The Nasarawa State Government has refuted an Online media report claiming that it has expended N707m on refreshments and meals, describing the said publication as unfounded.
The government also dismissed it as false. claims by the online report that the expenditure was carried out at the neglect of rural water provision.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs to Govermor Abdullahi Sule, Peter Ahemba, explained that the said amont was an overall aggrigate expenditure across Ministries and Department and Agencies the nine months periods covering operational costs statutory operational costs of meetings, trainings, workshops and security activities and programmes implementation, and not just a single discretionary expenses as claim by the media publication.
He said that the claim by the online media publication on neglect of rural water accesa waa laughable, given the sustained investments in water infrastructure across the state since the coming on board of the governor Abdullahi Sule administration in 2019.
The SSA explained that the various interventions by Governor Abdullahi Sule in rural water provision through the State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, the Ministry of Water Resources, the state water board and donor partners saw massive rehabilitation and upgrade of water in Doma.
Keana, Awe, Nasarawa Eggon, Karu and Keffi and other major towns, including borehole rehabilitation, pump replacement and others, aim at making portable drinking water available to the rural communities across the state.
While restating the present administration’s commitment to prudent use of resources and the welfare of the citizens of the state, the government urged some media organisations to always cross-check facts before going to the press to avoid misleading the public.
“The attention of the Nasarawa State Government has been drawn to an unsubstantiated claim published by Sahara Reporters, alleging that N707 million was spent on refreshments and meals while rural water provision was neglected.
“Government hereby refutes the claims and wish to further clarify that the cited N707 million represents aggregated expenditures across multiple Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over the referenced nine months period, covering statutory and operational costs such as meetings, trainings, workshops, security activities and programme implementation and NOT a single discretionary expense on refreshments and meals as erroneously portrayed by the ill-motivated publication.
“We equally found the allegation of neglect in rural water access laughable, given the sustained investments in water infrastructure across the state under the Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule-led Administration in the State.
“It is public knowledge that since 2019 when Governor Sule took over the mantle of leadership of the State, significant reforms and interventions have been implemented through the State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (NASWASSA), Ministry of Water Resources, the State Water Board, and Development Partners, following the constitution of a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Taskforce and the enactment of relevant enabling laws.
“Through these laudable initiatives, the State Government implemented an appreciable number of water-related projects and carried out major rehabilitation and upgrades of water works in Doma, Keana, Awe, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon, Keffi, Karu and several other towns, involving grid connections, pump replacements, dredging, borehole rehabilitation, plant renovations and procurement of operational equipment amounting to billions of naira”
Continuing, the statement said “These visible and verifiable interventions spread across rural and urban communities of the State no doubt contradict any claims of neglect, hence we dare to call on the public to disregard the malicious publication in its entirety as it has no iota of truth.
“At this juncture, we wish to emphasise that Investments in governance infrastructure, including education, healthcare, water supply, rural development, among other sectors, form part of a comprehensive strategy to promote sustainable development and improve the welfare of the citizenry, as being championed by the Nasarawa State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule.
“We wish to reiterate the uncompromising stand of the State Government towards prudent financial management, promotion of accountability in governance and prioritisation of essential services for the benefit of the people.
In line with the openness of the Engr. Sule-led Administration, we welcome informed scrutiny of public expenditures and equally urge media outlets to always cross-check their facts before publishing to avoid misleading the public and undermining trust in government efforts,” the statement added.
