…as finance commissioner pegs money received by Edo at N2.1bn
By Isaac Aimurie
The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, has faulted the claim made by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole with regard to the 13 percent oil derivation refund received by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Wednesday, Nehikhare said that Oshiomhole lacked the moral authority to comment on the issue, more so, after the former Governor plunged the State into a debt trap to the tune of N160 billion after receiving N1 trillion from the federation accounts in eight years as governor of Edo State.
Nehikhare added: “Oshiomhole doesn’t have the moral justification and authority to talk about transparency and accountability especially as Edo State now has the most transparent government in the last 30 years. We would not speak yet; thank God he is contesting the election and we will ask him vital questions at the right time.
“This State is not rich but has judiciously utilized the resources available as we are rich in human capital. We have the right people helping us to manage our resources in such a way that we get the major benefits.
“When the Federal Government recently released the multidimensional poverty index, Edo State was adjudged one of the best states not suffering from poverty because we are using the funds available to improve the lives of our people.”
Clearing the air on the actual figure that Edo State has received as oil derivation refund, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development, in the State, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, said Edo State’s share of the one trillion naira 13 per cent derivation refund that is due the oil producing States in Nigeria is N28 billion, and so far, N2.1billion has been received.
According to Eboigbe, “Edo State’s share of that figure was N28billion naira. A small figure out of the N1 trillion that was what got to us.
“So we have received three quarterly releases so far, N700 million, N700 Million, N700 million, totaling N2.1billion. That is what has come into the State’s coffers and it is verifiable in the bank, and the office of the Accountant General has the records.
“Our share was N28 billion, the net is to be distributed over five years, quarterly, that will be 20 quarterly installmental releases, three have come so far, each has been N700 million, N700 million, N700 million and how that money was spent again, we have the records for anybody that wishes to see.”
