What Governors Are Getting Overrides Inflation – Gov AbdulRazaq

The Governor of  Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has disclosed that the monthly allocation governors have been getting from the federal government is not affected by inflation.

Governor AbdulRazaq said every governor in the 36 states of the federation since President Bola Tinubu became president receives enough funds to develop his state.

He stated this when he led members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to pay the President a New Year visit in his Ikoyi residence in Lagos State.

The Chairman of NGF commended the President for his policies. He pointed out that while the economy may be tough, the policies would birth expected positive outcomes.

“The journey will be difficult but we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. This is a major endorsement of what you’re doing, your doggedness and staying on track. Most leaders would have fallen way back or backtracked, made a U-turn, but we encourage you to keep up the reforms and we’re with you, the governors are with you, to work with you.

“Yes, there are challenges and the engagements, but we thank God, we’ve crossed over to this year. We thank God that we’re here today to dine with you, to conversate with you, to greet you. The policies are working,” he said.

AbdulRazaq explained that the high cost of food items in the country was caused by farmers who preferred to export food products to other neighbouring countries because of the weak performance of the Naira.

“Agriculture, as in Jigawa state, the complaint in Jigawa was that there’s a bumper harvest, but because of the strength of our currency, the harvest has been exported out. So most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos, store them for the rainy day. So in terms of agriculture, the policy is working. We’ll continue to deepen that and make sure we’re not just 100% sustained in food security, we feed the whole of West Africa, that’s the target,” he explained.

He commended the President for the success recorded in security. He assured that governors would work with him to ensure his policies succeed irrespective of political differences.

“And the security front, I say congratulations, things are changing, shows that the government is on the attack, security is improving. Well done, I will continue to encourage you and all the states also will continue to contribute to our local security architecture to make sure things fare better.

“On the political front, you can see political parties of different, Delta is here from PDP, Kano is here from NNPP, we’re working together. Enugu state is here as well. So, and of course, NGF chairman with his strong delegation. So we’re working together. It is one Nigeria, sir. We have a target, we all have the same target, progress, prosperity, sir. So we’ll continue to work in that direction and to make sure we support you, we support each other. We’re going out with our pay reviews in many cases and making sure that we deliver in our various states to the people, the mandate,” he stated.

AbdulRazaq further told the President that all governors have enough funds to carry out developmental projects across the states. He promised that every governor would work to ensure the transformation of the states.

“I will confess that I have not done two years in this administration, but I’ve done more projects in my two, less than two years than in the four years of my first term and that is due to the structural adjustment project, I mean program you’re doing, restructuring the economy means that we’re getting more funding.

“Yes, there’s inflation, but what we’re getting overrides the inflation and we’re delivering a lot. As this year begins, I know for sure you’ll be visiting many states and you’ll see firsthand the transformation going on at sub-national level. You’ll be proud of what you see in various states. You’ve come to Lagos state, you’ve seen how Lagos has changed. People marveled at the transformation in Lagos. The blue line, red line oncoming, yes, it is fantastic, but same is going on in each and every state in Nigeria. If you go to Delta, Rivers, they’re building infrastructure that’s unimaginable in terms of road infrastructure, even though the budget dwarfs our budgets, but they’re delivering, so we’re all delivering.

“All the states are delivering. All hands on deck, we’ll continue to support you in office and say I wish you a very good year and continue with the programs for Nigeria,” he added.