Barely 72 hours to the governorship election of Kogi State, the Senate sitting on Wednesday has approved the N10bn loan refund for Kogi State despite stiff resistance from the opposition senators.
No sooner had the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans, Senator Clifford Ordia, laid the report of his panel on the issue at plenary than the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan called for the debate on it immediately.
Newsflash247 had earlier reported on October 15, 2019 that Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan announced President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for approval of N10 billion for Kogi State.
In the letter, Buhari said, the amount was expended on projects on behalf of the Federal government which he was seeking the refund through promissory notes and bonds.
The letter also explained that 23 other states with authorised expenditures on behalf of the Federal government have been previously refunded, noting that Kogi State would be refunded on prompt approval of the Parliament.
“I am seeking approval of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for N10 billion being expenditures on projects executed in Kogi State on behalf of the Federal government. ”
“Take note also that the said expenditure was authorised by the Federal Government which other 23 States of the Federation have also been refunded.”
Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan referred the letter to Senate Committee on Foreign loans and debts to turn in report in two weeks.
Details later….
