Reduction In Monthly Allocation: We’re In A War Situation – Aregbesola

Aregbe_383661331Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has accused the Federal Government of waging war against its citizens with the reduction in the monthly allocations to states and local governments.

Speaking at the commencement of a retreat organised for members of the state House of Assembly on the 2014 Budget yesterday in Ejigbo, Osun State, Aregbesola stated that “any nation that experiences what Nigeria is currently passing through is in a war situation”.

He added that any country that has its revenue slashed by 40 percent consistently was in a dire situation and painted a graphic picture to support his assertion.
According to him, “The situation, today, in Nigeria is likened to a family, who lives on N200, 000 monthly, but suddenly had it reduced to N120, 000. That is the dilemma we found ourselves in today.

“This is the situation Nigeria has found itself in since July 2013. We are in a war situation. This is a national disaster”.

The governor noted that since last year only few states have been receiving federal allocations that could barely meet the wages and salaries of their workers.

“The situation in Osun today is that our allocation is not enough to pay workers’ salaries and pension since July last year”, he said.

Aregbesola also dismissed the claim in some quarters that Nigeria is in a bad economic shape due to oil theft, saying the claim is bogus.
The governor, who will be standing for reelection later in the year, however, disclosed that Osun is among the seven fastest growing economies in the country as a result of his administration’s economic policies.

Earlier, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, said that indications from the previous two budgets of the state showed the state was progressing.