government areas, acknowledging the struggles of affected workers.
“I feel the pain of the workers,” he stated, assuring them that the withheld allocations had been released and that his administration would ensure prompt payment of salaries.
However, he warned that financial discipline would be strictly enforced, directing all local government areas to submit their wage bills with supporting documents through the office of the Head of Service.
Ibas, a retired Vice Admiral and former Chief of Naval Staff, vowed to scrutinise public funds and take decisive action against mismanagement.
“Good governance is not just a slogan; it is a commitment to changing the negative narrative within the next six months,” he added.
He also emphasised the need for collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies to enhance grassroots security.
“You must take the lead in ensuring security within your domains,” he charged local government administrators.
Reacting, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Clifford Paul, commended the Federal Government for appointing Ibas, attributing the decision to his leadership competence.
He urged the administrator to prioritise workers’ welfare, stating that local government workers were currently owed two months’ salaries.
“With the release of the withheld allocations, we are hopeful that workers will receive their entitlements soon,” he said.
Paul further called on stakeholders to seize the opportunity to rebuild trust and foster unity in the state.
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following a brief meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday afternoon.
Ibas’ appointment comes a day after Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The President cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for his action, stating that he could no longer stand by as the political crisis in the state escalated.
However, the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has sparked widespread condemnation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and several civil society groups have rejected the move, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
In contrast, the pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the Rivers State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, has praised Tinubu’s decision, accusing Fubara of disregarding a Supreme Court ruling related to the state’s political crisis.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a retired naval officer, previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under President Muhammadu Buhari. Born in Cross River State, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 and went on to have a distinguished military career, rising to the highest ranks in the Navy.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management. In 2022, Buhari conferred upon him the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in recognition of his service.
Ibas now assumes leadership of Rivers State amid a deeply divided political landscape, with tensions running high over the legality and implications of the emergency rule.
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements to the federal, state, and local governments surged by 43 per cent in 2024, reflecting a major boost in government revenue inflows.
According to the latest FAAC Quarterly Review released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) disclosed that a total of N15.26 trillion was allocated to the three tiers of government within the year under review.
NEITI’s Acting Director, Communication & Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, described the disbursements as a historic high, noting that the allocations surpassed previous years by a remarkable margin.
Key Drivers of Revenue Growth
The report attributed the surge in FAAC disbursements to sustained fiscal reforms by the Federal Government, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange rate adjustments. These policies have significantly boosted oil revenue remittances and overall government earnings.
Speaking at the official release of the report in Abuja, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, highlighted the impact of these reforms on national and subnational finances. He noted that the withdrawal of fuel subsidies in mid-2023 reshaped revenue distribution and affected debt repayment deductions from state allocations.
Dr Orji stated that the objective of the report was to assess the sustainability of government borrowing, the fiscal implications of resource dependence, and the economic realities confronting states benefitting from the 13% derivation revenue from oil, gas, and solid minerals.
“The analysis focused on crude oil revenue derivation states, as solid minerals continue to underperform despite their significant potential,” he added.
Breakdown of FAAC Allocations
According to the NEITI report, FAAC disbursements in 2024 were as follows:
Federal Government: N4.95 trillion
State Governments: N5.81 trillion
Local Governments: N3.77 trillion
Total FAAC Disbursement (Including Derivation Revenue): N15.26 trillion
State governments recorded the highest percentage increase in allocations, jumping by 62% from N3.58 trillion in 2023 to N5.81 trillion in 2024. Local government councils saw a 47% increase, while the federal government’s share rose by 24% from N3.99 trillion in 2023.
The report highlighted that FAAC allocations grew by 66.2% over three years, rising from N9.18 trillion in 2022 to N10.9 trillion in 2023 and N15.26 trillion in 2024, with the most significant leap occurring between 2023 and 2024.
Economic Risks and Challenges
Despite the revenue boost, NEITI cautioned that economic risks associated with fiscal reforms must be managed effectively. Key risks identified include:
Inflationary pressures
Possible rise in debt servicing costs
Fiscal uncertainty for oil-dependent states
The agency urged governments at all levels to adopt innovative measures to cushion the impact of these economic challenges.
State-by-State Allocation Analysis
Lagos received the highest FAAC allocation in 2024, with N531.1 billion, followed by:
Delta State: N450.4 billion
Rivers State: N349.9 billion
Conversely, the least allocations went to:
Nasarawa State: N108.3 billion
Ebonyi State: N110 billion
Ekiti State: N111.9 billion
The report also showed that six states—Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Kano—each received over N200 billion, collectively accounting for 33% of total state allocations. Meanwhile, the six lowest-receiving states—Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—received only 11.5% of total allocations.
Debt Deductions Raise Fiscal Concerns
A total of N800 billion was deducted from states’ allocations for foreign debt servicing and contractual obligations, representing 12.3% of total state allocations.
Lagos State had the highest debt deduction, with N164.7 billion, followed by:
Kaduna State: N51.2 billion
Rivers State: N38.6 billion
Bauchi State: N37.2 billion
NEITI warned that many states with high debt burdens were among the lower FAAC recipients, raising concerns about debt sustainability and overall fiscal health.
With the federal and state governments increasingly reliant on oil revenue, the report emphasized the need for economic diversification, stronger financial management, and sustainable debt practices to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
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