States get N66.5b as COVID-19 response grant

Thirty-five have got N66.5 billion from the Federal Government for COVID-19 response.

The disbursement came same yesterday that they had their Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for consideration and distribution of October generated revenue to the three tiers of government.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who disclosed this in a statement signed the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Hassan Dodo, clarified that the disbursement followed compliance with the Amended COVID-19 Responsive 2020 Budget by 35 eligible states.

The project was financed with a $750 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA.

Each state got $5 million (N1.9 billion) under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results.

Rivers is the only one that missed out on the largesse for failing eligibility criteria.