Reps to Probe States’ FAAC Allocations, Utilisation

The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its relevant Committees to probe into states’ spending and utilisation of the increased allocation from the Federal Account Allocation Committee.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Shomolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, at a plenary session on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, Kuye noted that the amount shared by the three tiers of governments from FAAC has increased significantly, owing to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, floating of the naira and other economic policies introduced by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration

The lawmaker noted that states and local governments received a total of N6.57 trillion in 2023 which doubled the N3.16 trillion they collected in 2022.

He expressed concern that despite the availability of more cash to the states, 14.2million more citizens continue to wallow in poverty as most of the states with increased allocation face significant challenges in payment of salaries, and effective management of public institutions while the unemployment rate has increased to over 51 per cent in some of them.

“Most worried that state governors have brazenly refused to complement the Federal Government poverty amelioration efforts and are not driving the necessary economic transformation that will reduce citizen suffering in their respective states with the increased allocation at their disposal,” Kuye added.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Special Duties, National Planning and Economic Development and Inter-Governmental Affairs to look into state spending and utilisation of the increased allocation from FAAC and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.