Oyo House of Assembly has given its nod to Governor Seyi Makinde to access N18.7 billion Federal Government Bridge Facility loan meant to cushion the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic in the State.
The request was contained in a letter forwarded to the Assembly by the Governor read during late Monday’s emergency plenary by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.
President Muhammadu Buhari approved the bridge facility for all the 36 states of the Federation and it will be accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
It was meant to give support to States following the resumption of monthly deductions for the repayment of their various loan facilities.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the monthly repayment of loan facilities by States due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The N18.7 billion, which will be disbursed in six tranches (6months instalment) of N3.1 billion each, is expected to be repaid monthly for 30years (360 months).
The lawmakers, in their comments on the request, agreed that such a loan facility from the Federal Government was necessary and timely as many States recorded huge losses during the pandemic.
According to Hon Akeem Adedibu (Chief Whip), Hon Babajide Gabriel (Ib. North 2), Hon Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju), and Hon Ayo Fatokun (Akinyele 1), since all the States are to access the loan facility, Oyo State should not be left out.
They however urged the State Government to expend the loan on developmental projects selected across all the senatorial districts in the State.
Asimiyu Alarape, the minority leader, who also suggested that the loan facility be used to develop key sectors, nonetheless urged the State government to be wary of the consequences of too many loans.
Speaker Ogundoyin said it was thoughtful of the Federal Government to give financial support to the State Governments considering the scale of projects lined up in the various States.
Ogundoyin assured that the Assembly through its Committee on Public Account and Appropriation will perform its oversight function by monitoring the accessing and the spending of the loan to ensure that it is used to enhance the infrastructural development of the State.
Source: The Nation
