Okowa gets lawmakers nod for N150 billion loan
By Edward Adamidenyo
Public anger on Tuesday trailed the Delta House of Assembly’s approval of a request by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a bridging finance facility of N150 billion.
The governor’s request was contained in a letter which was read at plenary of the Assembly by the Speaker, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori in Asaba. Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju immediately took to his verified Twitter handle to condemn the loan approval. Adeyanju described the whopping loan approval as “madness”.
Okowa had said that: the requested credit facility which has Zenith Bank PLC as the “lead arranger, would be principally tailored toward defraying arrears of unpaid certificates earned by contractors with respect to the completion of some critical ongoing legacy projects awarded by past and present administrations in the state.
The governor also said that part of the loan would be tailored toward taking care of outstanding pension commitments to the state and local government areas pensions in the contributory pension scheme, amounting to N20 billion and N10 billion respectively, The Trumpet gathered.
“The Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly, I wish to inform you that the state is expecting refund from the Federal Government, being Petroleum Subsidy Payments made without recourse to the 13 per cent derivation due to oil producing states from January 1999 to Nov. 30, 2021.“Delta state’s portion in this regard amounted to N270.6 billion.
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“Bearing in mind the administration’s resolve to finish strong, it is necessary for the state to capitalise on the refund to defray arrears of unpaid certificates earned by contractors with respect to completion of some critical ongoing legacy projects awarded by past and present administrations” the governor said.
Consequently, the motion for the approval of the credit facility was moved by the Majority leader of the Assembly, Chief Ferguson Onwo. The motion which was unanimously adopted by the House, of Assembly when put to a voice vote by the speaker, was seconded by the Chief Whip, Mrs Pat Ajudua.
Some Deltans who spoke to The Trumpet on condition of anonymity expressed outrage over the loan. One respondent observed that the Delta state House of Assembly under the leadership of Speaker Oborevwori is “nothing but a rubber stamp” legislature”.
