Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has refuted the claim made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that each state in the federation received an additional N30 billion allocation to address food insecurity.

Speaking during the commissioning of the renovated Iseyin Central Mosque, Makinde, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, stated that Oyo State did not receive any such funds from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or the Federal Government.

Makinde emphasized that instead of engaging in blame games, leaders should focus on instilling confidence and hope in the citizens during these challenging times. He highlighted the importance of finding real solutions to the pressing issues facing the nation.

He further mentioned that his administration had already taken measures to alleviate the economic hardships faced by the people. Makinde referred to the implementation of measures through the SAfER initiative, which was announced and put into effect on June 9, 2023, to mitigate the impact of economic policies.

Makinde reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the workers, mentioning the wage award of N25,000 for workers and N15,000 for pensioners, which has been paid for nearly six months. He also announced an extension of the wage payments for an additional six months to allow for the conclusion of discussions on the minimum wage.