The Edo State Government says it has loaned local government councils in the state, the sum of N850 million to clear salaries of council workers for December, in lieu of the release of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to the councils.
The state governor Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday said he got the recommendation from the state’s ministry of finance which confirmed that the councils are yet to receive an allocation from the Federation Account even after the December 18, 2021, FAAC meeting in Abuja.
He disclosed this during an onboarding programme for his political appointees at the John Odigie-Oyegun staff training centre in Benin City, the Edo State’s capital.
The governor said its prudent management of public resources, made it possible to settle salaries and pension of state workers since December 14 from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to the Finance Ministry who were part of the virtual FAAC meeting of December 18, where N675.9billion was shared among the three tiers of government, Edo state local government authorities have not been able to access their funds thereby putting them in a financial crisis.
In view of this, however, the executive council agreed that the State Government advance the 18 local government councils in the state a bailout to enable them to clear the salary of their workers.
<p><img width="650" height="350" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bulama-Bukarti.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Abuja Becoming One Of The Scariest Cities In The World — Bukarti" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bulama-Bukarti.jpg 650w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bulama-Bukarti-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></p>
<h2>Security expert, Bulama Bukarti has stated that <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/Abuja">Abuja</a> is becoming one of the most alarming cities worldwide.</h2>
<p>The city is grappling with issues such as kidnappings, one-chance robberies, and a proliferation of criminals, creating widespread chaos among the innocent citizens of Nigeria's political capital.</p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"<em>In major junctions in Abuja, criminals and armed robbers masquerading as taxi drivers maim and rob Nigerians in a way that we have not seen before.</em></span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><em>"Abuja is becoming one of the scariest Federal Capital cities in the world,</em>" Bukarti said on Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Monday.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The abduction of six siblings and their father in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja on January 3, 2024, sparked widespread outrage. </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Tragically, the kidnappers took the life of one of the sisters, Nabeehah, when their parents were unable to meet the N60 million ransom deadline.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">According to Bukarti, the events unfolding in Abuja mirror the broader trend of incidents occurring throughout Nigeria.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"<em>Over 9,700 people were killed last year in 2023 across Nigerians. Abuja cannot be immune to that because as long as you leave insecurity to fester and flourish across Nigeria, then, it will find its way to Abuja,</em>" he said.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Bukarti additionally mentioned that intelligence reports indicate the infiltration of violent terrorist groups from the North-East, North-West, and North-Central geopolitical zones into Abuja. Furthermore, some of these groups are reported to be operating from border states like Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"<em>In the last three months of 2023, over 200 people fell victim to either killings or abductions in Abuja,</em>" stated the expert, highlighting the concerning trend. He emphasized that this disturbing pattern could deter investors and dissuade diplomats from residing in the nation's capital, significantly impacting Nigeria's global security rating.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Bukarti urged security agencies to initiate "<em>sustained security action</em>" not only in Abuja but also in other parts of the country to address and mitigate the escalating security challenges.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"<em>The way to secure Abuja is to take the fight to the bandits and terrorists in other parts of the country,</em>" he advised.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/01/16/abuja-becoming-one-of-the-scariest-cities-in-the-world-bukarti/">Abuja Becoming One Of The Scariest Cities In The World — Bukarti</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>
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