The Federal Government on Thursday said the January allocation from the Budget Support Facility (BSF) to Ekiti State was suspended because the state failed to comply with the basic requirements for participating in the facility.
A statement by the Ministry of Finance signed by the Director of Information, Salisu Dambata, said the BSF is a conditional loan programme to state governments introduced to enhance fiscal prudence, transparency, efficiency in public expenditure and payment of salaries.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, had on Tuesday accused the Federal Ministry of Finance of withholding the state’s statutory allocation for January for political reasons.
“In the last three, four weeks, after the Federal Allocation Committee meeting, it is sad that Ekiti Federal Allocation for January has not been released,” Mr. Fayose told journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
He said efforts by himself and other government officials to get explanations from the federal ministry of finance yielded no results.
He alleged that the ministry of finance was victimising the people of Ekiti State for his criticism of the policies of the federal government.
The ministry said the Ekiti government failed to comply with the required conditions for the payment, and was not the first state to be denied the funds on such grounds.
It denied the claim that the ministry of finance withheld any statutory allocation due to Ekiti State, or any other state in the country.
“This is not the first time of non-compliance by the Ekiti State Government,” the statement read.
“His administration defaulted in meeting the conditions specified and agreed upon by the 35 state governments that are participating in the programme as contained in the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) and the Ekiti State Government was warned formally of its failure to comply with the full requirements vide a letter on August 5, 2016, with reference number HMF/FMF/ASG/1/2016.


“The failure of Ekiti State Government to comply with the requirements and conditions for the Budget Support Facility (BSF) resulted in a letter sent to the chief of staff to notify him of the suspension of BSF for Ekiti State and it was conveyed to Mr. President before payment to the Ekiti State Government was reinstated.


“The Ekiti State Government and all the other participating states are aware of the consequence of failure to comply with the full conditions and it is not the first time that a state would be stopped from accessing the facility due to non-compliance.
“In the course of its normal duties, the ministry of finance has the right to query, suspend or withhold funds as part of the conditions of the Budget Support Facility.”


The Ekiti government described the explanation as an afterthought meant to mislead the public.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the state signed up for N14.4 billion and had received funds monthly in the last seven months from the ministry of finance.
“So when did they realise that Ekiti State did not meet the conditions? Mr. Olayinka asked. “Or did they send the allocations in the last seven months in error?”
He also argued that there was no warning letter or notification from the ministry of finance before the governor raised the alarm, else there would have been no need for the governor to write a letter to the ministry demanding explanations on the non-release of the funds.
“If they sent any letter, maybe they sent it today, because the governor was there yesterday and before then no one knew the reasons why the funds were not released,” Mr. Olayinka said.
“As I am talking to you, we have not received any letter from the ministry, if they sent any letter, maybe they sent it today. This explanation is an afterthought.”
Mr. Olayinka also said he was aware that the funds was earlier sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria along those of other states, but was later recalled and the name of Ekiti State removed from the list of 35 states.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/223715-blocked-ekiti-funds-nigerian-govt.html.

Ok...

Politics gone too far, why punish the whole of Ekiti?

Its obvious they did this to frustrate the Oshokomale.

Fayose should come and explain why He can't comply with requirements, yet he is still making noise

Kundagarten:
Politics gone too far, why punish the whole of Ekiti?

Its obvious they did this to frustrate the Oshokomale.

It is so glaring that you did not read that writeup. Now go back and read

Politics of bitterness

Something fishy is going on with FINANCE..Folks.... only Ekiti didn't meet the requirements......hmmmmm

So only ekiti ? Nonsense country

Apc can lie

If Fayose has issue let him quit crying and take his issue to court. If not find a way to make your state more economicly attractive.

Blue3k:
If Fayose has issue let him quit crying and take his issue to court. If not find a way to make your state more economicly attractive.

whats ur state?

weyabcom:
whats ur state?

I'm from Akwa Ibom but I'm also a Texan. Why do you ask? The rule is he who pays the piper calls the tune no matter where your from.

weyabcom:
So only ekiti ? Nonsense country

Are u saying that it's not possible for only one student to fail an exam. Don't worry Ekiti people are used to suffering. Dey really don't care. He only gave them Christmas bonus of N1,500 without paying their salary. Owing them 6months salary

Kundagarten:
Politics gone too far, why punish the whole of Ekiti?

Its obvious they did this to frustrate the Oshokomale.

And he is helping the FG to punish his people. Why not simply meet the conditions?

I am sure other states that did not meet the condition did come to the media to complain or ''storm'' ministry of finance

Blue3k:


I'm from Akwa Ibom but I'm also a Texan. Why do you ask? The rule is he who pays the piper calls the tune no matter where your from.

well u didn't talk like one from down south. I'm dissapointed

Is this the first payment? NO, but the 8. Why now?. Because he has being a thorns in our flesh, we want to teach him a leason. POLITICS WITH BITTERNESS & NIGERAI IS LIKE 5 & 6.

weyabcom:
well u didn't talk like one from down south. I'm dissapointed

Be disappointed your comment has no sense. Crying won't solve issue going to court will. It's either the fedeal government is lying or not.

I can't believe anything from this government. They are full of lies. Let them tell us the conditions that only Ekiti state did not meet.

Blue3k:


Be disappointed your comment has no sense. Crying won't solve issue going to court will. It's either the fedeal government is lying or not.

see ur mouth like court