DAILY TRUST
The Presidency has reacted to the raging controversy that had trailed the N573 billion received by states.
The response is coming in the wake of uproar the issue has generated between governors and the federal government.
Daily Trust reports that President Bola Tinubu had during his national broadcast on the just nationwide hunger protest said the federal government gave states N573 billion as support.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had contradicted the President, saying the money was not directly from the federal government.
But a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the status of the fund should not be the focus.
According to him, “The issue of whether it was a grant or a loan should not be at the centre of discussion but rather how the money can assist in the country’s development.
“I think the issue is not whether it is a loan or grant.
“The point, as clearly stated in the President’s broadcast, is that the states got money”.
Ajayi explained that “The amount, which is the second tranche under the COVID-19 livelihoods support scheme under the NG-CARES Programme funded by the World Bank, is N570 billion.
“The fact is states are getting needed support and funding to improve the lives of the people.
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