Kogi State Governor has reacted to his deputy’s claims through his DG Media, Kingsley Fanwo. According to news report on the DG Media’s reaction, the Deputy Governor’s action was to embarrass a government he is a part of and from which he benefits immensely. Mr. Fanwo stated that of the 819 million naira, over 700million has not been approved. Read:
“The sum of N786, 427,480 (Seven Hundred and Eighty Six Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Seven, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira) of the outrageous N819, 709,980 (Eight Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Naira Only) claimed by the deputy governor have not been approved let alone processed for payment by the government.
“The deputy governor is aware that by virtue of extant financial regulations, even where expenditures are provided for in the budget, they are still subject to approvals based on an estimation that funds to defray will be available; and where they are approved, the release of such funds still depends on the availability of funds.
“The deputy governor is also aware that those expenditures may not be approved or that lesser sums may be approved based on the availability of funds.
“The claims of the deputy governor in this regard are therefore premature and mischievous, he said.
He added that of the N819, 709,980 claimed by the deputy governor, there are expenditures such as unauthorised pledges running into N23,200,00 which are not provided for in the corresponding budgets of the relevant year.
“Also included are claims for unauthorised trips of the deputy governor and his wife and other expenses which may or may not be approved, yet the deputy governor has claimed them as due for payment.
“Of the whopping N819, 709,980 (Eight Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Naira Only) claimed by the Deputy Governor only N33, 282, 500 (Thirty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira only) has been approved for payment.
