The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government of alleged false performance claims and promises.
In a statement by the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Olusegun Adewara, the opposition party said Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq should apologise to the citizens for allegedly making false performance claims before the Kwara State House of Assembly.
The party, which said that Governor Abdulrazaq allegedly claimed that his administration sponsored over 66,000 Kwara children for entrance examinations, 58,420 for BECE, 28,500 for WAEC, and 27,000 for NECO, added that the figures stated could deceive the state House of Assembly and the people.
“The fact that ministry officials have confirmed these figures as ‘manufactured lies’ speaks volumes about the governor’s cabinet and competence to deliver good governance.
“Last year, the governor claimed improvements in school enrollment in Kwara State during a side event at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) despite data showing that the number of out-of-school children in the state had skyrocketed to 68% between 2019 and 2022.”
The party also criticised the state House of Assembly for allegedly failing to hold the governor accountable for his actions and failure to summon relevant ministry officials to answer for the statistics presented to them.
“The House should not allow itself to be reduced to a mere rubber-stamp institution, thus abandoning its legislative responsibility to the people of Kwara State,” the party said.
“While we commend the people of Kwara for their courage and continued perseverance in the face of this administration’s actions, we call for change.”
It is recalled that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, on December 20, 2024, presented the 2025 appropriation bill before the state House of Assembly with a focus on completing ongoing projects, starting new ones, and improving social protection for the people of the state.
The appropriation bill, valued at N540,368,119,765.00, has capital expenditure taking 62.1 per cent, while recurrent gets 37.9 per cent.
The governor, who said the budget is projected on oil prices of $75 per barrel, daily oil production of 2.06 million barrels, and 6.4 per cent GDP growth, added that the funding windows are FAAC receipts, which constitute 48.1 per cent; and opening balance (N62bn), IGR, and other capital receipts that form the balance of 51.9 per cent.
Governor Abdulrazaq said that the social sector gets 32.50 per cent of the fiscal plan, while education and health are allocated 16.2 per cent and 10.56 per cent respectively, with the hope of getting the new University of Education off the ground and strengthening existing institutions across the state.
He also said that the state Ministry of Works and Transport gets 17.51 per cent to continue road construction and maintenance in the state.
The governor, who said that the budget would complete the major infrastructural projects across the state and fund new ones, added that such projects would include 250 units of mass housing and inner roads in the planned Smart City.
He also said that the stadia in Offa and Lafiagi would be prioritised in the budget, adding that new roads would be constructed in Kwara South, North, and Central to further ease the movement of goods and services within the state.
Governor Abdulrazaq said that the 2025 budget would take care of construction work on a multi-storey Court House, adding that the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin would also be upgraded and completed.
The Governor said the budget is not just a ritual as it “reflects our commitment to delivering on promises as resources permit,” recalling how the 2024 budget brought significant benefits to various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social protection.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE